Achieving the Dream

DREAM 2026 Request for Proposals
Opens Jun 25 2025 12:00 AM (EDT)
Deadline Oct 7 2025 11:59 PM (EDT)
Description


Please review the proposal requirements carefully. Complete all sections of the online proposal form. Drafts can be saved and edited and will not be submitted until you hit the “Submit” button. You must hit the “Submit” button on or before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 7, 2025, for your proposal to be considered.


Download the complete DREAM 2026 submissions guidelines here.

PROPOSAL OVERVIEW

All session proposals must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 7, 2025. 

Multiple proposals may be submitted, but only one will be accepted from any one institution. (This does not apply to proposals co-authored by multiple institutions.) Priority for proposal selection is given to ATD community college partners within the ATD Network.

Vendors and service providers may apply, but acceptance is not guaranteed. If interested in submitting a presentation as a sponsor, please contact Dayna Gilliard, associate director of development, at dgilliard@achievingthedream.org.

All applicants will be notified via email of the status of their proposals by November 21, 2025.


Proposal Submitter and Session Leader Responsibilities:

Please review and agree to the responsibilities of proposal submitters and session leaders.

Proposal submitters will serve as the point of contact for ATD regarding the sessions. They are responsible for communicating all messaging to and from the Session Leaders.


Handouts and PowerPoint Presentations

All session leaders must submit their session materials (including PowerPoint presentations) to ATD no later than January 19, 2026. They will be posted on the DREAM 2026 website so they can be viewed by the ATD Network.

Instructions for submitting presentation materials will be provided when colleges are notified that a session has been accepted.

Session leaders should anticipate and plan for an audience size of 100 to 150 participants.


Registration and Related Costs

All session leaders must register for DREAM 2026. Submitting a proposal or leading a session does not register you for DREAM. 

Each ATD Network college is allotted a certain number of complimentary registrations. The number of session leaders from your institution will not affect the number of complimentary registrations your institution is allotted. Information on the complimentary registrations will be provided to your campus Core team leader.


PROPOSAL COMPLETION

You will receive a confirmation email after officially submitting your proposal. You will be able to preview and edit your proposal until the review process begins.


PROPOSAL WITHDRAWAL

If for any reason you want to withdraw your proposal, please return to your proposal and update the status to “Withdrawn.” You can undo this change any time prior to October 7, 2025.


TIMELINE

Session Submission Deadline: October 7, 2025
Session Selections Announced: November 21, 2025
Deadline for Session Materials: January 19, 2026
DREAM Begins: March 2, 2026

Survey Apply Instructions

Register: Click the “Register” link in the top right corner and set up your log-in credentials.

Provide Basic Information: When signing up for a new account, you will be prompted to provide some basic information such as your name, email address, and organization (if applicable). Fill in the required fields and click "Next" or "Continue."

Choose a Username: After providing your basic information, you will be asked to choose a username for your Survey Apply account. The username should be unique and not already taken by another user. It is essential to pick a username that you can easily remember and that reflects your identity or organization.

Check Availability: Once you have entered your desired username, click on the "Check Availability" or "Verify" button. Survey Apply will verify if the username is available or if you need to select an alternative option.

Create a Password: After confirming the availability of your chosen username, you will be asked to create a secure password. The password should be strong, containing a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Ensure the password is unique and not used for other accounts.

Confirm Your Account: Depending on the platform's setup, you might receive an email to confirm your account. Click on the confirmation link provided in the email to verify your email address and activate your Survey Apply account.

Log In with Your Username: After completing the account setup process, return to the Survey Apply login page. Enter your chosen username and the password you created during sign-up, then click on the "Log In" button, which will take you to your application portal, where you can find resources and add/edit your application as often as you like until the deadline.


Questions or Concerns

If you have questions or concerns regarding the proposal process, contact events@achievingthedream.org.

Apply

DREAM 2026 Request for Proposals



Please review the proposal requirements carefully. Complete all sections of the online proposal form. Drafts can be saved and edited and will not be submitted until you hit the “Submit” button. You must hit the “Submit” button on or before 11:59 p.m. ET on October 7, 2025, for your proposal to be considered.


Download the complete DREAM 2026 submissions guidelines here.

PROPOSAL OVERVIEW

All session proposals must be submitted electronically by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 7, 2025. 

Multiple proposals may be submitted, but only one will be accepted from any one institution. (This does not apply to proposals co-authored by multiple institutions.) Priority for proposal selection is given to ATD community college partners within the ATD Network.

Vendors and service providers may apply, but acceptance is not guaranteed. If interested in submitting a presentation as a sponsor, please contact Dayna Gilliard, associate director of development, at dgilliard@achievingthedream.org.

All applicants will be notified via email of the status of their proposals by November 21, 2025.


Proposal Submitter and Session Leader Responsibilities:

Please review and agree to the responsibilities of proposal submitters and session leaders.

Proposal submitters will serve as the point of contact for ATD regarding the sessions. They are responsible for communicating all messaging to and from the Session Leaders.


Handouts and PowerPoint Presentations

All session leaders must submit their session materials (including PowerPoint presentations) to ATD no later than January 19, 2026. They will be posted on the DREAM 2026 website so they can be viewed by the ATD Network.

Instructions for submitting presentation materials will be provided when colleges are notified that a session has been accepted.

Session leaders should anticipate and plan for an audience size of 100 to 150 participants.


Registration and Related Costs

All session leaders must register for DREAM 2026. Submitting a proposal or leading a session does not register you for DREAM. 

Each ATD Network college is allotted a certain number of complimentary registrations. The number of session leaders from your institution will not affect the number of complimentary registrations your institution is allotted. Information on the complimentary registrations will be provided to your campus Core team leader.


PROPOSAL COMPLETION

You will receive a confirmation email after officially submitting your proposal. You will be able to preview and edit your proposal until the review process begins.


PROPOSAL WITHDRAWAL

If for any reason you want to withdraw your proposal, please return to your proposal and update the status to “Withdrawn.” You can undo this change any time prior to October 7, 2025.


TIMELINE

Session Submission Deadline: October 7, 2025
Session Selections Announced: November 21, 2025
Deadline for Session Materials: January 19, 2026
DREAM Begins: March 2, 2026

Survey Apply Instructions

Register: Click the “Register” link in the top right corner and set up your log-in credentials.

Provide Basic Information: When signing up for a new account, you will be prompted to provide some basic information such as your name, email address, and organization (if applicable). Fill in the required fields and click "Next" or "Continue."

Choose a Username: After providing your basic information, you will be asked to choose a username for your Survey Apply account. The username should be unique and not already taken by another user. It is essential to pick a username that you can easily remember and that reflects your identity or organization.

Check Availability: Once you have entered your desired username, click on the "Check Availability" or "Verify" button. Survey Apply will verify if the username is available or if you need to select an alternative option.

Create a Password: After confirming the availability of your chosen username, you will be asked to create a secure password. The password should be strong, containing a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Ensure the password is unique and not used for other accounts.

Confirm Your Account: Depending on the platform's setup, you might receive an email to confirm your account. Click on the confirmation link provided in the email to verify your email address and activate your Survey Apply account.

Log In with Your Username: After completing the account setup process, return to the Survey Apply login page. Enter your chosen username and the password you created during sign-up, then click on the "Log In" button, which will take you to your application portal, where you can find resources and add/edit your application as often as you like until the deadline.


Questions or Concerns

If you have questions or concerns regarding the proposal process, contact events@achievingthedream.org.

Apply
Opens
Jun 25 2025 12:00 AM (EDT)
Deadline
Oct 7 2025 11:59 PM (EDT)