Graduate Student Summit 2026

Graduate Student Summit
2026

UCEA Annual Convention 2026

WHERE:
David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, PA
WHEN:
WHEN: Nov 18-21, 2026
WHO:
UCEA Graduate Students


Graduate Student Summit


Overview

The UCEA Graduate Student Summit (GSS) is an event organized by the UCEA Graduate Student Council during the UCEA annual convention. The GSS has grown each year as it has become recognized by UCEA faculty members and graduate students as a valuable developmental experience for aspiring educational leadership faculty.

UCEA Graduate Student Summit

The 15th annual UCEA Graduate Student Summit (GSS) will be held during the UCEA Convention at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Pittsburgh, PA from November 18, 2026.

The purpose of the GSS is to create a supportive, constructive, and encouraging space for graduate students to receive feedback from faculty and fellow graduate students on how to strengthen their scholarly work. This GSS also offers opportunities for graduate students to grow their network by engaging with other graduate students and faculty from across the world. 

Specifically, the GSS includes: 

  • Paper presentations, roundtable sessions, and Ignite! sessions, in which graduate student participants will share their research and receive constructive feedback from distinguished faculty (detailed below).
  • Developmental workshops for graduate students, where participants will hear from emerging and established scholars on topics such as crafting research agendas, the publishing process, career pathways, and uncovering the hidden curriculum of graduate school.
  • Networking opportunities and social events will allow for participants to connect with graduate students and faculty from various UCEA institutions, including UCEA Executive Committee members and Plenum Session Representatives, in both formal and informal settings. 

For more information about each session type, see the call for 2026 GSS Proposals.

Call for Proposals

2026 GSS Call for Proposals

The deadline to submit proposals is Sunday, May 3 at 11:59 PM EDT. All proposals must be submitted electronically through All Academic by visiting the UCEA website (http://www.ucea.org).
In keeping with the UCEA Convention, GSS participants should demonstrate how their proposals for the GSS address the 2026 UCEA Convention theme, “Unity as a Bridge to Freedom: Educational Leadership and the Interdependence of Research, Practice, and Community” 

Please refer to the 2026 UCEA Convention Call for Proposals for a full discussion of the Convention theme.


Example Paper, Ignite, and Roundtable Proposals


Example GSS Ignite Proposal

Example GSS Paper Proposal #1

Example GSS Paper Proposal #2

Example GSS Roundtable Propasal

Instructions to Access All Academic


Instructions to access All Academic if you are at a Member Institution

You will need to have a username and password to access the website. If you registered for the Convention last year, you have login credentials.

If you have login credentials:

  • Click the Member Login button on the top right of this page to sign in (If you cannot remember your password, use the Forgot Password link).
  • After you sign in, click the yellow All Academic button. All Academic will open in a separate tab in your browser.
  • Follow directions to submit your proposal.

If you do not have login credentials:

  • Email us at info@ucea.org
  • Include your full name, email address, institution, and whether you are faculty, graduate student or other.
  • We will create your profile for the UCEA website and send you an email with your login credentials. That email may go to your spam/junk folder.
  • Once you have created a username and password and signed in, click the yellow All Academic button and follow directions to submit your proposal.

Instructions to access All Academic if you are at a NON-Member Institution

You will need to have a username and password to access the website. If you registered for the Convention last year, you have login credentials.

If you have login credentials:

  • Click the Member Login button on the top right of this page to sign in (If you cannot remember your password, use the Forgot Password link).
  • After you sign in, click the yellow All Academic button. All Academic will open in a separate tab in your browser.
  • Follow directions to submit your proposal.

If you do not have login credentials:

  • Click the UCEA Non-Member Login below.
  • Complete a profile form.
  • At the bottom of the form create a username and password. Use your email address as your username.
  • Click on the continue button to access the portal.
  • Click on the yellow All-Academic Login button and follow directions to submit your proposal.
Non-Member Login