THE SYMPOSIUM

Overview

The Symposium Save the Date: Monday through Thursday, October 19 to 22, 2026

About the Symposium

Beginning in 2001 as a one-day event, The Symposium has grown into a week-long conference featuring dozens of workshops and sessions related to access, success and community engagement, cutting-edge research presentations, a variety of keynote speakers, and a student-specific educational track.

In addition to our many workshops, keynotes, and featured sessions, we proudly offer CSU Inspire, a featured event that brings 5 -10 TED Talk-like sessions led by CSU System faculty, staff, students, and community members. Our speakers share engaging and inspiring initiatives on our campuses and communities in short 8-minute presentations.

Call for Proposals: CSU Symposium 2026

We are now accepting proposals for The Symposium, sponsored by the Office for Inclusive Excellence, October 19 – 22, 2026. Proposals should be designed as a 60-minute virtual workshop.

This year, we are welcoming proposals that address the following themes*:

  • Opening Doors: Access in Higher Education
  • Reimagining Success: Opportunity, Engagement, and Growth
  • Community in Action: Centering People and Building Resilience

Additionally, we are thrilled to host a student-specific track once again, connecting participants across the CSU system with resources available on all campuses. We invite proposals that are student-focused and engage our themes. Additional session criteria are available on the Proposal Form.

We welcome all members of the CSU community, local partners, and higher education colleagues to submit proposals addressing our annual themes as they relate to students, employees, and the greater community. We also encourage proposal submissions that illustrate our Land-Grant mission and CSU’s Principles of Community. Please review the expanded theme descriptions on our Themes page.

*Only proposals aligning with the stated criteria will be considered for selection.

All proposals, including a session abstract, are due by Monday, June 22, at 11:59 PM MST.

Please contact The Office for Inclusive Excellence at inclusiveexcellence@colostate.edu with any questions.

Thank you,
The Symposium Planning Committee

Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome all! The Symposium is open to the entire CSU System, including employees, students, and alumni. Additionally, we welcome our local community, external organizations, and higher education institutions to participate. Each year, we have attendees from around the globe. Registration is required for all attendees.

  • After registering for The Symposium, attendees should either click on the “Schedule” tab or scroll down to the schedule.
  • Sessions are labeled as “Hybrid” in the title to indicate that there is an in-person option.
  • On the left of the event description, attendees will find the in-person location as well as a button that says, “Reserve a seat".
  • Attendees should select “Reserve a seat” to register for an in-person session. The button will then change to a blue box with text that says “Seat reserved".

Workshops are currently all virtual. Several in-person sessions are available to anyone local, including our “A Glimpse of MURALS” event, CSU Inspire, community events, and our opening and closing receptions. Several of these events will be live-streamed. Check the event portal for the most updated listings.

  • Sign language interpreters will be available at all events during the week. Additionally, computer-generated captioning will be enabled for all virtual sessions through the platform.
  • We are also offering Spanish interpretation at events during the week.
  • For additional accessibility accommodations, please contact Susan Hua at susan.hua@colostate.edu

  • The Symposium has long attracted strong participation at CSU, but registration has surged since shifting to a hybrid format.
  • To help us navigate the increase in attendance, please keep the following information and tips in mind:
  • Be respectful to presenters. All presentations are being hosted by our peers and colleagues within the CSU community, and for many folks, this may be the first time they are presenting to such large audiences. Thank you for your understanding and patience in advance.
  • If you are in a workshop or session that is using the meeting format, please join the meeting with your mic muted and be sure your username reflects your name appropriately. Listen to the presenter's and moderator’s prompts and only utilize your mic when asking a question or when instructed to.
  • We will insert a video here for attendees to reference instructions.
  • With so many moving parts, there are bound to be some changes to the Symposium schedule. Please be sure to rely on the emails and the Symposium website for the most up-to-date information. You can also use the chat functions in the event platform throughout the Symposium if you have any questions. A member of our team will be monitoring the chat.

Symposium Participation Guidelines

Colorado State University is committed to fostering a respectful environment for learning and dialogue. The Symposium provides opportunities for learning and for perspectives to be shared in a constructive, professional, and courteous manner. Attendees are asked to participate using the following guidelines, which are intended to promote education, encourage respectful participation, and contribute to a successful Symposium. Speech protected by the First Amendment will not be restricted.

Guidelines

  1. Address ideas rather than individuals and engage with courtesy even when disagreeing.
  2. Let speakers be heard and utilize established channels for questions or comments.
  3. Refrain from interrupting, shouting down, or otherwise preventing speakers from making their presentation.
  4. Share your screen or other content when invited by a moderator or presenter. Ensure that any material you share is relevant and contributes to the session.
  5. If you are in a workshop or session that is using the hybrid meeting format, please join the meeting with your mic muted and be sure your username reflects your preferred name. Listen to the presenter's and moderator’s prompts and utilize your mic when asking a question or when instructed to.
  6. If you witness conduct that disrupts the Symposium, you may bring it to the attention of the moderator or organizers, who may intervene to maintain the educational purpose of the program and limit disruption.
  7. Disagreement and difficult conversations are part of higher education and may occur. Participants are encouraged to express their views with civility and regard for the opportunity of others to participate.

Symposium 2026 quick reference

DETAILS:

  • Monday-Thursday October 19-22, 2026
  • Virtual presentations and special events in person