FAQs

What are the official dates of the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference?

The 2025 NASPA Annual Conference will take place Saturday, March 15 through Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

The full conference begins with the opening session on the afternoon of Sunday, March 16. Optional Pre-conference Workshops (additional registration required) will be offered on Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16. 

The conference concludes with the closing session on the morning of Wednesday, March 19.

What is the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference schedule?

The Schedule at a Glance is available here. The full schedule with individual sessions will be available in the late fall.

How many people will be at the conference?

We expect anywhere between 5,000 and 7,000 attendees at the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference in New Orleans. 

Where in New Orleans will the conference be held?

The conference will be held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (900 Convention Center Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70130) and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130). Sleeping rooms will be available in a number of hotels close to the convention center and Hilton.

Hotels and rates are available on the Plan Your Experience page.

What is the headquarter hotel?

The Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130) will be the headquarter hotel for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference. 

What is the conference dress code?

This is a business casual conference. Please anticipate a moderate amount of walking between your hotel, the Convention Center, and the Hilton.

Will there be a virtual conference in 2025?

The 2025 NASPA Virtual Conference will be held April 8-11, 2025, following the place-based NASPA Annual Conference in New Orleans. This will be a separate event with a separate registration process. There will be no livestreaming or virtual component to the place-based conference in New Orleans. 

How can I become an exhibitor?

We have many different exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities at the NASPA Annual Conference! Exhibitor information can be found on the Sponsor & Exhibit page. You can also email Fred Comparato at [email protected].

Can I pay my membership dues and conference registration fee at the same time?

No. When you begin your registration, the system will check your membership status and prompt you to join or renew your membership prior to completing your conference registration. Once your membership has been paid, you will return to the NASPA Annual Conference website to register for the conference at the member rate.

What is a Guest Registration? Who is it for?

Guest registrations can only be purchased in addition to a full registration. All guests will be identified with a guest name badge. A guest is defined as a spouse or significant other, friend, or relative who is not a member of NASPA, is not qualified to become a member, and does not work in a student affairs-related occupation. If you would like to bring a guest, please provide their name and pay their registration fee during your online registration process. All guests must check in at the registration desk onsite.

A guest registration includes admission to the opening session, opening reception, keynote speaker sessions on Monday and Tuesday, and closing session on Wednesday. Guests may also attend open evening receptions; please note that the VPSA Reception or any "invite only" or "closed" receptions are not included. Guest registrations do not include Pre-conference Workshops or any educational sessions outside of the keynote speakers mentioned above.

Can I add other items to my registration at a later date?

Yes, you can log back into your registration and register for Pre-conference Workshops and other conference activities after you purchase your initial conference registration. You will book your hotel room through this same process.

Pre-conference Workshop registration and housing is open as of October 1. 

How do I register for a Pre-conference Workshop?

Pre-conference Workshop registration is open as of October 1. Pre-conference Workshops may be added to an existing registration, or purchased at the time of a new registration. 

To add a Pre-conference Workshop to your registration, visit the Register page and select Access an Existing Registration. You will be able to log back in, choose a Pre-conference Workshop, and complete the checkout process to update your registration. If you are registering for the first time, start by selecting Register Online on the Register page. You will be able to purchase your conference registration and Pre-conference Workshop in the same transaction.

Can I attend a Pre-conference Workshop only and not the entire NASPA Annual Conference?

You may register for the International Symposium, Community Colleges Institute, or Undergraduate Student Conference without also registering for the NASPA Annual Conference. All other Pre-conference Workshops require registration for the NASPA Annual Conference.

Are there any meals included with the conference registration fee?

Meals are not provided during the conference. Light refreshments will be available during the opening reception, exhibit hall breaks, and other limited opportunities. NASPA Constituent Groups, institutions, and sponsor groups may choose to host receptions or meetings that have additional food and beverages available, but this is not guaranteed.

When can I book my hotel?

Housing for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference is open as of October 1. Hotel reservations may be added to an existing registration, or added at the time of a new registration. 

To assist with planning, hotels and rates are available on the Plan Your Experience page.

How do I book my hotel?

You may add a hotel reservation to your registration through the Register page.

