2025 Fall Workshop Call for Proposals

About & Submission Form | Topics | Accounting Track Topics | Guidelines

About & the Submission Form

The SACUBO Professional Development Committee invites you unmask bold new ideas and submit a proposal for the SACUBO Fall Workshop on October 29–31, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The theme for this year's event is "Unmasking Innovation: Revealing the Future of Higher Education."

Presenting at this gathering gives you the chance to lift the veil on your most innovative strategies and transformative solutions. So, don your creative mask, bring your brightest ideas, and submit a proposal to present in NOLA. Together, we will explore new possibilities and celebrate the future of higher education in a city known for its vibrant energy, rich traditions, and a touch of mystery. The deadline to submit a proposal is Monday, August 4, 2025.

Thank you for your interest! The call for proposals is now closed.

Topics

Submissions with in-depth and practical treatments of any of the following topic areas are welcome:

Compliance, Risk, and Ethics

Strategic Compliance: Staying Ahead in a Changing Regulatory Landscape
Third-Party Risk Management: Innovating Without Compromising Security
Understanding the Impact of IT Audits
Research Administration Essentials: Uniform Guidance, F&A Rates, and More
FAFSA Overhaul & College Costs: Navigating Financial Aid in 2025 and Beyond
Managing Risk: Conflicts of Interest and Outside Influence
Research Security: Foreign Influence and Data Protection

Leadership, Management, and Human Resources

Change Leadership: Moving from Resistance to Reinvention
Essential Soft Skills for Effective Communication: Conflict Resolution and Civility
Explaining Financial Information to Nonfinancial People
Managing Up – Effective Communications with the Board and Executive Team
CBO Essentials: Foundations for Financial Leadership in Higher Ed
Train the Trainer: Team-Building Activities to Engage and Empower Managers
Overcoming Generational Gaps in the Workplace
Staffing Smarter: Innovative Approaches to Today’s Labor Challenges
Beyond the Paycheck: Employee Morale and Motivation
Compensation and Career Pathways: Attracting and Retaining Finance Talent

Financial and Operational Strategy

Retention and Revenue: Financial Strategies That Support Student Affordability and Success
Beyond the Budget: Using Predictive Analytics for Strategic Planning
Funding for Results: The Impact of Performance-Based Models in Higher Ed
Consolidation and/or Closures of Community Colleges / Small Institutions
Decreasing Enrollments? The Enrollment Cliff & Changing Demographics
Strategic Partnerships: Aligning Development & Finance for Institutional Growth
Outsourcing Services Through the RFP Process
Lessons Learned from ERP Implementation
Implementing Shared Services: Timing, Tactics, and Lessons Learned
Measuring Success: Are Process Improvements Delivering Financial Efficiency?
Centralized vs. Decentralized Operations – Which is Right for You?
Failing Forward: Lessons from RCM, Athletics, ERP Implementation, and More

Academic, Student, and Facilities-Focused Innovation

Micro-credentials & Stackable Degrees: How Finance Supports Academic Innovation
Modular Innovation: Rethinking Campus Growth & Sustainability
Student-Centric Services – Designed with the Student in Mind
The Future of Campus Bookstores: Adapting to a New Generation of Buyers
Rethinking Facilities, Space, and Sustainability

Technology and Data Analytics

AI & Automation in Higher Ed Finance: Tools for the Next Decade
Optimizing Academic Programs: Strategies for Efficient Scheduling & Student Success
Presenting with Impact: Data Visualization Skills for Finance Professionals
Breaking Silos: Rethinking Software Integration for Cross-Departmental Efficiency

Public Policy, Politics, and External Affairs

Navigating the Political & Public Perception of Higher Ed Spending
Federal Policy Forecast: What Business Officers Need to Know Now
Endowment Taxation
Higher Education Taxation
College Cost Reduction Act – Are Institutions Ready?
Financial Aid, Pell Grants, and the Higher Education Value Proposition
The Evolving Role of International Students in U.S. Higher Education
Campus Unrest: How Elections and Global Events Shape Institutional Climate
New Realities of College Athletics (Portal, NIL, House Case, Revenue Share, etc.)

Accounting Track Topics

Accounting Standards

FASB Update
GASB Update
Introduction to Higher Education Accounting
GASB Compensated Absences Accounting

Audit

Single Audit Update
Working Effectively with Internal Audit
SACS Audit Requirements

Tax

UBI
NIL Tax Implications
Employment Tax Update
Energy Tax Credit Changes
Endowment Tax

Ethics

Conflicts of Interest
Ethical Considerations for Accounting Staff
Financial Accuracy and Transparency

Compliance

Federal F&A Rate Changes
Navigating Federal and State DEI Rules & Regulations

Submission Guidelines

Sessions are 50 minutes in length, and some may be presented twice, back-to-back.
Accepted proposals will not be assigned a specific date and time until two months prior to the meeting. Presenters should be available to speak on any day of the meeting.
The proposal should be a brief one-paragraph summary of the presentation that will be used for the meeting program and should include at least three learning objectives.
Include all presenters that will take part in the presentation. Do not list co-presenters without definite commitment that they will be on the session. The co-presenter(s) must agree to all the terms and conditions for participation. There is a limit of four speakers per submission.
Each proposal must have at least one speaker from a SACUBO member institution. Any submission that does not include a presenter from a college or university will be considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
SPONSORED SESSIONS: Diamond, Platinum, & Gold level Business Partner sessions are the only ones that do not require a college/university speaker. If you are a Business Partner who does not meet the above criteria and would still like to submit a proposal, please partner with a SACUBO member and submit the form as a speaker to be considered.
Speakers must complete an agreement form to be confirmed for a session.
After sessions are chosen, speakers from colleges and universities will receive a discounted registration rate for the conference.
Speakers will not receive any royalties, honorarium, reimbursement of expenses, or other compensation from SACUBO in connection with the program, unless otherwise noted by SACUBO staff.
Business partners should contact the SACUBO Office if they have any questions.