Proposals Due on or Before August 29, 2025

The National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions, Hunter College, City University of New York invites proposals for balanced and diverse labor-management panels and interactive workshops for our 53rd annual conference that will take place on March 22-24, 2026 in New York City.

The theme of the conference will be Uniting for Political and Workplace Democracy

We welcome proposals for diverse panels and workshops that include labor and administrator representatives to discuss subjects relevant to the conference theme including higher education unionization, collective bargaining, and labor relations.

We strongly encourage proposals that include newer and diverse speakers, moderators, and facilitators. Suggested panel and workshop topics are set forth below.

We also encourage conference proposals from authors of recently published books relevant to the theme of the conference. 

Those interested in proposing a panel or workshop should upload an abstract by August 29, 2025 to 2026 Conference Abstract Dropbox.

To be considered, the abstract must include a title and description along with a list of invited or confirmed participants with their titles, affiliations, and contact information. For proposed Interactive workshops, the abstract should identify a proposed experienced facilitator to lead the workshop. The abstract should also state how the proposed panel or workshop will ensure diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Questions concerning the call for proposals should be emailed to msavares@hunter.cuny.edu.

Below is a list of suggested topics for panels or facilitated interactive workshops:

• Political and Workplace Democracy: Joint Strategies for Defending and Educating

• Campus Leader Responses to Anti-DEI Efforts and Efforts at Championing Inclusivity at Higher Ed Institutions

• Creating Alliances Between Institutions, Labor, and Community Groups

• Mutual Aid and Protection Agreements Between Higher Ed Institutions

• Immigration: Best Practices for Protecting Faculty and Students

• An Immigration Law Update

• Scope of Current Public Sector Higher Ed Collective Bargaining Rights

• State Legislative Changes and Proposals Concerning Collective Bargaining

• State Law Alternatives to the National Labor Relations Act?

• Negotiating Non-NLRB Representation Election and Card Check Procedures

• Community Colleges: Innovative Contract Provisions for Contingent Faculty

• Distinct Bargaining Issues and Negotiation Histories Involving Campus Staff

• Bargaining and Implementing Recent Postdoctoral Scholar Contracts

• Creative Labor-Management Solutions to Federal Cuts in Research Funding

• Analysis of Recent Graduate Student Employee First Contracts

• Strategies for Improving Morale on Campus in Unprecedented Times

• Changing Union Organizational Cultures to be Proactive Against Racism

• Successful Strategies in Arbitrating Over Academic Freedom Issues

• Best Practices in Presenting Past Practice Arguments Before an Arbitrator

• The Challenges in Negotiating Shared Governance Procedures

• The Status of Title VI and Title IX Enforcement on Campus

• Practical Skills in Handling Weingarten Rights and Disciplinary Interrogations

• Disciplinary Arbitration: Best Practices in Preparing and Presenting

• The Scope of Protected Conduct for Political, Social, and International Advocacy

• Mindfulness for Stressful Times in Higher Education and the Professions

• Information Demands and Responses in Negotiations and Grievance Processing

• Selecting Arbitrators and Mediators: Considerations for Unions and Institutions

National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in

Higher Education and the Professions

 Hunter College, CUNY

https://hunter.cuny.edu/national-center/

msavares@hunter.cuny.edu