NASPA
2024 NASPA Annual Conference

FAQs

We know that you have questions about the NASPA Annual Conference! 

To help, we’ve assembled a list of our most common questions and their answers to help you get the information you need quickly. Our team will continue to update this page with new questions we receive about the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference.

If you do not see the answer to your question on this page, please use the contact information provided to connect with us.

Additional questions?

For questions related to registration and housing, please contact customer service.

For questions related to programs, meetings and events, or general information, please contact [email protected]

For questions regarding Exhibits and Sponsorships, please contact Fred Comparato at [email protected].

Tweet us @NASPAtweets!


General

What are the official dates of the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference?

The 2024 NASPA Annual Conference will take place Saturday, March 9 through Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

What is the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference schedule?

View the Schedule at a Glance for a high-level overview of the conference schedule, or browse the Full Conference Schedule to explore all programs and activities in more detail.

Pre-conference Workshops will take place on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. Click here to view the full schedule and pricing for Pre-conference Workshops.

When does the conference officially begin and end?

The Opening Session will take place on Sunday, March 10 at 5:00pm Pacific Time. The conference will conclude on Wednesday, March 13 with the Closing Session and Closing Session from 10:00 - 11:30am Pacific Time.

Pre-conference Workshops will take place on Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10. These optional workshops require an additional registration. 

Why should I attend?

Join us in Seattle to engage in high-quality, engaging sessions to enrich your professional development and network with friends and colleagues!

How many people will be at the conference?

Given the ongoing global pandemic, conference attendance is still unpredictable. We anticipate anywhere between 5,000 and 7,000 people.

Where in Seattle will the conference be held?

Conference programs will be held in the Seattle Convention Center Summit Building (900 Pine Street, Seattle, WA, 98101), the Hyatt Regency Seattle (808 Howell Street, Seattle, WA 98101), and the Sheraton Grand Seattle (1400 6th Avenue, Seattle, Washington, 98101). Sleeping rooms are available in surrounding hotels within walking distance of the Summit Building and the Hyatt. Hotels and rates are available on the Plan Your Experience page.

What is the headquarter hotel?

The Hyatt Regency Seattle and the Sheraton Grand Seattle will be the headquarter hotels for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference. 

What is the conference dress code?

This is a business casual conference. Please anticipate a moderate amount of walking between various locations in the Seattle Convention Center Summit Building, the Hyatt Regency Seattle, and the Sheraton Grand Seattle.

Will there be a virtual conference in 2024?

NASPA and the Conference Leadership Committee are planning to offer a virtual professional development event in conjunction with the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference. This event will look different from the NASPA Virtual Experience that was offered in 2022 and 2023, taking place after the place-based conference in Seattle from April 2-5, 2024. Learn more about the 2024 NASPA Virtual Conference here. 

What health precautions should I expect in Seattle?

NASPA will continue to monitor and update safety precautions for conference attendees who will travel to Seattle. With trusted information from Seattle and the State of Washington, we will follow national, state, and local public health guidelines to assist us in planning the event. 

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 guests attend the Tuesday Night Event?

Yes they can! Come enjoy Dueling Pianos and the Drag Show from 7-10PM in the Hyatt Regency Elwha Ballroom A!

Registration

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 are open as of October 2.

How do I register for a Pre-conference Workshop?

Pre-conference Workshop registration is now open! 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 Workshop require registration for the NASPA Annual Conference.

Are there any meals included with the conference registration fee?

Meals are not provided during the conference. There will be light appetizers served during the opening reception, and exhibit hall breaks may offer coffee or ice cream. Some NASPA Constituent Groups, institutions, and sponsor groups will choose to host receptions or meetings that may have food and beverages available, but this is not guaranteed.

Housing

When can I book my hotel?

Housing for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference is now open! Hotel and rate information is available on the Plan Your Experience page. To book your hotel, visit the Register page.

Please note that depending on the dates of your stay, some hotels may be sold out.

How do I book my hotel?

