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Mindful CSUSM

Call for Proposals

The Center for Contemplative Practices conference is an interdisciplinary forum for all aspects of scholarship, practice, and discussion around how contemplative approaches can and have transformed teaching and higher education. The theme of this conference is the exploration of contemplative practices that can help transform the educational experience of our students and improve the well-being of our faculty, staff and students. We envision an in-person conference, giving us the opportunity to relationally connect as we strive to build a vibrant and supportive contemplative academic community. But we also recognize the constantly fluctuating environment we live in and wish to have the flexibility to make changes in response to changing public health conditions. 
Call for Proposals
Transforming Higher Education Through Contemplative Practices (June 21 - 23, 2024)

Submit Your Proposal

Deadline for proposals is December 20, 2023, at 9pm PST.

We expect to send notifications in January 2024.

Presentations at the conference might explore topics such as:

  • Contemplative practices that prepare us and our students to be resilient in the face of constant uncertainty given the unprecedented events of the last several years.
  • Contemplative practices that expand our capacity for compassion, academic focus, and creativity.
  • Contemplative practices that help us to manage stress and develop the ability to listen and speak with kindness and curiosity.
  • Contemplative approaches that foster student success, especially for those students who are often marginalized by society.
  • Contemplative approaches that expand our capacity to meet collective local and global challenges grounded in compassion and social justice.
  • The joys and challenges of building a contemplative academic community of educators-scholars- practitioners that can nourish and sustain our teaching, research, service, and personal practice.

SESSION TYPES

The Center for Contemplative Practices conference invites presentations led by scholars, researchers, and practitioners in higher educational settings across campus departments, including students and student groups. Students are especially encouraged to submit presentation proposals.

Proposals will be accepted for the following types of sessions:

Research Presentation Session: Seeking proposals for 20-minute presentations of research findings and/or case studies. These presentations will be grouped into sessions of three presentations followed by community conversations and opportunities for connecting with one another about shared concerns and experiences. 

Research and Interactive Practice Session: Seeking proposals for 45-minute presentations which include a brief presentation of findings and the facilitation of one or two interactive practices by the presenter followed by opportunities for sharing by participants. These presentations will be grouped into sessions of two presentations each. 

Interactive Practice Session: Seeking proposals for 30-minute sharing of practices which includes an opportunity for participants to experience one or more mindfulness practices led by the presenter. These presentations will be grouped into sessions of three presentations each. 

Workshop/Training Session: Seeking proposals for 90-minute workshops that include an educational experience for participants, led by the proposer, in any area of contemplative pedagogy. Proposers can also submit proposals for two-part workshops which include two 90-minute sessions. 

We are particularly interested in:

  • presenters who model contemplative pedagogies and approaches in how they conduct their sessions.
  • proposals that identify the specific context in which the work is situated (e.g., academic disciplines, contemplative disciplines, students’ social identities and demographics, institutional history and location, etc.);
  • presentations that offer experience-based and/or evidence-based recommendations for developing and integrating contemplative approaches in higher education learning communities;
  • proposals that take into account the range of needs of diverse populations.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Students, researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals from all areas of higher education, including faculty, staff, and administrators, are invited to submit proposals for consideration. Students are especially encouraged to submit presentation proposals.
  • Proposals will be reviewed and selected by the conference’s review committee.
  • Questions? Contact Ranjeeta Basu at rbasu@csusm.edu 

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

For all proposals, please submit a title and a 250-500 word abstract that describes the proposed offering and connects it to the themes of the conference.  In addition:

  • For the Research and Interactive Practice session provide a 250-500 word outline of your session, including practice(s);
  • For the Interactive Practice Session provide a 250-500 word outline of your session, including practice(s);
  • For the Workshop/Training Sessions, provide a 250-500 word outline of your session, including practice(s). In addition, please include brief learning outcomes for participants.

Note: Please indicate if there are related presentations that you would like to be grouped with as part of a session.