#ECSAS 2025

This track is dedicated to advancing well-being for students and the professionals who support them. Recognizing the evolving landscape of student needs, we spotlight inclusive strategies, preventative care, and creative solutions that promote mental, emotional, and social health across campus communities.

• Neurodiversity and Universal Design: explore best practices for ensuring equitable access and participation for neurodivergent students.

• Mental Health First Aid: programs that help gain essential skills in mental health first aid—empowering both students and professionals to recognize, respond to, and support those experiencing mental health challenges.

• Proactive Support for Professionals: learn prevention-focused strategies to promote mental health and work wellness among staff.

• Innovative and creative strategies for student wellbeing: share creative and evidence-based approaches to student well-being, from sports, digital wellness tools and peer-led initiatives.

• Community Life, Socialization and Inclusion: Engage with models for building vibrant campus communities through inclusive activities, social skill-building, and programs that foster meaningful connections.

• Life Skills and Empowerment: Equip students with practical life skills and empowerment strategies to build resilience, manage stress, and prevent mental health challenges before they arise.

• Emotional and Affective Education: delve into approaches for emotional literacy and affective education aimed at preventing addiction, violence, and risky behaviors.

This track will allow attendees to explore how innovation, technology, and data are reshaping student affairs and services. From predictive analytics to virtual advising and digital credentials, we’ll examine tools that enhance engagement and impact. Sessions will also tackle data ethics and digital fluency as core competencies for the future.

• Using Data in Student Engagement: how we use data to transform the student experience and demonstrate the value of the student affairs experience.

• Predictive Analytics and Early Alert Systems: Leveraging data to identify at-risk students and intervene early for better outcomes.

• Ethical Use of Student Data: Navigating privacy, consent, and transparency in data collection and usage.

• Virtual Student Services and Remote Advising: Innovations in delivering student affairs support online, ensuring access and flexibility.

• Micro-Credentials and Digital Badges: Designing stackable credentials to validate co-curricular learning and career-ready skills.

• Digital Literacy and AI Fluency: Equipping students and staff with skills that allow responsible technology use and critical evaluation of AI tools.

This track empowers educators and student affairs professionals to cultivate engaged, responsible, and globally minded students and citizens. Through a focus on transformative learning experiences and student agency, we are looking for sessions that will provide evidence-based strategies and real-world examples for fostering the skills, mindsets, and experiences students need to thrive in diverse and interconnected societies.

• Global Mindset Development: examples of programs that equip students with cross-cultural competence, ethical reasoning, and systems thinking by integrating global perspectives into the curriculum and leveraging international partnerships.

• From Engagement to Impact: examples of transformative learning opportunities that inspire community action through service-learning, volunteering, experiential learning etc.

• Student Voice: examples of programs that champion student agency by creating opportunities for students to participate in decision-making, debate, and community-building or peer-led initiatives.

• Dialogues Across Difference: conflict resolution models and digital communication strategies for polarized environments, teaching students to foster dialogue across ideological divides with empathy and evidence-based reasoning.

This track delves into the multifaceted nature of student success and the foundational role of belonging in higher education. It addresses both structural and social factors influencing student outcomes, from international student flows, equity in support services, to retention strategies. Sessions will explore how institutions can realign expectations, foster integration, and support every student’s journey. A special attention is dedicated to welcoming and supporting international students in all programs below.

• Sense of Belonging and Social Integration: Approaches to fostering meaningful student connections within academic and residential communities.

• External Pressures on Student Success: Experiments addressing non-academic factors such as housing, financial stress, and social issues that impact student performance.

• Retention and Progression Strategies: Institutional practices that improve student persistence and long-term academic engagement.

• Realigning Student and Staff Expectations: Initiatives that help students and staff rethink transactional mindsets into collaborative partnerships; exploring strategies to bridge the gap between students’ aspirations and the realities of higher education.

• Equity in Access and Support Services: Ensuring all students — especially underrepresented groups — have equitable access to academic and personal support.

This track is dedicated to student affairs professionals' growth, resilience, and leadership. Recognizing the evolving challenges in higher education, this track is looking for content that allows to:

• Prioritize Staff Well-being: Explore strategies to support mental health and prevent burnout among student affairs professionals.

• Navigate Career Pathways: Gain insights into professional development from entry-level roles to senior leadership, emphasizing mentorship and career progression strategies.

• Bridge Generational Work Approaches: Understand and adapt to different work styles across generations to enhance team collaboration.

• Foster Leadership and Innovation: Engage in discussions on innovative leadership practices that drive positive change within student affairs.