2012 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND REVIEW PROCESS
The path to sustainability is a journey. But what does it mean to move beyond the low-hanging fruit
to create transformational change? How can we manage the tension between sustainability
performance and campus growth?
Unlike other conferences, SSCC sets itself apart by creating a program that features in-depth
discussions, dialogues and workshops. Besides traditional 40-minute presentations, we have
dedicated significant time in the schedule for 80-minute hands-on workshops. These 80-minute
sessions will allow leaders and attendees to dig deeper into a particular topic area using active and
participatory learning strategies:
From:
Transmitting knowledge
Sharing accomplishments
Informing
PowerPoint presentations
Participants taking notes
Outputs/activities
Topic-focused learning
To:
Dialogue
Sharing strategies
Co-learning and participatory learning
Case studies, demonstrations
Participants developing strategies for their own
institution
Outcomes / Impacts
Skill development
CONFERENCE TRACKS
The 2012 Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference welcomes presentation proposals linked to
the 2012 conference tracks:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Life Cycle of the Built Environment
Community Connections
The Campus as a Learning Laboratory
Fostering Behavior Change
Strategic Implementation
Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference April 16-17, 2012
CONFERENCE TRACKS
1. Life Cycle of the Built Environment – Presentations and workshops within this track will
examine all aspects of greening the built environment, from design and build, through
operations and maintenance. We will discuss innovations for space use efficiency, energy
management, green renovations, and look at new opportunities in net zero buildings or
minimizing new construction. This track will also consider building and infrastructure use
including parking, dining, utilities, and maintenance.
2. Community Connections – How do we move beyond the campus towards community
sustainability? Presenters should consider workshops and presentations that broaden the impact
of campus learning and establish connections to local governments, primary and secondary
schools, and community groups. Outcomes may include lessons from town/gown relationships
or participation in EPA Green Power communities.
3. The Campus as a Learning Laboratory – How can our research and curriculum integrate and
apply sustainability? What sustainability challenges have been met on your campus with local
solutions from applied research, service learning, fellowships, and class projects? Proposals will
also be considered in this track for case studies on facilities and buildings as teachers.
4. Fostering Behavior Change – Can higher education move from communication and education
to action and behavior change? How have you measured success with your behavior change
program? Connect your presentation to this track if your outcomes include lessons and best
practices related to program development, community-based social marketing, communication
and outreach, certification programs, and the use of applicable technologies.
5. Strategic Implementation – Planning can assist us in moving from the reactive to the
proactive position on campus sustainability. How has your campus integrated sustainability into
campus culture, strategic planning, or performance reviews? This track will take a look at
systems thinking, strategic planning, assessment, metrics and evaluation, and climate action
plans. Share processes and pathways that you used to achieve stakeholder participation and
support.
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Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference April 16-17, 2012
HOW DO I APPLY TO LEAD A SESSION?
1. Please review the session formats below. Then decide which of these would be the best fit for
your proposed presentation.
2. Prepare your 10 words (or less) title, 100 words (or less) abstract (abstracts will be printed in the
program and should help attendees get a snap shot of your presentation), and no more than 400
word description. Your 400 word description must include 3 learning outcomes of your
presentation or workshop. Check for spelling and grammatical errors and then access the
online submission form from the website link below and copy paste from your Word document.
3. Make sure your description adequately addresses why your submission should be a 40 or 80
minute session; see details below.
4. If you have co-authors you will need their contact information on hand so you can enter it at the
time of submission. The submission system will remain open and accessible until January 5,
2012; you may make edits until that time.
5. Proposals must be received by January 5, 2012
To submit your proposal(s), visit our Web site at:
http://www.smartandsustainable.umd.edu/
Submissions will be accepted beginning October 26, 2011
We will accept online submissions only.
WHO WILL REVIEW AND SELECT PROPOSALS?
Proposals will be peer reviewed by the SSCC Program Committee. All notifications will be made no
later than January 31, 2012.
The Program Committee and the Conference Organizers reserve the right to modify submissions
based on content and space limitations. You may be contacted to edit or modify your submission to
better meet the needs of the attendees, conference tracks or time allotment.
Please note that some submissions may be shifted to a poster session.
SESSION FORMATS
Traditional Presentation (40 minutes)
 Presentations, discussions, sharing in an interactive 40 minute session (presentation
should be 30 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Q & A)
 No more than 10% of your time can be used for sharing campus accomplishments (i.e.:
the types of information included in your reports or on your website)
 Presentation should include an examination of processes, partnerships, lessons learned
and resource requirements that can be adapted, replicated, or modeled in new situations
or locations.
 Submissions may be either in the form of a single presenter or a panel of presenters (no
more than 2 speakers per panel) on a single topic.
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Smart and Sustainable Campuses Conference April 16-17, 2012
Hands-on Workshop (80 minutes)
 Learning, dialogue and sharing in an interactive 80 minute session
 No more than 5% of your time can be used for sharing campus accomplishments (i.e.:
the types of information included in your reports or on your website)
 Workshop leaders will teach/lead learning on specific topics, strategies or theories
modeling effective educational pedagogy.
 You must describe the internal process, resources, marketing, communications,
partnerships and lessons learned to develop and implement the program/effort.
 You must describe how you will engage attendees in the workshop using active and
participatory learning strategies (see table on page 1).
 You must describe what the “take-away” is for workshop participants. It could be an
action plan, a template, a process or a checklist.
 Submissions may be either in the form of a single leader/teacher or a team of leaders (no
more than 3 leaders) on a single topic.
Poster
 Posters are set up throughout the entire conference but you must stand with your poster
during the Monday evening reception.
 Posters are 4’x4’ in size, two to a side of the display board, do not exceed the 4’x4’ size or
you will cover your neighbor’s poster.
 Note: No electricity or AV equipment will be available nor will display tables be
permitted.
SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Proposals must be received by January 5, 2012
AUDIO VISUAL EQUIPMENT
LCD projectors, extension speakers, and PC lap tops loaded with Office 2007 will be provided for
all presentations. Internet access is also being provided during concurrent sessions.
NOTIFICATION
Notification of acceptance/rejection will be e-mailed to all lead presenters by January 31, 2012.
Please ensure that your profile includes a valid e-mail and daytime phone number. During the
review process, presentations may be changed to an alternate presentation format, so please read
your acceptance email carefully. Lead presenters are responsible for notifying all co-presenters
about presentation status and scheduling information. You must confirm your conference
participation by February 10, 2012 by registering for the conference. If you have not registered for
the conference by February 10, your presentation will be subjected to removal from the schedule
and the next closest ranked presentation put in its place.
REGISTRATION & SCHOLARSHIPS
Registration for the conference is required of all speakers. Upon acceptance of your proposal,
speakers will receive additional information and need to register for the conference. Registration
rates have not been determined for 2012 but the presenter rate will be at or below the 2011 rate of
$399 (early bird). If a panel is selected, only two panelists will receive the reduced speaker rate.
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