ACM SIGUCCS Conference on User Services (SIGUCCS) 2026: Call for Proposals

Share your voice. Shape our community.

The ACM SIGUCCS 2026 Conference invites you to submit proposals that showcase innovation, share lessons learned, and highlight the lived experiences of IT professionals in higher education. Whether you’re on the front lines of support, leading projects, exploring instructional technology, or building more inclusive digital environments, your story belongs here.

Submit a proposal

We welcome submissions from both seasoned and first-time presenters. The SIGUCCS community values real-world insight, collaborative learning, and professional growth. Your proposal should speak to the evolving needs of IT in colleges and universities, including, but not limited to, topics such as:

• Instructional technology and accessibility
• Support services and student engagement
• Infrastructure, cybersecurity, and communication strategies
• Leadership, project management, and DEI initiatives
• Lessons learned from both successes and challenges

Proposal Details:

• Submission Length: 250–500 words
• Submission Deadline: September 7th, 2025
• Submission Portal: Submissions will be accepted via EasyChair
• Contact: Questions? Email us at siguccs2026@docs.siguccs.org

Session Types Include:

• Presentations: 60-minute sessions with Q&A, including case studies, research, or reflections.
• Panels: Multiple voices from different institutions offering perspectives on a shared theme.
• Posters: Visual presentations with 1:1 discussion opportunities.
• Lightning Talks: Fast-paced, 7-minute presentations with brief Q&A, grouped by theme.

Publishing Opportunity:

Accepted proposals will be published in the ACM Digital Library. Please follow ACM’s publication guidelines and use the appropriate template if submitting a paper for inclusion. Information regarding these will be provided to authors. Keep in mind that we are accepting the following paper types based on your proposal submission:

• Presentation
• Abstract (2 pages maximum) = (for all content, no extra pages)
• Short Paper (less than 5 pages) = (for all content, no extra pages)
• Panel (less than 5 pages) = (for all content, no extra pages)
• Poster (less than 5 pages) = (for all content, no extra pages)
• Lightning Talk (Less than 2 pages) = (for all content, no extra pages)

SIGUCCS volunteers who have gone through the ACM publication process will be available to assist you! Please contact the committee at siguccs2026@docs.siguccs.org if you would like extra assistance with the writing process.

Timeline for Accepted Proposals:

• First draft:
  • October 1st, 2025 – First draft submitted by authors to EasyChair
  • October 16th, 2025 – Notes from volunteer readers sent to authors
• Second draft:
  • October 29th, 2025 – Second draft submitted by authors to EasyChair
  • November 12th, 2025 – Notes from volunteer readers sent to authors
• Final draft:
  • December 7th, 2025 – Final drafts submitted by authors to EasyChair

After final drafts are submitted and reviewed, your conference committee will submit them to the publishing coordinators (Sheridan Communications). They will then reach out to you in February to review your paper once more and submit your copyright forms.

During the submission process, you’ll also have the option to indicate whether you’re interested in participating in an Author Workshop. These workshops will be scheduled after the Call for Proposals closes. You can also find more information regarding these workshops in the SIGUCCS Slack #Conference and #General channels.

Commitment to Inclusion and Accessibility:

All submissions and sessions should follow accessible and inclusive design practices—plain language, defined terms, alt text for visuals, and inclusive language. Need help? Our team of volunteers are here to support you!

Note: Open Access Pricing – Article Processing Charges (APCs)

ACM has migrated their publication process to an open access licensing structure. SIG members that are affiliated with, and publishing under the support of an Open ACM Member Institution can do so free of charge. Note, abstracts, which are ACM formatted documents up to 2 pages, have no publishing fee. If your institution is not part of the OpenACM program and your submission is more than 2 pages when formatted there will be a publishing fee:

From ACM regarding Open Access Pricing (APC Fees)

The pricing below is valid for all hybrid and gold open access publications for conferences scheduled in 2026:

• ACM Proceedings Article
  • List Price: $350*
  • ACM/ SIG Member Price: $250*
  • Open ACM Member Institution: FREE
• ACM Proceedings “Abstract” (up to 2 pages)
  • FREE
  • FREE
  • FREE

Important update on ACMs new open access publishing model for 2026 ACM Conferences!

Starting January 1, 2026, ACM will fully transition to Open Access. All ACM publications, including those from ACM-sponsored conferences, will be 100% Open Access. Authors will have two primary options for publishing Open Access articles with ACM: the ACM Open institutional model or by paying Article Processing Charges (APCs). With over 1,800 institutions already part of ACM Open, the majority of ACM-sponsored conference papers will not require APCs from authors or conferences (currently, around 70-75%).

Authors from institutions not participating in ACM Open will need to pay an APC to publish their papers, unless they qualify for a financial or discretionary waiver. To find out whether an APC applies to your article, please consult the list of participating institutions in ACM Open and review the APC Waivers and Discounts Policy. Keep in mind that waivers are rare and are granted based on specific criteria set by ACM.

Understanding that this change could present financial challenges, ACM has approved a temporary subsidy for 2026 to ease the transition and allow more time for institutions to join ACM Open. The subsidy will offer:

• $250 APC for ACM/SIG members
• $350 for non-members

This represents a 65% discount, funded directly by ACM. Authors are encouraged to help advocate for their institutions to join ACM Open during this transition period.