2017 NACADA Annual Conference Reminders!

NACADA Annual Conference Reminders!

• Registration opens Tuesday, October 10, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. in Washington Avenue Lobby on Level 1 of America's Center. Pick up your registration materials as soon as you can. Wednesday, October 11, registration is open 8:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. and will continue throughout the conference.
  
• Travel Information - Taxis are available from the airport to various hotel locations near America's Center as well as to the conference site. Additionally, NACADA and GO BEST Express Airport Shuttle have partnered together to provide convenient shared ride shuttle service to/from the airport and local hotels. Visit the Travel Information page on the website for booking instructions and other transportation options. Rental Car discounts are available through AVIS. You must reference NACADA's Avis Discount code - J097937 to receive the special rate. Call AVIS at (800) 331-1600. Visit the conference travel information webpage for additional details on shuttle service, car rental, and other ground transportation information available for you.
  
• Plan your schedule with the Interactive Schedule Planner which now includes features that allow you to search by track and/or keyword when building your personalized schedule. You can view Online Session Materials submitted by presenters at the Handouts Link. Presenters are asked to submit their handouts prior to, or no later than one week following the conference.
  
• Mobile App  - Thanks to K-State Global Campus for sponsoring the mobile app for all attendees again this year! Be sure to download the new mobile app at http://guidebook.com/g/nacada17 to gain instant access via your mobile device to the conference schedule, list of presenters, maps, and much more. The app will provide you with updates throughout the conference. Be sure to use the Connect feature to check in as an attendee and interact with others! The app is the quickest way to fill out the evaluations for each session.
  
• Volunteer! Our volunteer coordinators would love to hear from you. There is still time to sign up to be a volunteer for a concurrent session. You need to commit to attending the session you sign up for! Visit the volunteer signup links on the annual conference main page at http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Events/Annual-Conference.aspx. Contact Tyler Phelps (japhelp@siue.edu ) with any questions. Expectations: do a headcount, hand out and gather evaluation forms, return evaluations to the evaluation desk...that is it!
  
• Blues and Q Welcome Reception - The Welcome Reception will be held at America's Center on the entire 2nd level, Wednesday, October 11, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.; the reception is free to all paid participants. The reception will feature music, photo booths, strolling magicians, and wonderful St. Louis barbeque! While there, take an opportunity to visit with NACADA conference exhibitors, the Silent Auction, and the NACADA Publications booth as well! There will be a drink ticket for a complimentary drink waiting for you. This reception is always a great opportunity to network with others.
  
• Open Discussions - Join us for one or more of the Open Discussions to be offered during the conference. Discussions will be centered upon selected topics voted on by the membership. All discussions will be held in Hall 1. Topics and times will be available in the mobile app and the addendum. These discussions will be facilitated by a NACADA leader but the participants will drive the discussion. Come join us for these lively discussions prepared to share your ideas and to network.
  
• Tech Labs - The Technology in Advising Commission will be conducting Tech Labs at this year's conference. The labs will be 25-minute skill building demonstrations, and topics have been selected with all skill levels in mind. The labs will be held in America's Ballroom Prefunction area during the following scheduled times:
• Thursday: 2:00-4:00 pm
• Friday: 10:00 am-12:15 pm
• Saturday: 8:30-10:15 am
  
• Wellness Events - This year yoga classes will be offered in the 230 Prefunction area of the convention center and chair massages in the exhibit area, Level 2 Atrium. Visit the Wellness Events section of the conference website for details.
  
• An Addendum will be in your tote bag; be sure to read it for updates after the program was printed. Don't be caught sitting in an empty room waiting for a session to begin that has been cancelled!
  
• Internet in meeting space - Wi-fi is available in the meeting space. The wireless network you will connect to is SSID: NACADA Annual Conference  Password: STL2017! Please be mindful of bandwidth use on your device. Due to the number of participants using the wireless network, we ask that you avoid video streaming or large downloads. Please download the app prior to coming.
  
• Spirit Day is Thursday, October, 12! You are invited to show your school spirit by wearing a t-shirt, polo, or Rugby shirt to represent your institution.
  
