The Sunshine State Teaching and Learning Conference (SSTLC) is a public-facing academic conference hosted by the Faculty Center at UCF. It has been welcoming scholars from Florida and beyond since 2017 to our teaching-focused, interdisciplinary event. The conference brings together higher-education scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to share research, to discuss critical issues, and to promote opportunities for collaboration. The three-day event features a variety of session formats designed to encourage interaction and engagement. Sessions raise awareness of emerging challenges, offer overviews of best practices, highlight research findings, and promote strategies for improving student and faculty success.
2026 Conference Details
Dates: The 2026 Conference will be held on Spring Break, dates TBD.
Location: Orlando, FL. The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management. The UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management is Located at 9907 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819. It is conveniently situated near the hospitality and tourism corridor, International Drive, the Orange County Convention Center, Universal Orlando Resort, Walt Disney World, and hundreds of hotels and attractions.
Meals: Conference registration includes buffet breakfasts on two days, and buffet lunches on all three days.
Registration: Presenters and early bird registration (before March 5) will be $300. Late registration will be $350. Note: every presenter who plans to attend the conference in person must register (and pay), including those presenting as part of a group.
Registration will open in Fall, 2025.
Agenda: 2026 Sunshine State Learning Conference
- Agenda at a Glance
Call for Papers
Participants from all sectors of higher education are encouraged to submit proposals for presentations, workshops, and posters related to contemporary challenges in college teaching. Topics may include:
- scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL)
- active-learning strategies
- technologies to support student learning
- artificial intelligence, Generative AI and AI tools (Ex: ChatGPT, MidJourney, Murf.ai, etc.)
- big data in higher education
- inclusive education
- engaging students in online environments
- high-impact learning experiences
- ensuring accessibility for all students
- designing and assessing learning spaces
- student success / transfer student success
- reflection and mindfulness
- teaching in politically and socially complicated moments
- teaching in Florida and local legislative mandates
- exploring the role/s of faculty in promoting and assessing student success
- new frontiers in teaching and learning
- future of higher education
Note: because this is primarily a sharing conference, priority will be given to proposals that have clear ideas for take-aways that participants can use in their own teaching.
Group proposals are allowed. Presenters can be part of two presentations (max) but can be the lead author on only one.
The event features two presentation formats:
- 25-minute application/sharing sessions will include short presentations and conversations on programming and class activities. These may include sharing teaching practices without research components.
- Poster sessions will feature visual presentations on both research and programming topics. Posters should be printed at 36″ x 48″
The official call for papers for the 2026 conference will open in Fall, 2025.
Conference Hotels
Our preferred hotel partner for the conference is Hampton Inn. They are located a few miles from the hotel near Universal Blvd. and International Drive (I-Drive).
Hampton Inn Orlando International Drive/Convention Center ($199/night)
2.1 miles from Rosen College of Hospitality (6mins) Location: 8900 Universal Boulevard.
Our room block and rates are only guaranteed if booked by Feb 19.
- Free hot breakfast
- Free Wi-Fi
- Complimentary Parking
- Non-smoking rooms
- Outdoor pool
- Fitness center
- Pet-friendly rooms
- Business center
Additional Hotel Options:
- The Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel is a five-minute walk from the conference venue at the UCF Rosen College of Hospitality Management. Location: 9939 Universal Blvd. We do not have a group rate with Rosen Shingle Creek, but booking directly with them is an option if you’d like to walk to the conference.
- Homewood Suites. 2.3 miles from Rosen College of Hospitality (7mins) Location: 8745 International Drive
Transportation from the airport to the hotels: There are no direct shuttles from the airport (MCO), which is 17 miles away. Non-peak rideshare options may be as low as $32, and there are numerous car rental options at the airport.
Archive
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- 2025 -Event postponed until 2026.
- 2024 -March 18-20. Rosen College of Hospitality Management, UCF. 104 Participants. Agenda.
- 2023 – May 15-17. Holiday Inn–Disney Springs Area. 109 Participants. Agenda.
- 2021 – Jan. 29. Online. 117 participants. Agenda.
- 2020 – Jan 29-31. The Shores Resort, Daytona Beach Shores. 137 participants. Agenda.
- 2019 – Jan 30-Feb 1. The Shores Resort, Daytona Beach Shores. 185 participants. Agenda.
- 2018 – Jan 31-Feb 2. Sirata Resort, St. Petersburg. 171 participants. Agenda
- 2017 – Feb. 15-17. Sirata Resort, St. Petersburg. 184 participants. Agenda.