Session Proposals - Session proposals are wanted that will provide attendees with knowledge and skills necessary to apply best practices in planning, design, and public engagement. Priority will be given to sessions that are engaging to the audience and provide a diversity of participants, new ideas, collaborative approaches, address current and relevant topics and issues.

The Call for Sessions is extended to proposals for mobile workshops in and around New Haven. Mobile workshops may include walking and biking tours, visits to successful projects or any other workshop that can be interesting and engaging while providing professional development and an engaging experience.

Credit Maintenance Requirement - Certified planners seek professional development opportunities that can be used for AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) credit. Session shall offer learning experience to planners, students, and other professionals interested in local or regional planning, community engagement, infrastructure, or regulatory processes.

Competitive Process - The SNEAPA 2023 program has a limited number of session opportunities that are awarded on a competitive basis. The SNEAPA Planning Committee seeks a balance of sessions across multiple aspects of planning including but not limited to equity, law, ethics, sustainability, resilience, community engagement, public participation, housing, conservation, the environment, zoning, transportation, municipal planning, regional planning, economic development, and any other relevant topic.

Informational Webinar - An informational webinar will be hosted on June 1st, 2023 at 10:00am for parties interested in submitting a session proposal. Details on the review criteria, submission requirements and review process will be offered along with a Q&A period.

Deadline - The deadline for submitting proposals is June 23, 2023. Late or incomplete proposals will not be accepted. The Committee asks that you submit session proposals online here. Questions can be emailed to [email protected]

Creativity and strength:  The Conference Committee is seeking new and exciting sessions that have not been presented at recent planning conferences.

Completeness: Incomplete session proposals are unlikely to be selected. If you are proposing an interactive session, please be sure to include all the details.

Diversity, quality, and relevant background of presenters: The Conference Committee seeks multidisciplinary sessions with presenters from multiple professions and/or organizations.

Applicability of Topic to all three (3) States:  Sessions should provide information and learning objectives that are relevant to a wide array of conference attendees. Sessions may be limited to address relevant and timely local interests.

Educational Objectives:  Sessions should be eligible for AICP CM credits. Sessions that meet the educational objectives of another professional certification program are encouraged.

Session Format - All session formats will be considered. Sessions with a high degree audience participation and engagement will be prioritized.

All session proposal shall be submitted via the online form and each submission will be evaluated based on quality and completeness.  Please prepare to submit the following information:

Title: A short, interesting title that accurately reflects the focus of your session.

Topic: Please choose one of the following topics that most closely align -

Equity (Diversity & Inclusion)  *  Housing  *  Municipal/Regional Planning  *  Law  *  Conservation/Environment  *  Regional Planning  *  Ethics  *  Zoning  *  Mobile Workshop  *  Sustainability & Resilience  *  Transportation  *  Economic Development/Finance  *  Community Engagement/Public Participation  *  Other  *

Summary: Provide a short summary that clearly identifies the background, methods, outcomes, and conclusions of your session.

Description: Provide a two or three sentence description of the session that may be used in print a digital media to highlight the session.

Takeaways: Clearly define what information, concept, or idea you want your audience to take away from your session. Identify why this information is relevant and important for your audience to know.

Presentation Format: Define the format of the session (workshop, panel, hands-on, etc.) and explain how your session will engage the audience. All sessions will be limited to 60 minutes and encourage a minimum of two speakers. If you are proposing an interactive or hands-on session format, please clearly specify what type(s) of engagement or activity attendees will participate in. Indicate any specific requests for the room layout, equipment, or materials. All rooms will have microphones, projectors, laptop computers, screens, and internet access (though wi-fi strength for video streaming is not guaranteed).

AICP Certification Maintenance (CM) Criteria: Describe how your session offers a professionally-relevant learning experience and meets the educational needs of a typical AICP-Certified planner. Sessions must meet the CM Eligibility Criteria: 1) Activities must (a) meet a planning related objective, (b) be unbiased and non-promotional, and (c) communicate a clearly identified educational purpose or objective; 2) Activities must (a) be led by one or more experts on the subject matter discussed, (b) use learning methodologies and formats that are appropriate to the activity’s educational purpose, (c) involve the use of materials that do not include proprietary information, and (d) be timed in a manner consistent with the time for which the activity was registered for CM credit (60 minutes = 1.0 CM credits) and that only the portion of the activity meeting CM criteria is registered for CM credit.

Other Professional Certification: If applicable, explain how your session meets the educational requirements of another professional certification program (such as ASLA, AIA, PE, LEED AP etc.).

Session Organizer / Conference Contact: Identify the organizer of your session. This person will be SNEAPA’s contact for your session and will be responsible for submitting your session presentation before the conference. Provide name, organization, email address and phone number for contact.

Information for Session Presenters: Provide each presenter’s name, title, organization, professional credentials (AICP, PE, AIA, LEED AP, etc.), email address, phone number, photo and a short biography.

Disclaimers
All speakers and presenters MUST register for the SNEAPA Conference. Presenters who attend the conference only to present their session will not be charged a registration fee. Unfortunately, we cannot include meals, any other sessions, or other conference-related activities or expenses for presenters who do not pay a registration fee.

SNEAPA Conference organizers are not responsible for handouts, shipping, handling, or storage of materials while at the conference or for any lost or stolen materials or equipment. SNEAPA does not reimburse speakers for parking or any other conference-related expenses.

Contact lists of conference attendees will not be made available to any conference speaker or presenter.

SNEAPA Conference organizers reserve the right to edit abstracts, biographies and other text on any SNEAPA Conference related media or printed materials.

The Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut Chapters of the American Planning Association organize an annual regional planning conference known as the Southern New England APA Conference (SNEAPA).

Typically held in the Fall, the conference is one of the best learning experiences for APA/AICP members in the region. The conference features two days of high quality, hands-on and interactive sessions, mobile workshops, planning law and planning ethics presentations, member networking, vendor contacts, plus a few surprises.

For AICP members, this is a valuable experience to gain those much needed credits for Certification Maintenance. Whether you are an APA member, an AICP member, a student, or a person with an interest in the practice of Planning, this conference always delivers something for everyone!