Call for Abstracts
The 2027 UC Davis Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) Conference invites educators from across UC Davis to share scholarly work that examines teaching and student learning. The conference provides an opportunity to share findings and insights, engage in thoughtful discussion, and connect with colleagues across disciplines.
Friday, Feb. 5, 2027
Theme: Bridging Research and Practice with Purpose
This year's conference theme highlights the connections between scholarly inquiry and the decisions, challenges, and opportunities that shape teaching and learning. We welcome proposals addressing a broad range of SoTL topics.
Proposal Guidelines
We welcome proposals from UC Davis faculty, instructors, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, staff, and others engaged in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.
Proposals should demonstrate a clear connection to SoTL, using systematic inquiry, evidence, and reflection to investigate questions related to teaching and student learning. Submissions may focus on topics such as:
- SoTL research and inquiry across disciplines
- Inquiry into teaching practices and student learning
- Innovations examined through systematic inquiry
- Collaborative or interdisciplinary SoTL projects
- Approaches, methods, or tools that advance SoTL
Works in progress are also welcome. Projects do not need to have completed data collection or final results at the time of submission. Proposals for ongoing work should clearly describe the purpose of the project, the approach being taken, and its potential contribution to understanding teaching and student learning. Works in progress are generally best suited for the Poster Presentation format.
Presentation Formats
Proposals may be submitted for one of two presentation formats:
- Research Talks
Research Talks provide an opportunity to share a completed SoTL study with a multidisciplinary audience. Proposals should clearly describe the purpose or research question, approach, evidence and analysis, key findings, and implications for teaching and learning. Talks are 15 minutes, followed by five minutes for questions and discussion. - Poster Presentations
Poster Presentations provide an interactive format for sharing SoTL work and engaging directly with conference attendees. Posters may feature completed studies or works in progress and are particularly well suited for projects that would benefit from conversation, feedback, and exchange with colleagues. Presenters will share their work during a dedicated 45-minute poster session.
Please note: The conference planning committee may recommend an alternate format based on the proposal and overall conference program.
Submission Requirements
Each proposal should include:
- Proposal title
- Preferred presentation format: Research Talk or Poster Presentation
- Abstract (350 words maximum): Briefly describe the purpose or research question, approach, and relevance of your work to teaching and student learning. Include findings and implications, if available. For works in progress, describe the current stage of the project and anticipated next steps.
- Participant takeaways (100 words maximum): Describe what you hope conference participants will learn, consider, or take away from your presentation.
- Presenter information: Name, email address, department or program, and role for each presenter.
Proposal Review Criteria
Proposals will be reviewed by members of the SoTL Conference Planning Committee. Reviewers will consider:
- Purpose and relevance: The proposal clearly articulates its purpose or research question and demonstrates a meaningful connection to teaching and student learning.
- Approach: The approach is appropriate for the purpose of the project and sufficiently described for its current stage.
- Contribution and takeaways: The proposal offers meaningful findings, insights, questions, or implications and identifies clear takeaways for conference participants.
- Clarity and conference fit: The proposal is clear, coherent, and appropriate for a multidisciplinary SoTL audience.
Important Dates
- Call for Abstracts Opens: Friday, Oct. 9, 2026
- Proposal Submission Deadline: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026
- Acceptance Notifications: Late November
- Conference: Friday, Feb. 5, 2027