2026 Annual Conference: Program Subcommittee Vice Chair

The Annual Conference Program Subcommittee Vice Chair works as part of the Conference Committee, on the Program Subcommittee, to support the program chair during the Call for Proposals, proposal review, session selection, presentation scheduling and program management. 

Responsibilities

Before the conference

• Promote the Call for Proposals and participate in general communications efforts during the call and the run-up to Conference registration.
• Read and rate all proposals submitted by potential presenters using the online system.
• With program subcommittee chair, review each of the “wish lists” created by each of the track/room hosts with an eye toward the overall quality of the sessions/presenters and the balance of topics covered, incorporating past attendee feedback.
• With program subcommittee chair, approve and “release” sessions to be included in each track.
• With program subcommittee chair, work to fill gaps or resolve conflicts before acceptances are sent.
• With program subcommittee chair, schedule and manage programming.
• With program subcommittee chair and track chairs, maintain communication with presenters.
• Promote the conference and presenters through personal social media and professional networks.
• Serve in place of the chair as needed.

During the conference

• Arrive early to the Annual Conference to help with conference preparations. 
• During the Conference, attend sessions, and assist track/room hosts and program chair.
• Participate in all general conference committee and program subcommittee meetings.
• Support track/room hosts as needs arise.
• Work with track/room hosts to affirm presenter attendance and readiness. 
• Assist in determining announcements and introductions from the general session stage.
• Participate in determining Red Stapler and Best in Conference selections.
• Assist with conference setup (AV, bag stuffing, etc.).

After the conference

• Manage collection and posting of presenter materials
• Review conference and presenter feedback.
• Assists in forming program subcommittee for the next conference.

General

• Facilitate an environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

Qualifications

Required

• Membership in the association, which can be fulfilled at application. (Free general membership for higher education professionals would meet this requirement.)
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate and work comfortably with others.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality regarding the committee’s discussions.
• Membership in the Association (including free general membership), which can be fulfilled at application.
• Previous volunteer experience serving on the HighEdWeb Annual Conference Program Committee
• New to HighEdWeb leadership roles (or at least one year absence since serving as a chair/vice chair or on the Board of Directors).
• Familiarity with the Association.
• Ability to adhere to deadlines.

Preferred

• Previous conference planning experience, either in programming or event logistics
• Previous conference speaking experience, either at HighEdWeb or other professional or community conference in a related field
• Past volunteer experience.
• Ability to work with project management/team communication platforms such as Slack, Clickup, etc.
• Google Drive proficiency.

Estimated time commitment

• The time commitment for committee work varies, with a minimum of 1-2 hours per week, with a minimum of around 40 hours over the course of five weeks reading and rating proposal submissions, and reviewing final track wish lists and schedules, and then continuous during the annual conference event.
• The program vice chair is expected to virtually attend scheduled Conference Committee and other scheduled team meetings, as well as multiple hour-long program subcommittee meetings (as scheduled by program chair). 

Length of appointment

One Annual Conference season (usually November – November) with the expectation to become chair once that position is vacated.

Growth opportunities

By serving as Program Subcommittee Vice Chair, you will gain:

• Prerequisite service for other leadership roles in HighEdWeb and the Annual Conference. 
• Volunteer and leadership experience in a non-profit organization and community conference.
• Knowledge of how HighEdWeb functions and how the annual conference is run.
• Access to HighEdWeb volunteer rewards.

Conference attendance

Annual conference attendance is required. Conference registration is waived for this position.

How to Apply

To apply, select the following Apply for Job button, then use the supplied link. You will be taken to your Volunteer Profile form. Update your profile to include your interest in this position and your related qualifications.