2026 Student Life Professional Development Conference View Other Sessions

Join us for the 2026 Student Life Professional Development Conference - Anchored in Purpose: Evolving Work, Steadfast Mission! This conference is dedicated to recentering ourselves in the midst of increasing change in complexity at work, enabling future opportunities for us and our students, growing our community to meet the ever evolving needs of higher education, and expanding our reach to ensure maximum impact. Participants will engage in dynamic discussions, workshops, and networking opportunities aimed at creating a resilient, equitable, and inclusive future.

Our Pre-Conference (Monday, January 26, 2026) includes half or full day Sessions and Workshops. The Conference Day (Tuesday, January 27, 2026) includes 50 Minute Breakout Sessions, Lunch, and 75 Minute Extended Sessions in the afternoon.

This year's conference encompasses four focus areas:

  • Strengthening Our Roots: Professional skill building (core skills, best practices)

  • Growing Our Community: Networking, collaboration, and building inclusive spaces

  • Anchored in Purpose: Leadership, mission-driven work, and ethical decision making

  • Expanding Our Reach: Innovative approaches, emerging student needs, and new programs

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 9, 2026.

There is a $25 charge for Student Life staff and graduate students to attend the conference and a $50 charge for non Student Life staff per day.



Ethics of Care on Campus: Integrating Harm Reduction and Restorative Justice in Everyday Practice

Available Seats 61
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Michigan League, Michigan Room
Savannah Currier - Student Resolution Resources, Mackenzie Leatherman - Housing Support and Community Responsibility

What if accountability could strengthen, rather than strain, our relationships with students? What could it look like to focus less on completely solving students’ concerns, and focus more on walking alongside students as they navigate them? Within our work, we regularly navigate behaviors that cause harm. This session invites participants to explore approaches that center care, accountability, and continued relationship over punishment or exclusion. We will build a philosophical and practical bridge between Harm Reduction and Restorative Justice, and together consider how this framework applies to the variety of work we do in Student Life. Attendees will leave this session with strategies to foster accountability, provide student-centered support, and promote belonging within their everyday work and campus communities.

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