NCCEP/GEAR UP Annual Conference

• Submission Limit: Every organization (per PR award number for GEAR UP grantees) is allowed to submit a maximum of four proposals. This limit includes any session featuring a team member from your grant. NCCEP reserves the right to cap total session participation per individual. 

• Director Approval: All GEAR UP staff must coordinate proposals with their GEAR UP director prior to submitting to ensure their organization does not submit more than four proposals per PR award number, and that their director is aware of the intention to submit a proposal. 

• Vendor Submissions: Vendor applicants are strongly encouraged to present with a GEAR UP grant. Please remember that co-presenters from GEAR UP grants must have approval to present from their supervisor and / or GEAR UP director. 

  • If you are a vendor presenting with a GEAR UP grant representative, please confirm that their supervisor and/or GEAR UP director has approved their participation in your session.  

• Presenter Requirements:

  • Proposals must include a minimum of two presenters.

  • If an accepted presenter can no longer attend, a replacement must be named by June 24.

  • All presenters must register for the conference taking place July 11–14, 2027 in Las Vegas, Nevada to be eligible to present. Registration opens in early May 2027. 

• NCCEP reserves the right to implement edits to approved conference abstracts. 

Proposals are evaluated and scored by reviewers external and internal to NCCEP. Reviewers use a scoring rubric to evaluate submissions, and each proposal is scored in the following four areas: 

• Quality and comprehensiveness of the written proposal, including writing style, presentation of idea, and grammar/syntax. The abstract and learning objectives should succinctly and clearly summarize the session topic and approach. 

• Learning objectives and content focus. Exceptionality in proposed approach to issue.

• Quality and methods of audience engagement. 

• Alignment between the session and application to a GEAR UP audience. 

• Write your proposal for a broad appeal and avoid using jargon.  

• Consider ways to engage your audience throughout your presentation. 

• Focus on what matters most as well as replication and adaptability.

  • How might someone from another program use what you share? 

  • What templates, checklists, or other resources can you provide? 

• For vendors: remember, this is not about sales, it is about establishing expertise.  

• No need to describe your GEAR UP context within the session description (where you are, demography, etc.) unless it is indispensable to your content.  

• Sessions should be developed and designed for delivery to 50-100+ participants.