Navigating the Nontraditional ONLINE Summit
Monday, November 2, 2026 | ONLINE | FREE
Register NowWelcome to the 2026 Nontraditional Student SuMMIT
We are pleased to welcome you to Navigating the Nontraditional: 2026 Nontraditional Student Summit, a free, online gathering dedicated to exploring the experiences, challenges, and strengths of nontraditional students.
Throughout the day, you’ll hear from students, educators, and higher education professionals as we examine the many ways institutions can better support students whose paths to and through college may look different from the traditional model. From student voices and transition support to belonging, re-enrollment, communication, assessment, and institutional practices, the symposium is designed to encourage meaningful conversation and practical ideas that can be taken back to campuses and communities.
We hope you’ll join us on Monday, November 2, 2026, for a day of learning, connection, reflection, and shared commitment to supporting nontraditional student success.
We’re glad you’re here, and we look forward to learning with you.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
Navigating the Nontraditional Summit brings together higher education professionals to share innovative strategies, practical tools, and collaborative approaches that support the success, persistence, and belonging of nontraditional students. Through meaningful dialogue and actionable learning, the summit empowers participants to return to their campuses equipped to create more accessible, responsive, and student-centered educational environments.
Learning Outcomes
By the conclusion of the summit, participants will be able to:
- Identify and implement at least three evidence-informed strategies that support the retention, engagement, or academic success of nontraditional students on their campuses.
- Develop one actionable plan or initiative that can be adapted or implemented within their institution to better serve nontraditional learner populations.
- Increase cross-campus and statewide collaboration by establishing at least two new professional connections or partnerships focused on supporting nontraditional student success.
Register Now
Quick SUMMIT Information
Date: November 2, 2026
Format: Online
Cost: FREE
Time: 9:00 a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Central Time
*Registered participants will receive the conference access link prior to the event.
SUMMIT at a Glance
Prefer a printable schedule? Download the Summit at a Glance PDF
|
Time |
What's Happening |
|---|---|
9:00–9:20 a.m. |
Welcome & Opening Remarks |
9:20–10:20 a.m. |
Opening Panel: Voices of Nontraditional Students |
10:20–10:30 a.m. |
Screen Break/Transition |
10:30–11:20 a.m. |
Concurrent Session Block 1 — Choose from three breakout sessions |
11:20–11:30 a.m. |
Screen Break/Transition |
11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. |
Facilitated Networking Discussions |
12:00–1:00 p.m. |
Lunch Break |
1:00–1:50 p.m. |
Concurrent Session Block 2 — Choose from three breakout sessions |
1:50–2:00 p.m. |
Screen Break/Transition |
2:00–2:50 p.m. |
Concurrent Session Block 3 — Choose from three breakout sessions |
2:50–3:00 p.m. |
Screen Break / Transition |
3:00–4:00 p.m. |
Closing General Session, Summit Wrap-Up & Evaluations |
Detailed Summit Schedule
All times are Central Time.
Attendees will use one summit link throughout the day. General sessions and summit-wide activities will take place in the Main Room. During concurrent session blocks, attendees may select Breakout Room A, B, or C.+
9:00–9:20 a.m. Welcome
Welcome & Opening RemarksLocation: Main Room
9:20–10:20 a.m. opening panel
Voices of Nontraditional StudentsLocation: Main Room
10:30–11:20 a.m. Concurrent Session Block 1
Breakout Room ACreating Opportunities for Connection
Presenter: Mollie Mart, University of Iowa
Format: Interactive Workshop
Empathy, suspending judgment, culture, and powerlessness may be familiar concepts—but what happens when we look at them in new ways? This interactive session invites participants to deepen their understanding of these ideas and consider how they can strengthen everyday interactions, professional relationships, and community.
Breakout Room BThrough Their Eyes: Rethinking Your Institution From a Nontraditional Student's Perspective
Presenter: Rebecca Baker, ReUp Education
Format: Interactive Workshop
What does your institution look like through the eyes of a nontraditional student? Participants will examine three important touchpoints—the website, orientation, and the first term—and consider where institutional practices may create unnecessary friction. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for creating more responsive experiences and supporting student persistence.