• Commission/Interest Group Fair and Continental Breakfast will be held Friday, October 13, from 7:15-8:30 am in Hall 1. Each Commission and Interest Group will have an informational table.
  
• The Poster Session will be on Thursday, October 12, from 7:15-8:15 am in Hall 1. Visit a wide array of informative poster presentations and engage in discussions with the poster presenter(s) in their poster.
  
• Lunch - Lunches are on your own. Au Bon Pain, in the Plaza Lobby, 1st floor, will have a lunch menu available with seating if you would like to stay in the center and use the lunchtime to network with fellow members, or you can view the Explore St. Louis portion of the conference webpage, select "Things to Do" then the Dining link.
  
• Dinner sign-up information will be available at the Hospitality Desk.
  
• Shuttles - A complimentary shuttle will be running Wednesday, October 11th, from 5:30-9:30 pm for the following hotels: Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch, Hyatt Regency at the Arch, Hilton Downtown at the Arch, and City Place Hotel.
  
• Complimentary shuttles will be running to and from the Convention Center to Ballpark Village Thursday and Friday evenings. Take advantage of a free ride to enjoy this area of St. Louis. The Arch is only a block from the Village as well. On Friday evening, there is a complimentary shuttle running to and from the Convention Center to the City Museum. If you have not seen the Museum, it is well worth the very reasonable entry fee to visit. Come prepared. You will want to be wearing comfortable clothing that you can crawl in and slide down the 2-story slide.
  
• The Ballpark Village shuttles will stop near the Drury Plaza Hotel at the Arch, Hyatt Regency at the Arch, Hilton Downtown at the Arch, the Hampton, and City Place Hotel. Please ask the driver when you get on the shuttle.
  
• Saturday, October 14th - Plan to stay for the duration of the conference and enjoy the last day. We have a great day planned for you, excellent sessions, and a place to store your luggage to make the last day less stressful. You can check out of the hotel; the Program Committee will be running a luggage depot in Room 106 from 7:30 am-11:45 am (only on Saturday), so you won't have to miss a single session. NOTE: all luggage has to be out of the room by 11:45 am. Luggage left after this time will be unattended.
  
• St. Louis Welcome Letter! The 2017 Program Committee would like to welcome you to St. Louis with and are excited for a successful conference! Please be sure to read the Welcome Letter in its entirety for a host of great information! https://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Portals/0/Events/Annual Conference/2017/Documents/2017 St Louis.pdf
   
• A Participant List of the 2017 St. Louis Annual Conference registered participants is available at: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Events-Programs/Events/Annual-Conference/participants.aspx.
  
• Please Note: NACADA does not offer NBCC credits associated with the Annual Conference but can complete a session attendance verification form upon request. Stop by the conference registration desk to pick-up a form for completion if needed.
  
• Be sure to use the hashtag #NACADA17.

We look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!

The Midwest Regions Annual Conference Committee
NACADA Executive Office

Want to nominate someone for a NACADA Region 3 Award?

Hello, Region 3 Members:

Is there someone you have thought about nominating for a NACADA Region 3 Award? Get started now and beat the crunch of compiling the nomination packet before the application deadline (11/1/17). You can find the criteria and link to apply here.

One important note, applicants/nominees must be members of NACADA (except for applicants for Excellence in Advising - Advising Administrators). Non-members will not be considered; make sure your nominee becomes a member before submitting the nomination/application.

Our region historically has had strong applicants. With the changes in the awards process (one award granted per category), we anticipate the competition to be increased this year.

*If you are interested in being a reader for the Region 3 2018 awards, contact Jenn Jones (jjones84@fairmontstate.edu) to be added to the committee.

Best,
Jenn

NACADA Graduate Student Regional Conference Scholarship Recipient Testimony

NACADA Graduate Student Regional Conference Scholarship Recipient Testimony

Madeline Anderson, M.Ed.