If you registered for the conference previously and need to add a hotel, you will select Access an Existing Registration. You will be able to log back in, choose a hotel, and complete the checkout process to update your registration. If you are registering for the first time, you will select Register Online. You will be able to purchase your conference registration and make your hotel reservation in the same transaction.

Hotel reservations will be sent from the NASPA Annual Conference reservation system to individual hotels a few weeks prior to the conference. Hotel confirmation emails will be sent directly from the hotels at that time. 

What are the hotel options and costs?

Hotels and rates are available on the Plan Your Experience page.

How do I get the conference hotel rate?

You must make your hotel reservation online through the NASPA Annual Conference registration process in order to secure the conference hotel rate. The housing system for conference attendees is open as of October 1.

What is the main hotel for the NASPA Annual Conference?

The Hilton New Orleans Riverside (Two Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA, 70130) will be the headquarter hotel for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference. However, there will be many other hotel options within walking distance of the convention center.

Where can I find the schedule for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference?

View the Schedule at a Glance here, or the Full Schedule here. Please note that these schedules are tentative and subject to change.

How can I present a session?

The call for programs for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference is now closed. Thank you for your submissions! 

Do you have to be a NASPA member in order to present a session?

You do not have to be a NASPA member in order to submit a proposal for the NASPA Annual Conference. However, if your proposal is accepted, the coordinating presenter must become a NASPA member.

Do I have to register for the conference if I’m presenting a session?

All presenters of accepted programs are required to register for the conference. There is no discounted presenter registration option.

Can I submit a proposal if I also want to review programs?

Yes! You can submit a proposal AND serve as a reviewer. You will not be assigned to review your own program.

How are proposals reviewed and selected?

Each program is first reviewed by 3-4 professionals in the field. Program reviewers are matched to your proposal based on your program content and their expertise. Reviewers provide feedback in the form of comments that will help you strengthen your program. 

Final decisions are made by the Conference Leadership Committee, taking into account representation of the conference focus areas, coverage of the content areas included the NASPA Annual Conference, and inclusion of material suited to different professional levels and professionals at different types of institutions.

Can I edit my proposal after I submit?

Incomplete proposals may be edited as many times as you wish through the submission deadline. When you click Save and Submit in the submission portal, your program status changes to "Complete" and may no longer be edited.

To request edit access on a complete program, please email us at [email protected].

Can I edit my program submission (both content and presenters) after it’s been accepted?

Visit the Presenter Support page for guidance on updating your program. The process depends on the type of change you need to make.The options on this page provide directions for adding/removing presenters, updating individual presenter details, submitting title and abstract edits, and cancelling your program.

I need to make a change to a meeting or reception, not an educational program. What is the process for meeting/reception updates?

After meeting and reception confirmations are sent, a process to update your meeting or reception will open. Instructions will be available on the Meeting and Reception Space Requests page. 

When will I find out if my program was accepted?

Program decision notifications will be sent via email in late October or early November. Decisions and reviewer feedback will also be available to the coordinating presenter in their the program submission portal. Accepted presenters will have one week to confirm their plans to register and present at the conference.

How can I find out if my program was accepted?

Program decision notifications were sent via email on November 1. Please reference this email for full details and next steps for your program.

Coordinating presenters may also log in to the program submission portal at any time using their NASPA login credentials to view program decisions and peer review comments. Please note that only the coordinating presenter has access to the program in their submission portal.

Where can I find my program decision?

To view your program decision within the portal, follow these steps:

1. Log in with your NASPA credentials.
2. This will take you to a page with your program submissions listed in a table. If you submitted multiple programs, they will appear in a list.
3. Reference the Final Decision Status column for your program decision.
4. Please note that only the coordinating presenter has access to the program information in their portal, and must communicate this information to co-presenters. 

I didn’t receive the program decision email and I don’t see anything in the portal.

Program decision notification emails were sent to both the coordinating presenter and any supporting presenters listed on the proposal. However, only the coordinating presenter will have access to the program information in their portal. If you are a supporting presenter on a proposal and did not receive the email, please contact your coordinating presenter for information about your program decision.

