Western Association of Graduate Schools 69th Annual Conference

69th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

Western Association of Graduate Schools

March 29–April 1, 2027 | Coeur d'Alene Resort
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 

Submit a Proposal

The deadline for submission of proposals is December 22, 2026.
Notifications of acceptance will be sent by January 15, 2027.

For its 69th annual conference, the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS) invites proposals for 15-minute lightning talks and 45-minute concurrent presentations. 

Call for Proposals: CONCURRENT SESSIONS

Proposals are invited for 45-minute (+Q&A) concurrent presentations. The concurrent sessions can be workshops, panels, working groups/round tables, or any format of interest and should cover one of the two topics below or an optional topic in the arena of high-quality future ready graduate education

1. Holding the Line: What Shouldn't Change in Graduate Education - Given the extraordinary upheaval in graduate education, what principles, and how, should graduate schools uphold amid constant change?
2. Curriculum Meets Career: Aligning Graduate Programs with Workforce Needs - How are graduate programs are revising curricula to keep pace with evolving workforce demands. Where are you identifying skills gaps, engaging employers, and redesigning coursework to prepare graduates for the jobs available to them?
3. Choice topic

Submit a Proposal

Call for Proposals: LIGHTNING TALKS

Proposals are invited for 15-minute (+Q&A) lightning talks. The lightning talks should cover one of the three themes below or address optional topics related to deas, Innovations, and Alternative

• Reimagining the Pipeline: New Approaches to Marketing, Recruitment, and Admissions - This session will highlight innovative strategies for attracting, engaging, and admitting graduate students in a shifting higher-education landscape. Share what's working — from marketing strategies and data-driven outreach to redesigned admissions processes and holistic review.
• Building Future-Ready Scholars: Professional Development, Upskilling, and Student Success - This session will spotlight programs and practices that build career-ready graduate students and postdocs. Share your approaches, data and program support success - both inside and beyond theacademy.
• Beyond the Campus: Community and Industry Partnerships in Graduate Education - This session will feature partnerships with industry, government, nonprofits, and local communities. Share how these collaborations create internships, applied research, funding, and/or career pathways for graduate students.
• Open Mic: Ideas, Innovations, and Alternative Formats - A flexible session for great ideas that don't fit neatly elsewhere. Bring a case study, a work-in-progress, a provocative question, or a format beyond the standard talk.

Submit a Proposal