2023 UI Integrity Symposium | December 6 - 8, 2023 Oklahoma City, OK

Call for Presenters - 2023 UI Integrity Symposium

We are looking for innovative storytellers to lead interactive and engaging sessions sharing proven practices and/or effective and unique capabilities, tools, or approaches. This symposium will spotlight UI integrity—both benefits and tax—strategies and approaches that can improve operational effectiveness and lower the improper payment rate.

The proposal submission deadline is COB Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Please email your completed session proposal (using the template linked below) to librarian@naswa.org.

Download Session Proposal Template

What to Submit

For the most efficient use of your time, please review the submission template before you begin.

Download Session Proposal Template

Session Type Descriptions

All sessions, regardless of type, should be interactive and give the opportunity for participation. Build in participant engagement throughout (brief exercise, table talk, Q&A, polling, etc.) to make your session a learner-centric standout. Balance your talk time with the application of transferable skills for participants to have usable techniques and tools.

Use the accordion below to view more information on the different types of sessions/speakers

Type 1: Share Your Agency’s Integrity Story

Has your agency done something interesting, inspiring, or innovative in UI integrity (benefits or tax) that others could learn from? Take this opportunity to showcase your success, share lessons learned, and get feedback from your peers. Your submission can talk about how you developed or evolved your integrity strategy or program or concentrate on a particular integrity project, approach, or technology implementation. See “Get Inspired” for topic ideas.

While we welcome “works in progress,” you should be far enough along that you have a clear story to tell and can point to meaningful results.

Type 2: Teach a Skill or Technique

This type of session allows you to demonstrate a skill, technique, or methodology that colleagues can apply to their work. For example, if you have a critical skills session idea for new state UI employees (e.g., BAM 101), a technique for process standardization or improvement, or a surefire way to reduce your backlog this type of session might be a fit for you.

You can talk about how you applied the technique in your agency (in fact, we encourage that!), but the focus should be on the “how to.”

Creativity is encouraged, and you’ll want to explain how your session relates to benefits integrity and/or tax integrity. Preference will be given to techniques that have been used successfully in the context of state workforce agency UI operations.

Type 3: Lead a Conversation or Problem-Solving Session

People tell us collaborating with peers is one of their favorite aspects of NASWA events. This happens organically throughout our events, but we like to include intentional opportunities for more structured conversations around hot topics and tough UI integrity challenges.

If you are interested in leading a discussion or “peer assist” session, outline your idea detailing what participants would learn from the conversation. Please also indicate if you are envisioning a particular facilitation approach or if you plan for the group to co-create something during the session.

Type 4: Showcase a Technology, Tool, or Implementation

We are looking for practitioner success stories, not people looking to showcase a tool or technology to sell or promote. This type of session is a more detailed tutorial on an aspect of your technology infrastructure for UI operations.

The technology or solution you highlight should be something you have implemented (at least as a pilot), but the session should emphasize the “how to.”

Don’t ignore the people and process elements of your story; how you determined user requirements, worked with IT and vendors, and managed change during rollout can be even more important than the specifics of the tools themselves.

Type 5: Reveal Your Out-of-the-Box “Integrity” Thinking

Don’t limit yourself to the session types above! If you have a creative idea that relates to UI integrity, tell us what you’re thinking and why it will be valuable edification to your colleagues and counterparts in other states. We will consider any session format that fits our agenda and aligns with states’ needs.

The only constraints are logistical: For example, we are unlikely to be able to accommodate sessions longer than 60 minutes or that require going off-site.

Make sure you explain how your session relates to UI integrity operations or competencies useful to state UI professionals. Preference will be given to techniques that have been used successfully in the context of state workforce agency UI operations.

Tips & Inspiration

Tips for Writing Your Proposal

Imagine yourself as an attendee. What would you like to learn and how would you like to learn it? What would make a positive impression and make you feel your time was well-spent? Why/how this one session alone could make attending the conference worthwhile?
Have something to say that's useful! The audience wants actionable content - material they can apply or ways to make a difference when they get back to their jobs. What can you teach them and how will you engage participants in discussion, thought, or active learning?
Say enough, but don't say too much. Get the primary information right up front in titles and descriptions (think of reading on a mobile device.) Provide enough information to help someone decide if they want or need to attend your session. Think through and express your message succinctly.
Don't be a commercial, don't overuse buzzwords, and no sales pitches. All will lessen your chances of being accepted.
Don't underestimate the audience. You’ll be working with your colleagues who are all capable of absorbing new material comfortably. Aim high!

Suggested Session Titles & Topics

Potential Session Titles:

Fraudsters: Getting Them at the Front Door
Most Innovative Fraud Schemes We've Seen
Effective Fraud Detection Tools: Home Grown

Possible Topics to be Covered:

What You Ought to Know About Benefits
What You Ought to Know About Tax
Backlog Reduction
Economic Cycle Planning
Behavioral Insights in Action
Worker Misclassification
Fictitious Employer Detection
BAM 101
UI Tax Fraud
Data Mining/Dashboards

… and many more possibilities!

Requirements for Speaking

If selected, you must:

Provide final presentation or session outline (if slides are not being used) by November 3, 2023
Be available to speak at any time on December 6-8, 2023

Speaker Timeline

Submit proposals by August 1, 2023
Integrity Center review of submissions until August 4, 2023
Notification to speakers that the proposal is accepted, declined, and named as an alternate no later than August 18, 2023
Response from the speaker(s) agreeing to present by September 1, 2023.
- Acceptance constitutes agreement to:
  - be available to provide in-person delivery of sessions at any time on December 6-8, 2023, and
  - provide final presentation or detailed session outline (if slides are not being used) by November 3, 2023
Attend presenter orientations in October 2023
Submit the final PowerPoint presentation (including all internal approvals) or final session outline (if slides are not being used) by November 3, 2023.
Confirmation of session time – November 21*
- *The Integrity Center will do its best to maintain the session time as indicated; however, we ask for flexibility should there be any last-minute changes
Speak at your scheduled session time on December 6-8, 2023.

How to Submit

The proposal submission deadline is COB Tuesday, August 1, 2023. Please email your completed session proposal (using the template linked below) to librarian@naswa.org.