Share Your Vision: Access and Honors Education
Proposal submissions are now open! The 2026 HERU Planning Committee invites proposals from faculty, staff, administrators, and other professionals engaged in honors education.
I want to present
This year's theme
This year’s theme, Access and Honors Education, is broadly defined. Honors has often been associated with selectivity, yet many colleges and programs are rethinking that model. Who has access to honors education now, and on what basis? What barriers or constraints limit access? What role should access play in the future of honors education?
We encourage submissions that explore access or any subject that benefits honors education, whether through practical takeaways, new ideas, or thoughtful discussion including:
- Administration and leadership
- Measuring and communicating the value of honors
- Philanthropy, scholarships, and external relations
- Recruitment, admissions, and pathways into honors
- Advising and student success
- Co-curricular engagement, community, and well-being
- High-impact practices, such as:
- Teaching and pedagogy
- Research, scholarship, and creative work
- Global and community engagement
- Any other topic relevant to honors education at research universities
Session formats
You may choose leading a 25-minute presentation or a 50-minute session with multiple presenters and/or distinct segments (for example, a short presentation followed by an interactive activity). Format examples include lecture, workshop, facilitated discussion, case study, Q&A, or demonstration. Co-presenters and cross-institutional collaborations are encouraged, and innovative ideas still in development are welcome.
Key dates:
- Proposal Submissions: Now open
- Deadline to submit: Oct. 13, 2025
- Presenters notified after Dec. 1, 2025
Proposal review
Get to know the team of honors professionals who ensure every submission is carefully considered and whose diverse experiences and perspectives are shaping the conference format, keynotes, and overall program to create an engaging, memorable event.
