From University Human Resources, Professional Development & Learning: 

We are excited to announce that the 2026 CUNY Professional Development Conference will be held virtually on Monday, November 9, and Tuesday, November 10, 2026.

This year’s theme, Beyond the Threshold: Shaping What’s Next in Higher Education, challenges us to move beyond imagining the future and toward actively creating it. Together, we will explore how to navigate change, strengthen our skills and communities, embrace innovation, and prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead across CUNY.

We invite faculty and staff from across the University to share their knowledge, experiences, and expertise by submitting a proposal to present at this year’s conference. Whether you have developed a successful practice, implemented an innovative solution, led a meaningful initiative, or have insights that can support colleagues across the University, we encourage you to submit a proposal.

Proposal Submission Deadline: Friday, August 21, 2026

Conference Tracks

All proposed sessions should align with one of the following conference tracks:

Leadership Development Track

Leading Forward: Courage, Clarity, and Change

• Leading through change
• Building trust and engagement
• Coaching and developing teams
• Emerging leadership and succession planning
• Strategic leadership
• Leading across generations

Career Development Track

Future-Ready You: Skills, Growth & Career Agility

• Career development
• Adaptability and learning agility
• Communication and conflict resolution
• Project and change management
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Professional presence
• Transferable skills for the future of work

Cultural Competence Track

Open Doors: Culture, Belonging & Connection

• Cultural competence
• Belonging and inclusion
• Communicating across differences
• Psychological safety
• Intergenerational collaboration
• Navigating difficult conversations
• Strengthening workplace culture

Technology Track

Human + Digital: Working Smarter in an AI-Enabled World

• Practical applications of AI
• AI literacy
• Responsible technology use
• Digital fluency
• Automation and workplace efficiency
• Leveraging technology while maintaining human connection

Employee Wellness Track

Steady Footing: Well-Being, Resilience & Sustainable Success

• Managing stress and preventing burnout
• Building resilience
• Emotional intelligence
• Mindfulness and well-being
• Work-life integration
• Managing competing priorities
• Supporting employees through change

Session Format

• Sessions should be 60 minutes in length.
• Presenters should be comfortable facilitating engaging and interactive virtual sessions via Zoom.
• Proposals from individual presenters and panels are welcome.  

Session Selection

University Human Resources Professional Development & Learning will review all submitted proposals and select sessions that best support the conference theme and learning objectives. Selected presenters will be notified the week of September 7, 2026.

We encourage you to consider sharing your expertise and contributing to this year’s conference. Your insights and experiences help strengthen our community and support our collective success as we shape what’s next for CUNY.

SUBMIT YOUR CONFERENCE SESSION PROPOSAL HERE

If you have any questions, please contact University.Training@cuny.edu. We look forward to receiving your proposals and to another inspiring and impactful CUNY Professional Development Conference.

Sincerely,
University Human Resources
Professional Development & Learning