If you are the coordinating presenter and did not receive any email communications regarding your program status, and you cannot access the program information in your portal, please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

How do I confirm my session?

If your program has been accepted, please follow these steps to confirm your participation by Wednesday, November 13:

1. Log in with your NASPA credentials.
2. Find your program in the table.
3. Click Open under the Action column. 
4. Review the presenter agreement information.
5. Select Yes to confirm.
6. Click Save and Submit.
7. If you have multiple programs to confirm, return to your list of programs and repeat this process to confirm each one.

Where can I find peer review comments on my submission?

Please follow these steps to access peer review comments on your program:

1. Log in with your NASPA credentials.
2. Find your program in the table.
3. Click Results under the Action column. 
4. This will take you to a page where you can read the comments provided by reviewers for each question in the program review process. 
5. If you submitted multiple programs, return to your list of programs and repeat this process to access reviewer comments for each submission.

My program was selected for sponsorship by a NASPA Constituent Group. What does this mean?

Constituent Group Sponsored Sessions are 50-minute general interest sessions that are selected for sponsorship by a NASPA Constituent Group. For the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference, Constituent Group reviewers considered both programs submitted specifically to their group for sponsorship, as well as general submissions with a strong connection to their group's content area. 

Sponsored sessions will be highlighted in the conference schedule as part of the Constituent Group’s programming at the NASPA Annual Conference, in addition to their receptions, meetings, and other events. Presenters of sponsored sessions are free to focus on their program content and do not need to make any changes to their planned presentation. 

What does “coordinating presenter” mean?

The coordinating presenter or lead presenter is the person who submits the proposal. They are the primary contact for all communications regarding a program submission. If you are a coordinating presenter and have co-presenters, you are responsible for sharing information regarding your session, including program status, scheduled date/time, reviewer comments, and any applicable action items or deadlines.

The coordinating presenter must also be or become a NASPA member in order to serve in this role. All presenters of accepted programs must be registered for the NASPA Annual Conference.

What does “supporting presenter” mean?

The coordinating presenter may include additional colleagues as supporting presenters or co-presenters on their program. The primary difference is that the coordinating presenter is the contact for all communications regarding a program submission and is responsible for sharing information about the program with their presenter team.

If a colleague has included you as a supporting presenter on their session, please contact them for information about their program.

All presenters of accepted programs must be registered for the NASPA Annual Conference. However, supporting presenters are not required to be NASPA members.

Help! I need assistance with my program.

To request assistance or report an issue with the program submission process, or to request presenter assistance, please contact [email protected].

How do I submit a request for a meeting or reception in New Orleans?

Meeting and reception requests for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference are now closed. Click here to for more details about next steps in the process.

When is the deadline to submit a meeting or reception request?

There are two deadlines for meeting and reception requests for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference in New Orleans - a priority deadline and a final deadline.

Requests received by October 2 will be given priority consideration for space and scheduling. NASPA Constituent Groups must meet the priority deadline in order for their events to be scheduled at dates/times that do not conflict with their sponsored sessions or other Constituent Group programs and activities.

The final deadline to request a meeting or reception at the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference is October 30. Requests received after this deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to a late fee.

When will I receive confirmation of my meeting or reception?

Meeting and reception requests received by the October 2 priority deadline will be confirmed in mid- to late October. Meeting and reception requests received by the final October 30 deadline will be confirmed in mid-November.

Confirmations will include your event date, time, and location as well as next steps for catering and AV orders.

Can I make an update to my meeting or reception?

The program update process that launches in November will also include options to make changes to meetings and receptions. 

Who do I contact if I have questions about meeting and reception requests?

Please contact us at [email protected] for assistance with meeting and reception requests.

What does a program reviewer do?

A program reviewer reads conference program proposals, provides ratings on a number of criteria, and writes feedback on the proposal content. Reviewers play a key role in shaping the conference, ensuring that programs are reflective of the most current research and best practices in the field. They also provide important feedback for the program submitter.

How do I become a program reviewer?

The reviewer sign-up process for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference is now closed. Click here for more information about the program review timeline in September.

Can I sign up to review programs if I submitted my own proposal?

