PRESENTER GUIDE
ABOUT THE SUMMIT
The 2025 Northern Nevada Diversity Summit will take place on April 14, 2025, at the University of Nevada, Reno. This annual, system-wide event is a collaboration between the University of Nevada, Reno, Great Basin College, Truckee Meadows Community College, and Western Nevada College.
The Summit offers professional development opportunities focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice in higher education and beyond. This year’s theme is:
Health and Wellbeing: Exploring Circumstance, Community, and Culture
Selected presentations reflect this theme and aim to foster inclusive, thought-provoking, and engaging dialogue across institutions and communities.
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PRESENTATION FORMATS
All presentations will be allotted 60 minutes and will be delivered in the following formats:
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Workshop Sessions: Designed to incorporate proven interactive activities and exercises, these sessions prioritize speaker-audience engagement and hands-on participation.
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Panel Discussions: Moderated discussions of presentations addressing the literature related to different aspects of a given topic.
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Research Presentations: Evidence-based presentations of original research findings, as well as reviews or meta-analyses of findings from previously published research.
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Dialogue Sessions: Conversational-style discussions between 2–3 speakers, moderated to explore key topics and encourage audience interaction.
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Poster Presentations: Visual displays of research, projects, or case studies presented in a dedicated session. More information about poster presentations, below.
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GUIDELINES FOR PRESENTERS
Main sessions will be livestreamed via Zoom, with live auto-captions enabled. Breakout sessions and poster presentations will take place in person and will not be streamed. However, Zoom will be used in-person during breakout sessions to generate live captions, enhancing accessibility for attendees.
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Accessibility Best Practices
The University of Nevada, Reno is committed to making the Summit accessible to all participants. Presenters are encouraged to:
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Speak clearly and use microphones when available
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Describe all visual content (e.g., charts, images, infographics) verbally
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Caption all videos played during your session
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Use plain language whenever possible
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Provide accessible digital materials upon request (e.g., tagged PDFs or Word documents)
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Live captioning will be available for both livestreamed and in-person sessions using Zoom technology
For additional guidance, visit the University's Accessibility Resources webpage.
Inclusive Design Approaches
To further support a wide range of learning needs and engagement styles—particularly for neurodivergent students and community members—presenters are encouraged to use inclusive teaching strategies and presentation frameworks.
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Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
UDL promotes inclusive learning by offering multiple means of engagement, representation, and expression. In presentations, this could include:
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Providing content in both verbal and visual formats
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Allowing time for audience reflection or interaction
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Offering materials or summaries in advance
Explore the Think UDL Podcast and Resources for practical tips and real-world examples.
Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TILT Higher Ed)
The TILT Higher Ed framework emphasizes transparency in purpose, tasks, and criteria, making content and expectations more accessible—especially for neurodivergent, first-generation, and underserved learners. When presenting, consider:
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Clearly stating the purpose of your session or each activity
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Outlining steps or expectations in simple terms
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Sharing how attendees can apply what they’ve learned
Learn more at the TILT Higher Ed Project website.
Slide Design & Font Guidelines
Fonts
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Use clear, sans-serif fonts such as Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica
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Ensure all body text is at least 24-point font for readability—especially for larger rooms and virtual viewers
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Titles and headings should be larger (e.g., 32–44 point font or more)
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Avoid using all capital letters, italics, underlining, or shadows
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Use bold sparingly and consistently for emphasis
Color and Contrast
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Use high-contrast color combinations (e.g., dark text on a light background)
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Avoid using color alone to convey meaning—use patterns, labels, or symbols in charts
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Check contrast using this tool
Images, Tables, and Charts
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Use high-quality, properly credited images free of watermarks
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Ensure all visuals (e.g., tables, graphs) are simple, labeled, and easy to interpret
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Avoid overcrowding slides with too much information
Slide Recommendations for In-Person Breakout Sessions
Most breakout sessions will take place in standard classroom or conference rooms. To ensure your presentation is accessible and visually clear for attendees:
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Use dark text on a light background to improve visibility in well-lit rooms
Avoid small text—keep font sizes at least 24 pt for body text, and larger for headings
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Minimize the amount of content on each slide; use one main idea per slide
Avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning; use shapes, labels, or textures as well
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If your session includes visual media (e.g., video clips or demonstrations), ensure they are captioned and described verbally when relevant
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Consider bringing a printed copy of your key points or a simplified handout, especially for audience members who may need support following along visually
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Poster Presentation Guidelines
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Posters should be designed in landscape orientation and formatted to a 16:9 aspect ratio
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Keep content concise—no more than 500 words recommended
Use a clear, logical structure with labeled sections (e.g., Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion)
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Include your poster title and presenter name(s) at the top in larger, bold text
Use high-quality visuals—such as charts, photos, or diagrams—to support key points
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All text should be readable from a distance:
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Title font: ~72 pt
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Section headings: ~36–44 pt
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Body text: minimum 24 pt
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Use accessible fonts (e.g., Arial, Calibri) and high-contrast colors
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Avoid large blocks of text; use bullet points or short paragraphs
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Optional: Include a QR code that links to supplemental materials (e.g., full paper, contact info, or digital copy of the poster)
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Posters will be displayed during a dedicated in-person session, where presenters will stand with their posters and engage directly with attendees