Application Process

2026 Theme & Topics

Proposal Requirements

Selection Criteria

Launched in 2011, the UNT Student Portraits Data Symposium offers a unique opportunity for our campus community to come together and share strategies, tools and stories that demonstrate how we use data to enrich learning and support student success.

Proposals for the 2026 Student Portraits Data Symposium will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. The application is open to all UNT faculty, staff and students. If you have any questions, please email spds@unt.edu.

Application Process

Please submit proposals via the Symposium Presentation Application.

Key Dates
  • Proposal submissions due by Feb. 27, 2026
  • Applicant approval notification by March 13, 2026
  • 2026 Student Portraits Data Symposium: April 30, 2026

Call for Proposals

This year’s theme, “Recognizing Every UNT Community Member as an Educator,” is inspired by Look North: UNT 2030 and its vision that every interaction with a student has transformative potential.

We invite proposals of student success efforts that leverage data to shape meaningful student experiences in the following areas:

  • Student-Centric Support, Processes and Pathways
    Integrated, data-driven approaches that create seamless pathways for students — from strengthening readiness for college-level work to streamlining and supporting the academic journey to equipping graduates for meaningful career pathways.
  • Facilitating Career Preparation Opportunities
    Strategies that link educational experiences to career, civic and community impact.
  • Innovative and Engaging Learning Experiences
    Practices that combine high expectations with high support to spark meaningful learning, foster deep engagement and promote strong outcomes for students.
  • Promoting a Sense of Purpose, Belonging and Student Wellbeing
    Initiatives that cultivate community, center student voices and promote holistic wellbeing as a foundation for success.

Proposal Requirements

The proposal submission form requires the following elements:

  • Presenter names and titles
  • Presenter biographies highlighting relevant expertise and experience. Maximum 150 words per presenter.
  • Team  lead contact information
  • Presentation title (15 word limit)
  • Type of presentation — Learning session (50 minutes) or poster presentation (15 minutes)
  • Intended audience
  • Description of presentation — High-level overview of your presentation or learning session. Maximum 150 words.
  • Abstract – Detailed summary of your presentation including purpose, methods, key findings and significance. Maximum 500 words.
  • Key learning objectives (Limit 3)
  • Format and materials — For learning sessions, will you need audiovisual equipment? For posters, what are the dimensions of your poster?
  • Accessibility needs

Selection Criteria

The Student Portraits Data Symposium Committee will review submissions and notify selected presenters by March 13, 2026.

Effective proposals will meet the following criteria:

  • Session title is concise, focused and captures attention; fully reflects content and purpose
  • Session description is engaging and coherent; articulates strong alignment to symposium theme
  • Session type (presentation or poster) is appropriate and enhances audience engagement
  • Intended audience is clearly defined, with compelling rationale demonstrating relevance and value
  • Session outcomes are concrete, measurable, clearly written and strongly aligned with symposium goal of highlighting how data can be used to support student success
  • Abstract is concise, coherent and well structured; effectively conveys main points, purpose, methods, results and conclusions