Get Ready for an Energizing Start to the Annual Meeting! 

Kick off the experience on Wednesday, December 3 with hands-on pre-meeting workshops designed to sharpen your insight and spark new ideas. At 5:00 p.m., connect with peers at the New Member and First-Time Attendee Meet and Greet, followed by the Opening Reception at 6:00 p.m., where the energy, networking, and excitement for the days ahead truly begin.

The main program launches Thursday, December 4 at 8:30 a.m., packed with powerful plenary and concurrent sessions that dive into today’s most critical issues in graduate education. Don’t miss the sponsored breakfasts, lightning sessions, and dynamic conversations happening throughout the exhibit hall, open December 4 and 5.  

Plenary Sessions Include

  • Toward Bold New Models of Graduate Education presented by Drs. Joy Connolly and Keivan Stassun
  • Terms of Respect: Free Speech and Inclusivity on Campus-LaPidus Lecture presented by President Christopher Eisgruber
  • Future Proof Skills: The Employers Perspective presented by Dr. Mark Peters and Daniela Proust
  • Empowering the Next Generation: Entrepreneurial Mindsets for Graduate Success and Beyond presented by Dr. Ilana Horwitz
  • Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®): Showcase and Roundtable Discussion

Concurrent Sessions Include

These concurrent sessions may change slightly as we get closer to the date.

  • AI and Emerging Technologies to Support Student Success
  • Bridging the Funding Gap: Supporting Students After GradPlus
  • Navigating an Uncertain Future in International Higher Education
  • Empowering Successful Mentoring Relationships
  • Changing Postdoctoral Experiences
  • Best-Practice Marketing and Recruitment Strategies for Reaching Enrollment Goals
  • The Value and Contributions of Graduate Schools: George W. Bush Institute Perspectives
  • Expanding Access and Reducing Program Costs with Credit for Prior Learning
  • The Importance of Graduate Education to Regional and State Communities
  • New Approaches to Graduate Student Professional Development
  • The Adult Learner Advantage: Drive Enrollment with Career-Aligned Programs
  • Innovations in Graduate Education
  • The New Online Playbook for Graduate Growth
  • Advocating with Government Sectors
  • Strengthening Graduate Education through Global Talent: Data, Trends, and Action
  • The Role of the IDP in Student Support and Success

Lightning Round Sessions

These 30-minute sessions are opportunities to learn about solutions to some of the most pressing challenges on your campus. Don’t miss the chance to hear from industry leaders about their recent work with graduate schools, and to help shape their future products and services. Session topics include:

  • What Academic Leaders Need to Know About Effective Enrollment Marketing-sponsored by Direct Development
  • Excellent Mental Health in Academia is on the Horizon-sponsored by Dragonfly Mental Health
  • Understanding the Changing Market Landscape for Professional Graduate Programs-sponsored by Huron Consulting
  • The STEM Graduate Student Landscape: Insights from Nature’s 2025 Global PhD Survey-sponsored by Nature

LaPidus Lecture

The LaPidus lecture will be presented at the morning plenary session on Friday, December 5 at 9:00 am. This lecture was established to honor the late Jules LaPidus, a past-president of CGS. The lecture is delivered each year by an international leader and visionary thinker. Dr. Christopher Eisbruber, President of Princeton University will deliver the 2025 lecture, “Terms of Respect: Free Speech and Inclusivity on Campus.”

CGS Awards Luncheon

On Thursday, December 4, the Annual CGS Awards Luncheon will honor the exemplary work of graduate students and graduate schools. Recipients of the Gustave Arlt Award, the CGS/ProQuest Distinguished Dissertations Awards, the CGS/ETS Award, the Debra W. Stewart award and the Assistant and Associate Deans Leadership Award will be announced.

 

Return to Main Page