WACADA Fall 2025 Conference – Save the Date!

We’re excited to announce the WACADA Fall 2025 Conference will be held on September 25–26, 2025, at Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville, WI!

Join advising professionals from across Wisconsin for two days of learning, networking, and inspiration. The conference will feature engaging breakout sessions, keynote speakers, and opportunities to share best practices in the field of academic advising.

More details—including session proposals, registration, and hotel accommodations—will be posted soon. In the meantime, mark your calendars and start planning to be part of this valuable professional development event!

📍 Location: Blackhawk Technical College, Janesville, WI
📅 Dates: September 25–26, 2025
🕐 Details: Coming soon!

Stay tuned—and we can’t wait to see you there!

2025 WACADA Annual Conference Call for Proposals

Theme: Fuel the Flame: Reignite Your Passion, Reimagine Your Purpose
Format: In-Person: Black Hawk Technical College, Janesville, WI

Spark Something Great – Call for Proposals NOW OPEN!
Are you ready to reignite, reimagine, and inspire?

This year’s WACADA Annual Conference is all about restoring the fire behind our work as advisors—and we’re calling on YOU to help lead the way. Whether you’ve pioneered a new approach, learned from a challenge, or found joy in the everyday moments of advising, your insights can spark meaningful conversations and growth.

Now’s the time to share your passion, your purpose, and your practices.
From fresh ideas to powerful lessons, we welcome presentations that energize, uplift, and challenge us to think in new and innovative ways.

Never presented before? That’s fine! This is a space for both new and seasoned voices. Submit your proposal and be part of shaping an unforgettable experience.

Key Details:

• Key Objective for the event:
  • Reignite Personal and Professional Passion
    • Empower advisors to reconnect with the “why” behind their work through inspiring keynotes, reflective sessions, and shared success stories that renew motivation.
  • Reimagine Purpose-Driven Advising
    • Encourage advisors to think beyond routine tasks by exploring fresh strategies, tools, and perspectives that support meaningful student engagement and advisor fulfillment.
  • Restore Energy and Intentionality
    • Create space for advisors to reset, recharge, and build sustainable practices that foster wellness, balance, and renewed joy in their roles.

Proposal Form (this is a clickable link)

Deadline: Proposals are due by Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 5:00 PM CST
Eligibility: Presenters must be current/active WACADA members
Registration: Event registration is now open, along with membership renewal
Notifications: Proposal selections will be finalized by Monday, July 28, 2025, with email confirmations sent to selected presenters

Presentation Topics

We’re seeking engaging, insightful, and purposeful presentations from advising professionals across the region. This year’s theme—Fuel the Flame: Reignite Your Passion, Reimagine Your Purpose—focuses on restoring the joy, energy, and intention behind the work we do as advisors.

We invite proposals that inspire, challenge, and uplift—whether you’re sharing innovative advising practices, creative ways to reconnect with your “why,” or strategies that support both advisor and student growth.

If it helps fellow advisors feel re-energized, rethink their impact, or reimagine their approach, we want to hear about it!.

For inspiration, check out the ideas suggested by WACADA members!

Presentation Format Options

1. Topical Presentation:
   1. A formal presentation of insights on a current advising topic, ideally with interactive elements. Topics may include literature research, best practices, or personal research (experimental or theoretical). Presentations should be 30-35 minutes with 10-15 minutes for questions.
2. Panel Discussion
   1. A facilitated discussion among a group of specialists or experts in a specific area of advising offers a dynamic exchange of ideas.
3. “Roundtable” Discussion
   1. An informal, peer-to-peer discussion focused on hot topics or areas of interest, allowing for active participant interaction.

Proposal Requirements

Proposals should include:

1. Presenter Information (Lead and Co-Presenters)
2. Title
3. Presentation Overview (maximum 500 words): Include a detailed topic description, learning outcomes, intended audience (if applicable), and applicable research.
4. Presentation Abstract (maximum 130 words): A concise summary of the event program.
5. Target Audience
6. Tech and Accessibility Needs (if applicable for virtual format).

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Relevance to current topics in academic advising.
• Creativity of approach.
• Membership interest (based on past evaluations).
• Adaptability to other institutions.
• Grounding in research, where applicable.

For questions, please contact Elyse Sewell, VP of Programs at sewelle@gtc.edu.