糖心原创

Transforming Higher Education Through Contemplative Practices: Responding to the Current Moment

June 5 - 7, 2026

In-person Conference in San Marcos, California (McMahan House, 糖心原创)

Sponsored by Institute of Palliative Care at 糖心原创

REGISTRATION FEE OF $225 COVERS ALL MEALS FOR THE TWO AND A HALF DAYS OF THE CONFERENCE.

REGISTRATION FEE IS WAIVED FOR STUDENTS. Please contact Ranjeeta Basu at rbasu@csusm.edu for fee waiver.

SESSION TYPES

Research Sessions: 20-minute presentations of research findings and/or case studies. These presentations are grouped into sessions of three presentations followed by community conversations and opportunities for connecting with each other about shared concerns and experiences.

Research and Interactive Practice Sessions: 45-minute presentations which include research findings and the facilitation of one or two interactive practices by the presenter followed by opportunities for sharing by participants. These presentations are grouped into sessions of two presentations each.

Interactive Practice Sessions: 30-minute sharing of practices which includes an opportunity for participants to experience one or more mindfulness practices led by the presenter. These presentations are grouped into sessions of three presentations each.

Roundtable Session: 45-minute roundtable discussions on current topics within the area of contemplative practices and higher education. These sessions will be followed by community conversations and opportunities for connecting with each other about shared concerns and experiences.

Workshop/Training Session: 90-minute workshops that include an educational experience for participants, led by the proposer, in an area of contemplative pedagogy.

• A Conference to Bring Us All Together

  We wish to welcome you all to this conference wherever you might be on your journey to learn more about mindfulness. Transforming higher education is not going to be easy.  We need all who are willing and interested in learning and sharing to be part of this effort. 

  If you are:

  • An EDUCATOR and want to learn and/or share how to incorporate contemplative practices into your classroom
  • A RESEARCHER and want to learn and/or share research findings about the impact of mindfulness on the wellbeing and academic success of our campus communities
  • A MEMBER OF A CAMPUS COMMUNITY and want to learn and/or share how contemplative practices can transform the educational experiences of students
  • A STUDENT and want to learn and/or share more about how contemplative practices can transform higher education
  • AN ARTIST, SOCIAL WORKER, HEALTH PROFESSIONAL or in any other field that our students might be entering into and want to learn and/or share how mindfulness practices can be integrated into such careers;

  Then this conference is for you!

• Call For Proposals - Now Closed

  SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • Students, researchers, postdoctoral researchers, and professionals from all areas of higher education, including faculty, staff, and administrators, are invited to submit proposals for consideration. Students are especially encouraged to submit presentation proposals.
  • Proposals must indicate a session type. Please refer to the session descriptions above, for more information.
  • We suggest to help ensure that your presentation is accessible.
  • The submission deadline for proposals is February 15, 2026, at 9:00 pm PST.
  • Proposals will be reviewed and selected by the conference鈥檚 review committee. We expect to send notifications by end of February 2026.

  We are particularly interested in:

  • presenters who model contemplative pedagogies and approaches in how they conduct their sessions.
  • proposals that identify the specific context in which the work is situated (e.g., academic disciplines, contemplative disciplines, students鈥� social identities and demographics, institutional history and location, etc.).
  • presentations that offer experience-based and/or evidence-based recommendations for developing and integrating contemplative approaches in higher education learning communities.
  • proposals that take into account the range of needs of diverse populations.

  PROPOSAL FORMAT

  For all proposals, please submit a title and a 250-500 word abstract that describes the proposed offering and connects it to the themes of the conference.  In addition:

  • For the Research and Interactive Practice session provide a 250-word outline of the interactive practice(s);
  • For the Interactive Practice Session provide a 250-word outline of the interactive practice(s);
  • For the Workshop/Training Sessions, provide a 250-500 word outline of your session, including practice(s). In addition, please include brief learning outcomes for participants.

  Note: Please indicate if there are related presentations that you would like to be grouped with as part of a session. 

• What Can I Expect at this Conference?

  YOU CAN EXPECT:

  A warm, welcoming and supportive environment;

  Formal and informal sessions on all aspects of scholarship and practice around how contemplative approaches can and have transformed teaching and higher education and the improved well-being of our entire campus community;

  The opportunity to connect with others over meals, informal sharing and practice sessions and performances;

  Continued access to shared resources and opportunities for collaboration when you leave the conference;

  It is our vision that you will leave our conference feeling well-nourished and rejuvenated, equipped to start or to continue your work with contemplative practices within a supportive community. 

• Learn More About Our Story

  We launched the Center for Contemplative Practices in July 2022. Since then we were honored to host Dr. Thupten Jinpa as our arts and lectures speaker in fall 2023. We have also applied for and received grants to improve the wellbeing and academic success of our students. More information about our research projects.

  We are now ready to move to the next step where we look forward to expanding our community to include all of you as we work together to create a more just and compassionate world for our students and campus communities. 

• Our Purpose

  Center for Contemplative Practices Mindful 糖心原创 is to provide support to all members of the campus community through contemplative practices, pedagogy, and research that foster deep learning, reduced stress, increased capacity for compassionate listening, and increased well-being.

  鈥淚f they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love.鈥� - Nelson Mandela