Western Association of Graduate Schools 68th Annual Conference

68th ANNUAL

Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) Conference

April 1–3, 2026 | A virtual event

Showcasing the Heart of Graduate Education

Following our successful annual meeting in Denver, we were looking forward to bringing the next in-person gathering to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. However, after careful consideration at the recent WAGS Board Meeting, the decision was made to postpone the Coeur d'Alene meeting to 2027 and instead hold a virtual annual conference in 2026.

We are enthusiastic about the opportunities that a virtual format provides, particularly in enabling broader participation from institutional leadership and staff during a time of ongoing budgetary uncertainty.

The 2026 virtual conference will feature an engaging line-up of plenary speakers and will offer concurrent sessions in five key focus areas:

1. Administrators (deans, associate deans, assistant deans)
2. Admissions (graduate admissions staff and departmental directors of graduate studies)
3. Graduate Student Support (individuals involved in graduate student and post-doc professional development or other support services)
4. Faculty/Department Chairs (faculty and leaders involved in graduate education)
5. Marketing and Recruitment (individuals involved in promoting graduate education programs and tools)

The WAGS Board is committed to offering meaningful professional development opportunities for all members of the graduate education community. We encourage you to submit a session proposal and to invite colleagues across your institution to participate in the 2026 conference.

Jerry McMurty, WAGS President