Students with Family Responsibilities Summit 2026

Brought to you by Mohawk College and the Centre for Emerging Research Initiatives (CERI), in partnership with CACUSS and the Students with Family Responsibilities Community of Practice.

Two-Day Virtual Summit

Wednesday, December 2, 2026
1:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EST

Thursday, December 3, 2026
12:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. EST

Format: Virtual

About the Summit

As post-secondary institutions strive to create more inclusive and accessible learning environments, there is growing recognition of the unique experiences and needs of Students with Family Responsibilities. Balancing academic responsibilities with caregiving duties for children, family members, or dependents can create significant barriers to educational access, persistence, and success.

The Students with Family Responsibilities Summit 2026 brings together student affairs professionals, faculty members, researchers, administrators, and other stakeholders to explore emerging research, share promising practices, and discuss innovative approaches to supporting Students with Family Responsibilities in Canadian post-secondary education.

Summit Themes

The Summit will highlight innovative initiatives related to:

• Supporting Students with Family Responsibilities success, retention, and well-being
• Building caregiver-friendly policies, programs, and campus cultures
• Addressing barriers faced by student-parents and other Students with Family Responsibilities learners
• Research and evidence-informed practices related to Students with Family Responsibilities experiences
• Flexible learning, technology, and innovative service delivery models
• Partnerships between institutions, community organizations, and service providers
• Emerging trends and future directions in Students with Family Responsibilities support

Summit Program

Day One — Wednesday, December 2

1:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m. — Panel Session
2:45 p.m.–3:00 p.m. — Break
3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. — Open Exchange and Networking

Day Two — Thursday, December 3

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions
1:00 p.m.–1:15 p.m. — Break
1:15 p.m.–2:15 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions
2:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m. — Break
2:30 p.m.–3:15 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions
3:30 p.m.–4:00 p.m. — Wrap-Up Session

Registration

Registration for this event is complimentary thanks to funding support from the SSHRC Community College Social Innovation Fund (CCSIF) in support of Mohawk College and the Learning 2Gether project.

Registration is open until December 1, 2026.

Register Here

Call for Speakers

Add your voice and contribute your perspective to this important conversation.

The Call for Speakers is open until October 19, 2026.

Apply to Speak Here

Contact

Sultan Sandur
pd-learn@cacuss.ca

Andrea Johnson
andrea.johnson4@mohawkcollege.ca