Call for Proposals
The 2025 RBCA conference committee is seeking those in senior leadership roles at regional and branch campuses to participate at the event as presenters. Supporting the success of students is at the core of higher education institutions. This conference seeks proposals to help regional and branch campus leaders learn best practices in supporting student success.
Sunday, June 22 - Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Resort at Longboat Key Club
| Sarasota, Florida
Learning without Limits:
Unlocking the Potential of Regionals and Branch Campuses
Deadline Extended to Monday, March 31
Speaker Acceptance Notifications: Mid April, 2025
Proposal Topics & Themes
The 2025 RBCA conference " Learning without Limits: Unlocking the Potential of Regionals and Branch Campuses "addresses the significant changes occurring in the regional and branch campus domain due to factors like declining enrollments, shifting student demographics, and rapid technological advancements.
Key challenges include a "demographic cliff" from lower birth rates, fewer high school graduates opting for four-year degrees, rising tuition costs, and growing skepticism about the value of continuing education. With many questioning the worth of a two or four-year degree, this year's RBCA conference will emphasize the need for innovation, transformation, and collaboration to address these issues. Education leaders will come together to learn strategies that ensure our regional and branch campuses remain a vital force, equipping students for the future and maintaining its role as an engine of opportunity and growth.
Despite these challenges, regional and branch campuses are uniquely positioned to adapt and thrive by embracing:
- Technological Advancements: Integrating cutting-edge technologies to create dynamic, personalized learning experiences.
- Entrepreneurial Mindsets: Developing innovative programs that align with workforce needs and foster creativity.
- Expanded Access: Collaborating with high schools through dual enrollment and College Credit Plus programs to reach students earlier.
- Curriculum Overhaul: Offering coursework that reshapes perceptions of higher education and addresses the specific interests and career aspirations of Gen Z and future learners.
You may share your expertise to help conference attendees develop knowledge and approaches to academic and administrative management and leadership across the functional areas of the campus may include, but are not limited to: student retention strategies, change implementation, intentional advising, cultural resistance, leading transformation, wrap around support services, career coaching, self-care for educators, mental health services, communication strategies, data-driven decisions and process innovation as it pertains to the 2025 theme.
Proposals that differ from the stated theme and are of general interest to the audience will also be considered and submission is encouraged. Approximately six presentation times are held for this purpose. Examples of topics may include sustainable models for branch campus sites, the use of customer relationship management tools, enrollment management for branch campuses, workforce development, and building community partnerships.
All proposals will be reviewed by the conference committee and the selection of presentations will be based on a prioritized alignment with the conference theme, perceived audience interest on theme and general interest topics, overall relevance and applicability to many branch campus environments, and perceived quality.
The Audience
The conference is specifically intended for regional and branch campus leaders who function as a chief academic and administrative officer for that site, and who typically hold titles such as Campus President, Provost, Dean, or Campus Director. The conference encourages attendance by those in leadership roles aspiring to higher levels of leadership in branch campus administration. Attendees participate in formal presentations, roundtable discussions, and informal networking for their professional development and growth. It is a conference presented by those in senior leadership for senior leadership enhancement.
Presentations may be proposed in one of the following formats:
- Formal presentations ideally 30, 45, or 60 minutes in length.
- Panel presentation/discussion, to include representatives from two or three institutions.
- Facilitated presentations and roundtable discussions.
(No presentation should spend more than a few minutes about the presenters’ campus to provide context with the balance of the time focused on issues, strategies, and management.)
Contact
Deborah Marinski, PhD
2025 RBCA Conference Chair
marinski@ohio.edu