Visionary Voices

Visionary Voices is a graduate academic enrichment program, designed to engage selected participants in research, education, and action for the larger CUNY SPS community. Visionary Voices is not only an academic enrichment program but also a leadership development opportunity that enhances graduate students' scholarly capabilities.Through its structured phases, participants immerse themselves in rigorous research, critical analysis, and the application of academic principles. This program strengthens their ability to conduct high-level research, engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, and contribute meaningful insights to the CUNY SPS community. By synthesizing academic research with practical presentation skills, Visionary Voices equips students with the intellectual tools and professional competencies necessary to excel in both academic and professional arenas.

Participants in the Visionary Voices program will be eligible to receive an educational grant upon successful completion of the program, recognizing their dedication to research, leadership, and contribution to the CUNY SPS community.

The program consists of two phases: the research phase and the conference phase. 

Eligibility 

Students must meet all of the criteria below in order to apply:

  • Attend the information session. 
  • Be a graduate student. 
  • Be enrolled at CUNY School of Professional Studies for at least one semester.
  • Have a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
  • Maintain a record of good conduct.
  • Eligible to enroll in classes for the entire academic year.
  • Register to attend the Information Session on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM.

Deadline to apply: Friday, October 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST

APPLY HERE

Visionary Voices Theme

Ethics: Our Responsibility to Community

How do we, as an educational community, act ethically in a moment of change? This theme explores our responsibility to ensure that students - regardless of background, identity, location, or learning environment - feel included, safe, respected, and able to participate fully in the life of the institution.

  • Ethics of inclusion: How do we create a campus culture where DEI, immigrant students, and different identities and experiences are genuinely recognized and supported?
  • Ethics of safety: What does it mean to create safe physical, social, and digital environments where students can learn, participate in clubs, engage online, and go about their daily lives?
  • Ethics of AI: How should we navigate AI in teaching and learning? What are our responsibilities around academic integrity, transparency, privacy, bias, authorship, and the appropriate use of AI?
  • Ethics of accessibility: As digital accessibility standards evolve, what responsibility do we have to ensure that online courses and platforms are accessible and inclusive?
  • Ethics of community: How do we build a sense of belonging for students who may be fully online, hybrid, or only occasionally on campus?
  • Ethics of progress: What does “moving forward” look like in education, and how do we make sure that progress benefits the full community?

Program Outline

This foundational stage of the program involves gathering, analyzing, and interpreting relevant information. Participants will:

  • Explore the fundamentals of research.
  • Choose a topic that aligns with the program's theme. 
  • Begin preliminary research on their chosen topic. 
  • Identify and gather relevant research materials.

In this stage, students will design a presentation based on the information gathered during the research phase and present it at the annual Student Leadership Conference. They will participate in various workshops to prepare for the presentation, including but not limited to:

  • Accessible Communication: Learn accessibility guidelines to create presentations that are accessible to all participants.
  • Public Speaking: Acquire the skills needed to present confidently, using elements to ensure audience engagement.
  • Presentation Practice: Participants will review each other’s projects and provide feedback.
  • Feedback Session: Share experiences with the program and offer suggestions for improvement.
  • Meetups: Meet with program coordinator and fellow Visionary Voices participations to share milestones and discuss challenges.