Call for Proposals

Call for Program Proposals for the NJ Higher Education Mental Health Summit 2025

The well-being of New Jersey college and university students is a high priority for higher education professionals and beyond. Please join us for an opportunity to share your expertise with a wide range of student-facing professionals and allied partners. The 2nd Annual NJ Higher Education Mental Health Summit is an excellent opportunity for collaboration as we learn from one another during a time when our students are facing collective mental health challenges.

Submission Timeline

• Program Proposals will be accepted from October 1, 2024 through October 21, 2024 at 4:00pm

• Notification of presenters will occur on or before November 4, 2024

Proposal Guidelines

Title page – List workshop title (15 words or less) and the proposed audience your workshop is geared towards within the academy such as mental health professionals, advisors, residence life staff, safety, faculty, administrators, and other Student Affairs and Academic Affairs professionals. 

Abstract – Submit an abstract of 50 words or less, which summarizes your workshop. If selected, the abstract will appear in the conference brochure and all advertising materials, so please make it as descriptive and appealing for summit attendees.

Workshop Description/Details – The workshop must be 60 mins in duration and applicable to in person learning with at least five scholarly references. The proposal must be between 300-500 words, excluding the abstract and the bibliography. All proposals must demonstrate evidence-based and best practices to support the mental health and well-being of students within higher education and the integration of inclusive theories and interventions across disciplines such as psychology, counseling, social work, wellness, education, administration in higher education, or a related field. In keeping with a supportive and inclusive environment, for all, throughout the Summit language within the description must be free from offensive terminology that a reasonable person would deem emotionally injurious or compromise the psychological safety of another or group.

The following must be included:

• A detailed description of the workshop content

• A clear statement of the workshop’s relevance to mental health and well-being of students in a university/college setting 

• A clear statement of how the content ties into college mental health and how the knowledge gained will help advance the well-being of students across any of the eight dimensions of wellness

• 2-3 learning objectives or goals for attendees of the workshop, with specific skills and knowledge to be obtained from participating in the workshop

To be considered for approval, program proposals must:

• Align with our conference theme of mental health in higher education.

• Be interactive, thought-provoking, and allow participants to leave with new knowledge or ideas for implementation on their campus. A general rule of thumb to consider for presentation structure is ½ teaching content, ¼ audience participation and engagement, and ¼ ways to integrate content into the campus or job responsibilities.

• Allow time for questions or discussion.

• Fit within a 60-minute timeframe.

• Be able to provide your own laptop for the presentation.

• Be able to present in person on January 9, 2025