Information for Presenters
The 2026 NIRSA + IDEA® World Conference & Expo is an incredible opportunity to share your ideas, expertise, and innovations with a vibrant community of professionals. We are so grateful for the amazing contributions we’ve received in the past, and we can’t wait to see the exciting, groundbreaking proposals that will shape this year’s event. Get ready to inspire, connect, and collaborate with your community—your voice matters, and we can’t wait to hear it! This page will continue to be updated with program details for presenters.
Call for Proposals
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations are ideal for sharing research, pilot programs, case studies, and emerging ideas in a visual, interactive format.
Deadline: January 30, 2026
Notification about the status of poster presentation proposals will be sent in February 2026.
Call for Proposals: deadline has passed
The call for proposals is now closed for:
- Roundtable discussions
- Panel presentations
- Standard presentations
- 20-minute Expo sessions
- Fitness Forum
Notifications for Roundtable discussions, panel presentations, standard presentations, and expo sessions were sent during November. Check your email for status updates regarding your proposal(s).
Fitness Forum notifications will be sent in January.
If your proposal is accepted, the PheedLoop speaker portal will include instructions for uploading materials, updating your bio, and communicating with staff.
Requirements for Speaking at a NIRSA Event
NIRSA membership is required for all presenters. Proposals may be submitted without active membership, but accepted presenters must hold a membership prior to the event.
Presenters must agree to NIRSA’s speaker terms and conditions before submitting a proposal.
All presenters must register for the conference. Registration for the 2026 event will open in early December.
How Are Submissions Reviewed?
NIRSA uses a double-blind review process involving 50+ trained reviewers. Submissions are evaluated for:
- Strength and clarity of learning objectives
- Relevance to audience needs
- Alignment with NIRSA competencies and topic areas
- Program design and delivery approach
- Potential to inspire growth, innovation, or action
- Overall quality
The NIRSA Conference Programming Committee also reviews for learning outcome quality and alignment with conference priorities.
Strategic Framework & Topic Priorities
NIRSA’s strategic framework guides educational programming.
For 2024–2027, top priorities include:
- Professional Pipeline
- Advocacy
- Wellbeing
Presenter Resources
Use these tools as you prepare or refine your proposal:
- NIRSA Core Competency Guide
- Tips for Writing Learning Outcomes (University of Arkansas)
- Learning Outcomes Handout (UC San Diego)
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion: A Resource Guide for Leaders in Collegiate Recreation (members only)
- Presenting for Impact: Presentation Skills Training (Tagoras)
- NIRSA Presenter Information & Resources
CE Credit Information
All sessions are evaluated for eligibility to provide CE Credits for those pursuing the CSAEd™ certification. Learn more on the CSAEd partnership webpage.