Breakout Room CBeyond Detection: Design for Mastery
Presenter: Glorian Konieczny, Sophia Learning
Format: Presentation
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in students' lives, institutions are wrestling with questions of learning, assessment, and academic integrity. This session moves the conversation beyond AI detection and explores how assessment design can better demonstrate genuine learning and mastery while maintaining flexibility and accessibility for nontraditional and online learners.
Main RoomSummit Hub
The Summit Hub will remain open for summit assistance and access to the session evaluation link.
11:30 A.M.–12:00 P.m. Facilitated networking discussions
Main RoomFacilitated Networking Discussions
Connect with colleagues from across institutions and organizations, exchange ideas, and discuss shared opportunities and challenges related to supporting nontraditional students.
This is also a chance to begin building the professional connections that can continue beyond the summit.
1:00–1:50 P.m. Concurrent Session Block 2
Breakout Room AThe Parable of the Dust Buster and the Toddler
Presenters: Amy Christopherson & Elizabeth Orr, College of Southern Idaho
Format: Interactive Workshop
What do a vacuum, oatmeal, and a toddler have to do with the life of a nontraditional college student? Through stories, humor, and practical strategies, this session explores the many responsibilities nontraditional students juggle - including family, work, school, housing, health, and finances - and ways educators can provide validation, advocacy, and meaningful support.
Breakout Room BRe-Enrollment as a Workforce Strategy
Presenter: Hannah Oganeku, ReUp Education
Format: Interactive Workshop
Stopout learners represent one of the biggest untapped non-traditional student opportunities
in higher education. This session makes the case that a career-first approach to re-enrollment
is a win on three levels: it gives students a clearer, faster path to economic advancement;
it gives institutions stronger outcomes from enrollment to graduation; and it gives
states a larger, more competitive skilled workforce. Attendees will see real institutional
examples — including Passaic County Community College's paid micro-internship program
— and leave with concrete
strategies to embed career connection earlier in the adult learner journey.
Breakout Room C"This Is Crazy Work!": Helping Students Transition to College from GED Programs
Presenter: Dr. Alana J. Simmons, Paine College
Format: Interactive Workshop
Students transitioning to college from GED programs may enter higher education without the same exposure to college environments and navigation strategies as many of their peers. This workshop considers how FIRSTGEN-informed approaches can help these students understand their new academic environment, access support, persist, and ultimately graduate.
Main Room: The Summit Hub will remain open for summit assistance and access to the session evaluation link.
Main RoomSummit Hub
2:00–2:50 P.m. Concurrent Session Block 3
Breakout Room A From Confrontation to Connection: De-escalating Difficult Conversations with Nontraditional Students
Presenter: Ashley Dalton, University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine
Format: Presentation
Nontraditional students often balance multiple responsibilities and stressors while navigating institutional systems. This session explores factors that can contribute to difficult interactions and introduces practical de-escalation and communication strategies that can help transform challenging conversations into opportunities for understanding, connection, accountability, and student success.
Breakout Room B From Interest to Enrollment: Removing Barriers for Transfer and Accelerated Nursing Students
Presenter: Lynn F. Bailey, Spalding University
Format: Presentation
Transfer and accelerated second-degree nursing students bring valuable prior learning but may encounter complex prerequisites, transfer-credit processes, admission requirements, and institutional procedures. This session explores proactive advising, pathway coordination, resource referrals, and cross-campus collaboration that can help make these pathways easier to navigate and support student persistence.Breakout Room C Flourishing in Transition: Creating Wellbeing-Centered Onboarding Experiences for Adult Learners
Presenter: Brett L. Petersen-Bruner, Wichita State University
Format: Presentation
Adult learners often enter or return to higher education while balancing careers, caregiving, financial responsibilities, and major life transitions. This session explores the connections among adult learning, transition, wellbeing, belonging, and persistence, and highlights Wichita State University's Adult Learner Community & Connections experience as a model participants can adapt for their own institutions.
Main RoomSummit Hub
3:00–4:00 P.m. Closing General Session, Summit Wrap-Up & Evaluations
Main RoomClosing General Session, Summit Wrap-Up & Evaluations
Come back together as a summit community to reflect on the day's learning, consider key takeaways, and identify ideas that can be carried back to campuses and communities.
We will close the day with time for reflection, summit wrap-up, and participant evaluations.