MNADE

As Minnesota State prepares to phase out stand-alone developmental courses and implement corequisite models by fall 2028, the roles of college faculty and student support professionals are changing. This transition creates an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration across systems and build a shared vision for supporting our students. Rather than responding to these changes in isolation, we invite participants to build relationships across programs and institutions and develop collaborative approaches to supporting our students. Together, our voices and collective vision can lead to action and help our students realize their goals. 

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This conference will bring together partners from Adult Basic Education, ABE Teaching & Advancement System (ATLAS) , Minnesota Association of Developmental Education (MNADE), Minnesota Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (MinnMATYC),  Minnesota Writing & English (MnWE) Conference, and other partners that support Minnesota learners across systems. Participants will connect, share resources and effective practices, begin conversations about the changes ahead, and strengthen pathways that help students enter college, persist in their studies, and achieve their educational and career goals. Registration and Membership costs for this conference are subsidized in part by the IMPACT grant from Education Minnesota!

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We call upon our colleagues to propose one-hour breakout sessions or two-hour workshops. These conversations may highlight new approaches to instruction and student support that promote success for students with diverse levels of academic preparation, learning needs, and life circumstances. As always, we will consider all the proposals we receive, but we especially welcome proposals addressing successes, challenges, innovations, and partnerships in the following areas:  

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Systems, Policy & Pathways 

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• Equity and leadership in developmental education reform and implementation 

• Institutional change and cross-system coordination 

• Placement practices and multiple measures 

• Guided pathways and transition redesign 

• Corequisite and accelerated models 

• Supporting technical programs with or without corequisite requirements 

• Alignment between adult education, higher education, workforce and community partners 

 

Teaching, Learning & Innovation 

 

• Effective reading, writing, and mathematics corequisites 

• Innovative instructional approaches 

• Strategies for diverse learners, including ESL and GED students 

• Culturally responsive and inclusive teaching   

• Technology-enhanced learning (online, hybrid, AI tools) 

• Advising and coaching models for adult learners 

• ABE–college partnerships and bridge programs 

 

Student Success, Support & Belonging 

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• Retention and persistence strategies 

• Addressing non-academic barriers such as work and caregiving demands, transportation, basic-needs insecurity, technology access, mental health, and neurodivergent-related needs 

• Trauma-informed and student-centered supports 

• Building belonging and engagement for nontraditional students 

• Closing equity gaps and serving marginalized populations 

 

In the spirit of forging new partnerships, we encourage all returning attendees to invite at least one new person—a faculty member, an ABE colleague, a student, a dean, a director, a tutor, or an advisor or counselor – to participate in this year’s conference, either as an attendee or as a presenter. The more new faces we have, the more opportunities for making connections and exploring new directions as these changes take root!  

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Please include the name of each presenter with your proposal, designating one presenter as the primary contact person (including phone number, address, and e-mail), a session title, a brief description of the proposed presentation (100 words maximum), and a short two-to-three sentence biography for each presenter suitable for submission in the conference program. We will have projectors available in all conference rooms, but presenters must bring their own laptops and connection cables.   

 

To submit a proposal, please complete the 2026 Conference Proposal Form. Proposals received by August 2, 2026 will receive preferred consideration. Please consult the MNADE website for hotel reservation information and conference registration information as it becomes available.