2025 Annual Conference - Save the Date

The 2025 Graduate Career Consortium Annual Conference will take place in June in Minneapolis, MN.  

• Pre-conference for New Professionals in-person session: June 10, 2025
• Annual Conference: June 10-13, 2025
• Conference hotel: The Royal Sonesta Minneapolis Downtown

 
The GCC annual conference strives to provide an opportunity for members to build communities of support and stay on the cutting edge of the field of career and professional development. At this year’s conference, we want to empower our members to face changes that come their way with confidence, and to identify opportunities that may come along. As we all move forward and try to navigate the ever changing landscape of higher education not only do we do it for ourselves, but we also model it, and guide the populations we serve. The theme of the 2025 GCC conference is meant to inspire sharing of insightful approaches, perspectives, practices and lived experiences of GCC colleagues and how to respond to challenges we face in work and life.

Our Theme for 2025: Flowing Forward: Navigating Currents of Change
This inspiring and forward-looking conference will celebrate the positive impacts our work has on the lives of graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and campus stakeholders, emphasizing our shared commitment to adapting and evolving within academia's shifting landscape. It offers a unique opportunity to showcase and discuss innovative programs, resources, collaborative relationships, and dynamic data approaches that help us stay responsive to the changing needs of graduate students and postdocs.

As a city renowned for its vibrant arts scene, beautiful natural landscapes, and progressive cultural values, Minneapolis sets the stage for GCC members to “flow forward”—to embrace the changes that empower our growth as a community. Together, we’ll share accomplishments, new ideas, and innovative strategies that allow us to navigate the currents of our field with resilience, purpose, and vision. Join us for an enriching experience that will reignite your passion, expand your skills, and help you flow into your next professional and career roles with a refreshed sense of identity and purpose.

We’re thrilled to feature presentations spanning the diverse work of GCC members, with a special focus on impactful data usage, collaborative relationship building, and forward-thinking programming and advising that meets the needs of tomorrow. 

• Harnessing Data as a Compass: Data collection, analysis, visualization, and utilization are powerful tools that can guide us through the currents of change, enabling us to design programming and advising approaches that meet the evolving needs of students and postdocs. We’re excited to see how our community has embraced new AI tools to enhance data-driven decision-making and program development. Together, we’ll explore how data can anchor us in uncertain times and shape the future direction of our efforts.
• Cultivating Strong Currents of Connection: In times of limited resources, cultivating meaningful relationships with campus stakeholders and employers becomes essential to sustaining our work. Effective collaboration and networking within academia and beyond empower us to create richer, more impactful experiences for those we support. We look forward to learning best practices for building and strengthening these connections, and we invite you to share where you find joy in creating bonds that leave lasting impacts.
• Innovating for Resilient Success: As academia transforms, graduate students and postdocs face new challenges that require innovative, adaptable solutions. This conference is an opportunity for GCC members to showcase revolutionary programs and experimental ideas that address these shifts. Minneapolis, a hub for business and innovation in the Midwest, is an ideal place to unveil forward-thinking initiatives that help us stay agile and responsive to the future of higher education.

As our work environments evolve, we all encounter new challenges. Yet, even while struggling with these changes, we find opportunities to highlight what energizes and motivates us in our diverse roles. By reconnecting with our sources of passion and purpose, we can chart a course forward, empowered and ready to take the next steps in our own careers. Join us as we navigate these currents together, flowing forward with resilience, vision, and renewed inspiration.

Conference Registration 
Conference registration will launch in March 2025. We will be sharing all the details on how you can register at this time.
 
Pre-Conference Workshop for New Professionals
As in previous years, we will be hosting a pre-conference workshop for new professionals. This full-day workshop is designed for conference registrants who are new to career development or to working specifically with graduate students or postdoctoral scholars. Participants will learn about the best practices for the field, hear perspectives from experienced members, and build a community together. In past years, attendees have reported that this workshop helped them meet new colleagues, situate themselves in the field, and feel ready to build their career going forward. You will be able to register for this workshop when conference registration opens in March 2025.
 
Exploring Minneapolis
When the conference registration opens in March, we will highlight some of the attractions in and around the Minneapolis area that you can explore pre- and post-conference. Whether you're drawn to Minneapolis for its vibrant arts scene, scenic parks and lakes, diverse culinary experiences, or live music, we hope you'll take this opportunity to immerse yourself in everything the city has to offer. From exploring renowned museums and theaters to enjoying outdoor activities along the Chain of Lakes, Minneapolis has something for everyone to enjoy.