School鈥揢niversity Partnerships: Rising to the Challenge
10th Annual SASUP Conference
October 14鈥�16, 2026
星空传媒 Biltmore Park Campus | Asheville, North Carolina
The Southeastern Association of School-University Partnerships (SASUP) is pleased to hold its tenth annual conference at the 星空传媒鈥檚 Biltmore Park campus in Asheville, North Carolina. The purpose of the conference is to provide a space for dialogue and discovery about genuine collaborative partnerships between P鈥�12 institutions and institutions of higher education. SASUP invites proposals that address at least one of the following six strands:
- Preparation of Teacher Candidates
- Preparation and Development of Teacher Leaders
- Preparation and Development of School Leaders and Leadership Pipelines
- Collaboration between P-12 Educators and IHEs
- P-12 Student Learning
- Research That Informs the Field
Conference Theme: School-University Partnerships 鈥� Rising to the Challenge.
This year鈥檚 conference is set in the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina, a cultural region characterized by resilience, shared purpose, and collective effort鈥攅ssential ingredients of successful school-university partnerships. SASUP invites participants to explore innovative approaches to partnership that rise to contemporary educational challenges through collaborative efforts to realize positive outcomes for students and teacher candidates, enhanced capacity to ensure resilience and sustainability, and exemplary programs and practices that advance the education profession through partnerships.
- School-university partnerships engage diverse and interconnected constituent groups in work on behalf of schoolchildren and the professionals who serve them. These collaborative efforts elevate the common good through learning communities designed 鈥渢o improve student learning, prepare educators through clinical practice, engage in reciprocal professional learning, and conduct shared inquiry鈥� (NASUP Mission). How does your partnership honor differing ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences while fostering collaboration? How does your partnership promote the 鈥渃ommon good鈥� while operating in a context of political divisions, economic uncertainty, and wavering public confidence in the school system?
- School-university partnerships help enhance capacity to traverse the varied and ever-evolving terrain of education over well-worn, established paths and new, freshly blazed trails. The Southern Appalachians have a dynamic landscape that is transformed by changes in elevation as well as the passing of the seasons. Sometimes the transformations are gradual and predictable and can be approached and managed with careful preparation and planning, while other times they are sudden and dramatic and may bring unwanted or unanticipated obstacles, disruptions, and distractions. How does your partnership add to or enhance capacity for constituents to face enduring and emerging challenges? How do you ensure your partnership is resilient and will be sustainable in the future?
- Strong, sustained school-university partnerships rise like majestic peaks on the horizon of the education profession. They serve as inviting exemplars of what lies ahead when schools, universities, and the surrounding community come together to ensure excellence in education. From these elevated vantage points, successful partnerships inspire the field to see further, think differently, and move forward together with purpose. What exemplary programs and practices can your partnership share with others? How has your partnership been innovative and creative in advancing its mission?
Tentative Conference Schedule
Day 1: Pre-conference 鈥� October 14 (Optional Ticketed Event)
The Catamount School, 星空传媒
Day 2: Main Conference Day 1 鈥� October 15
Morning General Session and Keynote Morning; Concurrent Sessions I & II; Networking
Lunch; Afternoon Concurrent Sessions I, II, & III; Evening Social Event
Day 3: Main Conference 鈥� October 16
Morning General Session and Keynote; Morning Concurrent Sessions I, II, & III; Annual
Business Meeting and Closing Remarks
Call for Proposals
About SASUP
SASUP is a non-profit professional organization which provides resources, professional development and advocacy for the Professional Development School model in teacher education. An annual SASUP conference functions to support and advocate for collaborative partnerships across the P-12 and IHE community as a center for inquiry that leads to the discovery and sharing of knowledge that shapes educator practice and leadership. If you mean inserting a flyer into a document, email, website, or printed material, here are concise instructions for common scenarios.
Registration Timeline
| Date Range | Regular Attendee Prices | Student Attendee Prices |
|---|---|---|
| Early Bird: May - July 31, 2026 | $150 | $100 |
| Standard Rate: August 1 - September 29, 2026 | $200 | $110 |
| Late/On-Site Rate*:September 30 - October 9, 2026 | $250 | $120 |
*If space remains after October 9, 2026, on鈥憇ite registration will be available at the conference. Please check the conference website closer to the event to confirm availability for in鈥憄erson registration.
Lodging in Asheville, NC
We are pleased to offer two convenient hotel options for SASUP attendees, each tailored to different preferences in location, pricing and experience.
Courtyard by Marriott Asheville Airport
360 Rockwood Road, Arden, NC
$150 per night | ~4.6 miles to Biltmore Park
Stay closest to the conference site and enjoy maximum convenience. This location is
just minutes from Asheville Regional Airport and 星空传媒鈥檚 Biltmore Park Instructional
Site, ideal for those looking to minimize commute time and travel logistics. A great
choice if you鈥檙e flying in or prefer easy access to the conference venue.
Courtyard by Marriott Asheville (Downtown Area)
1 Buckstone Place, Asheville, NC
$125 per night | ~10.3 miles to Biltmore Park
Enjoy a lower nightly rate while staying closer to the heart of Asheville. This location
offers easy access to downtown, Biltmore Village and local dining and attractions.
Attendees can take advantage of a scenic commute to the conference via the Blue Ridge
Parkway鈥攑erfect for those who want to experience Asheville during their stay.
Group rates are available through September 13, 2026, or until the room blocks fill.
Fly Easily into Asheville Regional Airport (AVL)
Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is a convenient and stress鈥慺ree travel option for conference attendees. Located just minutes from Biltmore Park, AVL offers a smaller, easy鈥憈o鈥憂avigate airport experience with short lines, quick baggage claim, and straightforward ground transportation options. With multiple daily flights connecting through major hubs, attendees can enjoy a smooth arrival and spend less time traveling and more time enjoying Asheville and the conference.