The start and end times for this event are to be announced.
At a time of anticipated and unanticipated change, what steps can we take to meet students where they are while strengthening and sustaining our programs? We invite proposals that describe successful strategies, practices, and policies that have worked for your courses, your language, your program, department, or institution.
Topics may include:
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Design or redesign of courses and/or course sequences
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Content- or theme-based courses
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New minors, majors, or certifications
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Interdisciplinary projects or programs
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Departmental or programmatic management in a changing language-learning landscape
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Addressing changes in student populations and learning needs
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Attracting more diverse groups of students
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Empirical research on pedagogical innovations
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Additional topics related to the theme
All presentations are 20 minutes, with 10 minutes for Q&A. Language instructors at all levels are invited to submit proposals; all languages are welcome, but the language of the Symposium is English. For information on past symposia, click here.
Questions about your proposal? ccbauman@uchicago.edu
Submit a Proposal
Proposal submission deadline: Monday, February 2, 2026
We are pleased to share information about our keynote speakers!
From Crisis to Catalyst: Transforming Language Curricula for the Future
Federica Santini & Brian Olovson, Department of World Languages and Cultures, Kennesaw State University, Georgia
In this keynote address, we examine a strategic curricular redesign in a university-level World Languages and Cultures department that increased enrollment and strengthened student learning outcomes. Grounded in program review findings, the 2021 MLA Report, the 2019 ACTFL Report, and current scholarship in language education, we confront persistent barriers that have limited the vitality of many language majors, including inflexible structures, legacy content, and outcomes that do not reflect contemporary learner and societal needs. We articulate a clear rationale for change and outline the guiding principles that shaped our redesign: flexibility without dilution, cultural competence as a core outcome, career readiness as an explicit promise, and inclusivity as a design requirement rather than an add-on.
We then move from principles to implementation, showing how those commitments translated into specific program architecture and measurable momentum. We detail how we reduced and clarified core major and minor requirements, expanded elective choice, introduced career-oriented credentials, and removed hidden prerequisites that delayed progress and discouraged continuation. Using concrete examples from our revised course menu and credential pathways, we illustrate how language curricula can foreground contemporary cultural and professional themes while still supporting strong language development.
We conclude with evidence-informed lessons learned and a set of adaptable design choices that departments can use to streamline degree progression, broaden participation, and build durable enrollment growth while preparing graduates for diverse professional futures in an interconnected world.