Yes! You can submit a proposal AND serve as a reviewer. You will not be assigned to review your own program.

What is the difference between the NASPA Reviewer Profile and the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference Reviewer Sign-Up Form?

Your NASPA Reviewer Profile is used to match you with programs for all NASPA conferences for which you have signed up to review programs. Your profile should reflect your overall experience and expertise.

The 2025 NASPA Annual Conference Reviewer Sign-Up Form is specific to #NASPA25. This is a short form that includes additional questions about the program types and Conference Focus Areas that you would like to be assigned to review for this year’s Annual Conference.

If you choose to serve as a program reviewer for future NASPA conferences, you will complete a new reviewer sign-up form for that event. 

How do I create or edit my NASPA Reviewer Profile?

You will be prompted to create your NASPA Reviewer Profile the first time you sign up to review programs. Log in and click the Complete Reviewer Profile button to get started.

You may update your profile at any time by following these steps:

1. Log in
2. Navigate to My Account - My Submissions - Complete
3. Go to Reviewer Signup and Profile Management and select Edit
4. Make your changes and select Save

How do I edit my 2025 NASPA Annual Conference Reviewer Sign-Up Form?

Unlike the NASPA Reviewer Profile, this form may only be completed once and may not be edited after submission. If you need to modify your selections, please contact NASPA at [email protected] for assistance.

When will I receive my review assignments?

Assignments will be ready for review by September 10. You will receive an email with instructions for accessing the reviewer portal, where you will find the programs that have been assigned to you. 

How do I sign in to access my reviews?

The reviewer portal uses the same login credentials as your NASPA account. To reset your password or request assistance with your account, click here.

How do I find my assignments?

Follow these steps to log in to the reviewer portal, access your assignments, and begin reviewing programs:

1. Log in with your NASPA credentials. 
2. Navigate to My Account → My Reviewing Assignments.
3. Select Open to view your assignments for the 2025 NASPA Annual Conference, and Open again to select a particular program type.
4. Click View Submission to open an individual assignment and its reviewer questions.
5. The submission details and reviewer questions will open side-by-side. Scroll through the submission on the left side of your screen as you respond to the questions on the right.
6. When you are finished, click Save and Back to List to return to your assignment list, or Save and Go to Next to automatically proceed to the next assignment.
7. Saving and Editing: You must enter something into every question in order to save. If you would like to save your review and come back to it later, enter placeholders and click Save and Back to List. You will be able to come back to your review and edit later. Don't forget to return and finalize!

How does the reviewer form work?

The submission details and reviewer questions appear side-by-side. Scroll through the submission on the left side of your screen as you respond to the questions on the right. When you are finished, click Save and Back to List to return to your assignment list, or Save and Go to Next to automatically proceed to the next assignment. You can return to a saved review to edit later, but you must enter something into every question in order to save. If you enter placeholders, please remember to go back and update them later.

Can I save a review as a draft and finish it later?

Yes, but you must enter something into every question in order to save. If you enter placeholders, please remember to go back and update them later.

Can I edit a saved review?

Yes. You can return to a completed saved review, make additional edits, and save again. You will be able to edit your reviews until the program review deadline.

What happens if I am assigned to a program I am not comfortable reviewing?

If you have been assigned to a program you are not comfortable reviewing, use the Recuse Myself From Reviewing This Program link at the top of that submission's review page. The assignment process accounts for conflicts of interest like being assigned to your own program or that of a colleague at your institution. However, if you are assigned to the program of a mentor or a friend, or program content that you do not feel comfortable reviewing, the recusal option allows you to remove it from your assignments.

For assistance with the recusal feature or to request that we manually remove a program from your assignments, please contact us at [email protected].

When are program reviews due?

Reviews must be completed by September 25 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Can I have more time to complete my assignments?

The Conference Leadership Committee will meet shortly following the deadline to select programs, which means there are no opportunities to extend the review period beyond September 25. We recommend that you block time on your calendar between September 10-25 to complete your reviews, allowing time to thoroughly read 5-10 proposals and provide thoughtful feedback.

Help! I need assistance with the program review process.

To request assistance or report an issue with the program review process, please contact NASPA at [email protected].