For ACPA26, 8 Pre-Convention Workshops will be offered on topics relevant and pressing for today’s student affairs and higher education professionals! These Workshops are offered for $75 each as either a 1-day session for 4 hours, or a 2-day session for a total of 8 hours.

ACPA26 is also excited to offer two Pre-Convention Excursions! Learn more about the *new* excursion opportunities.

2-Day Sessions

Sunday, 29 March • 1:00–5:00pm and
Monday, 30 March • 8:30am–12:30pm

ACPA Summit for Black Student Affairs Professionals

The annual Summit for Black Student Affairs Professionals at the ACPA Conference provides professional development, fellowship, and networking opportunities for senior, mid-level, and new professionals of African descent (e.g., African Americans, Caribbean, South American) through informal and formal dialogue, mentoring, and workshopping. This year’s summit will ground participant experience within their functional level creating space for connection, reflection, and action planning within a particular context.

Primer on Higher Education Public Policy and Student Affairs Implications

This 8-hour/2-day Pre-Convention Session serves as a primer for colleagues interested in better understanding higher education public policy, gaining awareness, knowledge, and skills related to contemporary policy issues and how to apply policy knowledge within their organizations. Participants will learn about the basics of public policy, examine current policy dynamics in the higher education space, and discuss implications for practice in the current political landscape. This session is coordinated by the ACPA Public Policy and Governmental Affairs Taskforce.

Serving Queer & Trans Communities in this Political Moment

Join the Consortium for conversations on navigating queer and trans equity work in this political moment. With the erasure of LGBTQIA2S+ programs and services, the closure of gender and sexuality centers, and the backlash against QT resource practitioners, we must shift how we support queer and trans communities. In this session, we explore how higher education professionals can re-imagine our roles, provide support for our campus communities and each other, re-craft and redistribute resources, and adapt our strategies for advocacy.

1-Day Sessions (Sunday)

Sunday, 29 March • 1:00–5:00pm

Annual Gathering of Indigenous Professionals in Student Affairs

This gathering brings together Indigenous practitioners working in Student Affairs, whether from Indigenous units or elsewhere in their institutions, to explore current opportunities and challenges facing Indigenous students, staff and faculty. This session offers an opportunity for Indigenous practitioners and scholars at all career stages to connect, learn from each other and reflect on the work that has been done and the work still to be done.

Writing Workshop: Developing an Article for About Campus

In this day-long pre-convention workshop, participants will spend time developing a manuscript submission for About Campus, ACPA’s scholarly magazine. The workshop is designed to help participants begin crafting a manuscript that addresses a topic of interest to them while also speaking to the aims and scope of About Campus as a scholarly magazine. Workshop participants need not have published previously, nor do they need to come with something drafted; the workshop has been designed for all who would like to participate. 

1-Day Sessions (Monday)

Monday, 30 March • 8:30am–12:30pm

Evolve Your Leadership Voice

Many student affairs leaders are deeply committed to equity, yet struggle to lead effectively and consistently in the toughest of moments. There are many barriers to transformational change. Taking transformative action for inclusion takes more strategy and nuance than ever. Participating in this session will help leaders move from good intentions to transformative action. The facilitators will briefly explore personal foundations and equity leadership frameworks, helping you begin to put all this into practice for transformative action.

“I-You-We” Framework: Designing Holistic International Student Programs for Belonging

This interactive workshop guides participants in designing comprehensive international student programming—from pre-orientation and peer mentoring to DEI initiatives, community building, and graduation. Using the “I–You–We” framework, we explore holistic, equity-driven practices rooted in storytelling and international student–centered design. Drawing on examples from a large public university and a small liberal arts college, participants will engage in collaborative planning and leave with practical tools, adaptable strategies, and deeper understanding of how to design culturally sustaining systems that foster belonging on campus.

The Magic of S.A.M.S. (Student Affairs Moms)

This session explores The Magic of S.A.M.S., a groundbreaking collection of narratives from mothers working in higher education. Through powerful storytelling, the session invites participants to examine the lived experiences of student affairs professionals navigating motherhood, institutional inequities, and identity. Attendees will gain insights into how inclusive policy, community care, and resilience can transform campus culture for working parents. Join this reflective and action-oriented session to imagine a more equitable and supportive higher education landscape.

Pre-Convention Excursions

Excursion 1: HBCU Institute hosted by Morgan State University

Sunday, 29 March • 12:00pm–7:00pm

Join fellow ACPA26 attendees for a powerful half-day HBCU Institute at Morgan State University, Maryland’s preeminent public urban research university and a proud Historically Black College and University (HBCU). This immersive experience, hosted by Morgan’s HESA program, offers a rare opportunity to deepen your understanding of the HBCU legacy in advancing racial equity, fostering student success, and transforming communities.

Participants will engage in critical conversations about the enduring role of HBCUs in cultivating access, belonging, and leadership. The institute will close with a celebratory reception and a follow up session will be presented during ACPA26.

Space is limited to the first 50 registrants. Transportation will be provided by ACPA.

Excursion 2: Education and Transformation Behind the Walls

Monday, 30 March • 7:30am–12:00pm

What does higher education look like when it meets the urgency of justice? Join fellow ACPA26 attendees for a powerful visit to the Maryland Correctional Institute for Women and Maryland Correctional Institute-Jessup to engage directly with the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP), a nationally recognized model for equity and access in postsecondary education.

This experience invites you to witness firsthand how transformative education can be when extended to incarcerated students.

Space is limited to the first 45 registrants. Transportation will be provided by ACPA.

Registration Rates:

1-day Pre-Convention Workshops — $50
2-day Pre-Convention Workshops — $75
Pre-Convention Excursions — $75

Adding a Pre-Convention Workshop or Excursion to Registration

You can add a Pre-Convention Workshop to your registration when completing your ACPA26 registration. When you register for ACPA26 the Pre-Convention Workshops are listed as an option to add to your registration.  

If you have already registered for ACPA26, you can add a Pre-Convention Workshop to your existing registration by using the following steps:

1. Log into the ACPA Portal

2. Select the Events option in the menu bar and then select My Event Registrations.

3. Click on the green Withdraw/Modify button next to your ACPA26 registration.

4. In the Action area, click on Select Ticket Options.

5. Select the Pre-Convention Workshop(s) you would like to add to your registration. Then, select Continue.

6. Select Save on the next page and then Continue.

7. On the next page, verify that the Pre-Convention Workshop has been added to your registration.

8. Select your payment method and then select Process Payment.