Academic Advisor

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

As a graduate student, becoming a member of NACADA was one of the best decisions I could have made towards my professional development. From connecting to professionals in the field to offering me opportunities to present at two regional conferences, my membership has rewarded me in more ways than I can count. Receiving a Graduate Student Regional Conference Scholarship from the Association not only supported my professional aspirations, but further demonstrated to me that NACADA is committed to supporting its members, even at the student level.

Going into graduate school, I was hired for an assistantship with little to no advising responsibilities, even though advising was one of my major reasons for seeking further education. Through various internship experiences I was able to explore my advising interests but I knew that getting involved in an organization aimed at supporting and developing the profession would help me determine whether or not advising was the best fit for me. I made it a goal to present at the first regional conference, and with the help of my supervisor and an advising colleague, I was able to accomplish that goal. In the April of 2016, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, I fell in love with NACADA.

Before the Region III conference in 2016, I had attended two student affairs conferences and found that while I learned a lot from both, I was missing the lessons that a conference focused on advising and student academic success could teach me. After being surrounded by people who were passionate about the same thing I was, I was hooked.

In the Fall of 2017, I used the majority of my professional development funds and my own personal funds to attend the Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. There I was able to reconnect with people I met in Chattanooga and regain some the same enthusiasm I had for advising when I left the Regional conference. When the conference concluded, I felt more assured in my decision to pursue Academic Advising as a profession and went into the job search season with determination to find the advising position for me.

Feeling inspired from many of the presentations I saw while in Atlanta and driven to further develop my presentation skills, I connected with a close colleague to create a presentation. At this point, I had little to no professional development funds and little that I could personally put forth, especially with job search in full swing. Feeling a bit defeated and frustrated that my goal of presenting again would be stunted due to lack of financial support, I received an email from NACADA about conference scholarships.

I admit now that I was extremely skeptical that I would receive a scholarship. I honestly did not feel that I did much to warrant such a generous gift and did not feel that my chances were very high at all. My professor and colleagues, on the other hand, saw the potential in me and knew how much passion I had for advising as well as for NACADA. They saw how much I lit up when I talked about my presentation ideas and how much I enjoyed talking about how much the conferences meant to me. While my mentors pushed me to reach my fullest potential, NACADA supported me in the process of exploring my dream profession and ultimately finding my fit. I am forever thankful for the opportunities NACADA has provided me and appreciate the ones who believed in me to receive the gift of a Graduate Student Regional Conference Scholarship.  

#WEARENACADA #WEAREFAMILY #WEAREINCLUSIVE

#WEARENACADA #WEAREFAMILY #WEAREINCLUSIVE

Dear NACADA Members,

As always, NACADA continues to be fully committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome and embrace all who bring diverse backgrounds, ideas, identities, and opinions to the Association. We are proud of the continuing engagement of all members as we work diligently to provide the most effective professional support possible. The NACADA Board of Directors, all NACADA Leaders, and the NACADA Executive Office assure you that our conference in St. Louis in October will uphold our core values of inclusiveness, diversity, and engagement for all participants from across the globe. We further assure you that we are committed to the safety and well-being of all our over 3,000 participants and visitors to St. Louis.

The recently announced NAACP "travel advisory" for the state of Missouri and the protest related to the Stockley verdict announced in St. Louis last week are reflections of our need to collectively work toward building diverse and inclusive communities in our neighborhoods and on our campuses. Our successful work as advisors depends upon our commitment and ability to do so.

We value the participation of our attendees in an inclusive and vibrant professional development culture that supports all of our members. We will network and learn together how we can all best support our students across the world as they may deal with a culture that does not support inclusivity in higher education. For over 40 years, NACADA has been committed to student success in our institutions regardless of where they may be located.

For those who cannot join us this year at Annual Conference, we know that your commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and our Association is as strong and powerful as those who will be able to attend.

With total commitment to NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising and our students,

Dana Zahorik                         Amy Sannes                         Charlie Nutt
NACADA President               NACADA President-Elect      NACADA Executive Director

Debbie Mercer                                             Lori S. White
Dean of the College of Education                NACADA 2017 Conference Keynote Speaker
Kansas State University                               Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Washington University in St. Louis