CNU 34 Congress Session Types

Prior to starting your proposal application please review the CNU34 Congress Focus, which includes this year's Problem Space and Key Learning Goals, via the navigation link above. You can also view the complete Guide, which can be download here: CNU 34 Call for Proposals Guide.

CNU 34 will be held Tuesday, May 12th through Saturday, May 16th, 2026. This year’s Annual Congress is unique in that content will be housed in multiple cities and venues across Northwest Arkansas, and speakers and submitters should be prepared to present on any of those dates. The Congress Program Committee and CNU Staff will be selecting sessions and placing them within topic tracks to ensure a successful and practical content flow. This challenge of developing a carefully structured schedule of content means that speakers’ requests to present on certain days or at specific venues cannot be honored. Additionally, with very few exceptions, there will be a maximum of two (2) speakers per session total to simplify logistical planning.

Proposals for the following session types will be accepted through this abstract submission portal:

1. Educational Sessions
2. Implementation Sessions
3. Project Showcases
4. Meetings

Please note the required information specific to each session type, outlined below.

Continuing Education
As CNU provides continuing education units (CEUs) in partnership with the American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association, and American Society for Landscape Architects, a majority of the sessions at Annual Congress require clearly written Learning Objectives. While Education Sessions, Implementation Sessions, and Meetings require four (4) Learning Objectives, a Project Showcase will require only one (1). Rather than describing topics to be covered, learning objectives or outcomes are statements that clearly define what the participant will know or be able to do as a result of having attended the program. Each learning objective must be observable and measurable and completes the sentence: “By the end of this session attendees will be able to….” and uses action versions. Avoid words that are vague and open to intepretation, such as know, learn, and understand.  More guidance on Learning Objectives may be found online.

Educational Sessions
Formerly known as “classes” or “core courses”, Educational Sessions provide the backbone of Congress learning opportunities. They are designed to teach foundational concepts to attendees and can be introductory, intermediate, or advanced level examinations of core New Urbanist principles and practice. Educational Sessions provide an opportunity for presenters to share knowledge with attendees, and require that attendees receive a document with key points and resources in addition to the PowerPoint presentation, after attending.

Proposal information required:

1. Main speaker contact information and expertise
2. Session title (10 words or less)
3. Session description (150 words or less)
4. Additional speaker contact information and expertise (if applicable) - 2 speakers total, max
5. Session level (introductory, intermediate, advanced)
6. What New Urbanist principle is being examined? (50 words or less)
7. Proposed learning objectives; four (4) minimum
8. Relevance to the Congress Focus (optional)

Implementation Sessions
To help expand the body of built examples and adopted policies that make up the practice of New Urbanism, Implementation Sessions are designed to provide attendees with a demonstration of the effective implementation of a policy, strategy, or design technique used in achieving our shared vision.

Proposal information required:

1. Main speaker contact information and expertise
2. Session title (10 words or less)
3. Session description (150 words or less)
4. What technique or policy is being examined?
5. Additional speaker contact information and expertise (if applicable) - 2 total speakers max
6. Proposed learning objectives; four (4) minimum
7. Relevance to the Congress Focus (optional)

Project Showcase
Submit a single, or themed group of (4 max), projects that aim to set an example for attendees. Project Showcase sessions can include critiques, practical analysis, lessons-learned, demonstrations of success or failures, the disconnect between the plans and reality of a project, or project outcomes. Each project will be allocated 15-minutes for a Showcase presentation, with a maximum of 4 separate projects comprising a 1-hour Showcase.  Please keep the short timeframe in mind when submitting a learning objective (1 per project), and ensure that your 15-minute presentation covers only one learning objective.

Proposal information required:

1. Main speaker contact information and expertise
2. Single project or group of projects?
3. Single project: Title, location (10 words or less)
4. Single projects: 1 speaker 
5. Group of projects: Titles, location for all projects- Max 4 per group (10 words or less for each project)
6. Group of projects: 1 speaker per project
7. What will attendees learn about from the project(s)? (25 words or less, 1 learning objective per Project Showcase 15-minute presentation)
    

Meetings
Meetings are an opportunity for attendees to gather and advance New Urbanist discourse on a certain topic. The main activity in a meeting is collaborative discussion, with the outcome being a call to action. Examples include coalition building for an advocacy platform, a discussion on the agenda of a caucus or affiliate, compiling attendees’ recommendations for reform.

Proposal information required:

1. Meeting Facilitator contact information and expertise
2. Meeting title (10 words or less)
3. Meeting’s Call to Action or Objective
4. Meeting description (150 words or less)
5. Proposed learning objectives; four (4) minimum
6. Additional “meeting host” if applicable (2 total hosts, max)

Main Stage Presentations and Workshops are outside of this call for proposals. Information on this will be made available at cnu.org/cnu34/program as the program develops.