The 2026 theme is Level Up! 2 Day Forum Details September 9-10, 2026 - Fully In Person Marriott Hotel & Conference Center - Normal, IL 201 Broadway Normal, IL 61761 The Forum for Excellence is Illinois’ premier professional development conference, showcasing the growing partnerships that support students across the state’s community college and adult education system. This year, we are being intentional about expanding engagement across the community college system, the adult education network, and the broader workforce ecosystem. The Forum for Excellence is evolving to more fully reflect the diversity of programs that contribute to workforce development and student success—extending beyond Perkins and adult education to include initiatives such as PATH, Rev Up EV, Workforce Empowerment Initiative, innovative transitions, dual credit, and competency-based education. The Forum is sponsored by the Illinois Community College Board and hosted by the Illinois Center for Specialized Professional Support in collaboration with the Southern Illinois Professional Development Center. This year, to increase opportunities for exposure to a wider variety of topics, sessions will be 30-minutes in length. Select sessions may be asked to present a 90-minute workshop to offer a deep dive into a topic. Please see below for expectations for conference presenters. Request for Presentations • Sessions are approximately 30 minutes in length. • Sessions can be discussion based, led by questions and conversation, or a content-rich presentation • Each session request requires a separate submission. • All accepted submissions will include up to two complimentary registrations for presenters. • Additional presenters or attendees must register at the conference rate. • All presenters are expected to be in person for their session. • Request for presentations must be submitted by May 15, 2026. PLEASE NOTE: Sessions that include sales of products or services are not permitted. If you are interested in becoming an exhibitor at the Forum for Excellence, contact Amber Fornaciari at afornac@siue.edu We are seeking innovative solution oriented presentations that address one or more of these themes: - Data and Accountability Share innovative practices, research, and methodologies related to data collection, visualization, analysis, data-driven decision-making, performance measurement, evaluation, and accountability frameworks. - Partner Development / Service Integration Share program/college, community, and WIOA collaborations that make a difference for your students. What are some of the external relationships driving success? Which campus/program relationships are key? How have you developed and implemented workforce literacy programming? How have you developed and maintained partnerships? Please share replicable models for success. - Leadership Development Share the ways your college or program is fostering leadership development among students, faculty, and staff. What access to leadership training, mentorship, or professional development opportunities are available on campus and through community or industry partnerships? Provide examples of faculty and staff leadership development programs, coaching or mentoring initiatives, virtual or in person leadership training, succession planning efforts, or communities of practice. What leadership development best practices can you share for strengthening instructional leadership, team collaboration, and organizational culture? - Outreach & Student Success Share effective outreach and communication strategies that help identify student needs, reduce barriers, and support retention. How does your program use marketing, early engagement, and ongoing communication to connect students with wrap‑around services and keep them on track? Highlight practices such as: Strategies for learning about student needs and sharing support resources. Aligning wrap‑around services with recruitment, onboarding, and retention efforts. Strengthening transitions through Bridge programs, Career Services, and employability skills. Partnerships with employers to expand career pathways, work-based learning, and apprenticeship opportunities. What promising outreach and student success strategies can your program share to ensure students enroll, persist, and transition successfully into careers? - Supporting Effective Classroom Instruction Presentations should focus on sharing best practices for engaging classroom instruction or successful ICAPS models. Share your strategies for evaluating lessons to ensure they reach and teach all learners, including how you integrate Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and standards-based practices into instruction. Share your replicable ICAPS resources and models that emphasize partnerships between Adult Education and training/CTE programs, braided or blended funding approaches, collaborative teaching practices, and the development of pipelines, including Bridges, to support student progress into, through, and beyond ICAPS programs. - Digital Transformation Presentations should focus on how artificial intelligence and digital transformation are enhancing teaching and learning. Share your strategies for integrating AI tools into classroom instruction, supporting student learning, and improving instructional efficiency. Share your approaches for implementing digital enhancements, quality distance learning, HyFlex delivery, and other technology-enabled methods that strengthen course design and educational outcomes. Fields marked with an * are required.
Please do not use acronyms.
This will act as your session description on the agenda.
You may select more than one.
All breakout rooms at the 2026 Forum for Excellence will be equipped with an AV cart with power, screen, laptop, LCD projector, and a slide advancer. Presenters are responsible for providing any additional equipment needed for the presentation. Presenters must bring their slide deck in a usable format on a USB drive or accessible via a reliable link.
Prepare objectives for participants to guide the presentation. Be clear and concise. Structure your presentation around 1-2 takeaway points for a 30-minute session. Create engaging visuals on the screen for our visual learners, but don’t just read the screen. In discussion, give more thorough information that fully explains the point(s). Bring your slide deck in a usable format on a USB drive or accessible via a reliable link. Provide handouts and good resources to support the information shared. What resources are needed to get participants started? Check your energy level. Make sure to infuse your voice with energy. It is easy to sound tired or uninterested without this shot of energy. This will also help maintain participants' interest. Engage participants with questions, activities, and illustrations. Practice timing and technology. Provide a method for participants to ask questions. Your email address, the conference app, collaborative document, etc. Have fun!
All submissions will be reviewed by the Illinois Community College Board and its professional development partners. All accepted submissions will include up to two complimentary registrations. Any more than two presenters must register at the conference rate. Individuals will be notified of their submission status no later than July 1, 2026. Direct inquiries to Aime'e Julian, Ph.D at 309/438-5122 alafoll@illinoisstate.edu or Sarah Goldammer at 618/650-2254 sgoldam@siue.edu.