The Daily Bulletin Archive

The Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) invites proposals for its annual conference, The Essential Role of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, October 23–26, in San Diego, California.

As CUMU institutions and communities continue to navigate a global pandemic, wrestle with a long-overdue racial reckoning, face environmental challenges, and witness the great inequality in how communities are able to respond to these challenges—we recognize that we are still in the midst of crisis. The CUMU conference offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on how we are responding to our current moment while also looking forward as we begin to articulate how we emerge from crisis.

Conference Themes
The Essential Role of Urban and Metropolitan Universities invites presenters to reflect broadly on how the urban mission can be fully integrated into operations, structure, partnerships, and academic objectives within the following major themes. Submissions are due March 25.

• Cultivating Resilient Campuses in the Midst of Crisis
• Inclusive Growth and Housing
• Industry Engagement and Entrepreneurship
• K-16 Student Success and Support
• Place-Based Hyperlocal Community Engagement
• Racial Equity and Social Mobility
• Regional Collaborations and Partnerships
• Workforce and Talent Development

Presentation Formats
A blend of short presentations and deep-dive discussions allow for in-depth conversations and actionable next steps.

• Community Conversations—Exploring Challenges: A presenter will lead a discussion that explores a challenge they are grappling with and wants to engage the collective experience of conference participants to help address.
• Learning and Sharing Deep Dive: Did you present at one of our Learning & Sharing Virtual Series? Wish you had more time to be in dialogue and gather feedback? This session is an opportunity to dive deeper at our in-person conference setting.
• Mini Workshop: In these how-to-sessions, presenters will create a focused, interactive session that engages attendees on new processes, infrastructure, or policy approaches.
• Panel Presentation: A group of panelists with diverse view points and perspectives will create a question and answer dialogue around a topic.
• Poster Sessions: Gain significant attention for your work in a more social atmosphere.
• Roundtables: Roundtables are an opportunity to present a project, program, or initiative through small group discussions. During the 60-minute session, presenters are positioned at their own tables and participants rotate three different times. So presenters have three 20-minute conversations on their program or initiative.

Review Major Themes and Submit a Proposal