This year's conference theme, Road to Success, encourages interactive sessions and discussions about moving forward and equipping learning center staff, peer educators, and students to set and confidently reach goals as they navigate their academic and personal journeys. To this end, there are four proposal tracks:

Recalculating: Using Different Methods to Reach the Same Destination

This track welcomes proposals that focus on how learning centers have adapted new methods for engaging students online and in-person.  Sessions may discuss different strategies used to support students during a virtual learning environment to the present hybrid learning environment.  Recognizing the current times have presented challenges as well as exhausted our lives, we are welcoming sessions that detail outreach strategies and sustainable programming to keep students engaged and informed.  

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Hands-On-The-Wheel: Building Tutor Communities As We Go

This track welcomes proposals that focus on how learning centers train students or professionals for their roles. Sessions may discuss different learning assistance positions and the various types of training models, topics, projects, and formats that trainers create and facilitate. Sessions may also address the benefits and incorporation of one or more of the various training certification programs, such as CRLA, NCLCA, ACTP, or SI into their training programs.

 

Exits to Success: Supporting Students on their Unique Journeys

This track welcomes proposals that focus on best practices and initiatives for supporting a specific group of students, whether that is English language learners, neurodiverse students, students on academic probation, or any other exceptional group of students that your learning center strives to support. Sessions may address a specific program or initiative of your center or research on supporting a specific population of students.

 

Intersections: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity  

This track welcomes proposals that address strategic and practical methods for accomplishing goals of equity, inclusion, and social justice work in learning centers. Examples of topics include the ways in which learning center staff bring unique and diverse identities and perspectives to the field, support and empower diverse students and staff, and/or identify or change policies and procedures to increase access and equity.

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Spring Conference Proposal Submission

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Proposals should include a session description, participant learning outcomes, an overview of the session organization, and strategies to actively engage the participants during the session (for example, facilitated discussion, a demonstration, opportunity to practice a technique, etc.) 

 

Everyone involved with learning center work is welcome to submit, including peer educators, tutors and student workers. Student presenters are strongly encouraged to apply, and if their proposals are accepted, their registration fee is waived. There is an alternative process for vendors interested in being sponsors; interested vendors should contact info@mdclca.org.

 

Although MDCLCA is a Maryland-based affiliate, we do invite conference submissions and participation from learning center staff outside of Maryland, especially those in the Capital Region, including Washington, DC and Virginia. All proposals will be blind reviewed.

 

To Submit

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The submission form is available here on the MDCLCA website. Click on the “Annual Conference” tab, and then select “Submit a Proposal” from the drop-down menu.  After successfully submitting a proposal, you will receive an email confirmation.

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• Proposals must be submitted no later than Wednesday, December 15, 2021.

• Presenters will be notified via email in January 2022.

• Please contact info@mdclca.org for questions or more information.

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Important reminders

• Incomplete proposals will not be reviewed. Fill out all required fields on the form.

• Presenters are required to register for the conference. The registration fee is waived for all student presenters. Conference registration will open in January 2022.