Housing for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference in Seattle may now be booked through the Register page.

If you registered for the conference previously and need to add your hotel now, 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, select Register Online. You will be able to purchase your conference registration and make your hotel reservation in the same transaction.

Once you make your reservation, you will need to wait until the housing system sends you your hotel confirmation to make any changes. Visit the Plan Your Experience page to learn about Seattle and hotel options for #NASPA24!

Please note that depending on the dates of your stay, some hotels may be sold out.

What are the hotel options and costs?

Please visit the Plan Your Experience page to view available hotels and pricing. In addition to the room rates listed on this page, please note that a 15.7% hotel tax and a $4 Seattle tourism fee will be assessed to all sleeping rooms, per room per night, subject to change without notice. When budgeting your hotel expenses, please include these taxes and fees in your calculation of the cost for each night.

Please note that depending on the dates of your stay, some hotels may be sold out.

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 2.

What is the main hotel for the NASPA Annual Conference?

The Hyatt Regency Seattle and the Sheraton Grand Seattle will be the headquarter hotels for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference. However, there are many other hotel options within walking distance of the convention center.

What are the hotel policies in light of the global pandemic?

All hotels in the NASPA block continue to engage in COVID safety precautions. All other hotels on our housing list also have their own COVID safety precautions. Please be sure to visit their websites to ensure you follow guidelines set by the hotel you select.

Program Submissions

How can I present a session?

The call for programs for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference is now closed. Please check back in summer 2024 for information about the call for proposals for the next NASPA Annual Conference in 2025.

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 session for the NASPA Annual Conference. However, if your session gets 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 are required to register for the conference. There is no discounted presenter registration option.

How are proposals reviewed and selected?

The NASPA Annual Conference is distinctive in that 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.

When will I find out if my program was accepted?

The coordinating presenter will be notified of their program status in mid- to late October. Accepted presenters will have one week to confirm their plans to attend and present at the conference.

How can I find out if my program was accepted?

Program decision notifications were sent via email to the coordinating presenter on Wednesday, October 25. Please reference this email for full details and next steps for your program.

Coordinating presenters may also log in to the program submission portal using their NASPA login credentials to view program decisions and peer review comments. If you are a supporting presenter on a proposal, please contact your coordinating presenter for information about your program decision.

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.

Only the coordinating presenter will have access to the program information in their portal. Program decision notification emails were also sent to the coordinating presenter only. If you are a supporting presenter on a proposal, 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, please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

How do I confirm my session for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference in Seattle?

If your program has been accepted, please follow these steps to confirm your participation by Wednesday, November 1:

 

  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.
When will I hear about my program decision for the Virtual Conference?

Program decisions for the NASPA Virtual Conference are separate from the Seattle decisions. Selections for the Virtual Conference were shared via email in the fall. As noted in the submission process, the Virtual Conference will take place following the place-based Annual Conference in Seattle. 

For assistance with Virtual Conference programs, please contact [email protected]

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

General program updates are closed as of February 16. Following this date, only program cancellations will be accepted. If you need to cancel your program, please let us know as soon as possible using the Program Update Form.

How do I add or remove supporting presenters in the submission portal?

The option to add/remove supporting presenters has closed as of Friday, February 2 as we prepare the conference program book. 

How do I edit a presenter’s name, title, institution, or email address?

All individual presenter details for both coordinating and supporting presenters (name, title, institution, email) are pulled from the NASPA member database. These details may be updated directly by the individual presenter on engage.naspa.org under Edit My Profile. 

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

General meeting/reception updates are closed as of February 9. Following this date, only event  cancellations will be accepted. Please note that requests for new events closed as of February 2.

If you need to cancel your meeting, reception, or other event at the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference, complete the Meeting/Reception Update Form

How long does it take for NASPA to complete update requests?

Please allow 7-10 business days for our team to process your request. If the volume of program update requests is high or the nature of your request is complex, the turnaround time may be longer. 

You will receive an email update from a member of the NASPA team when your request has been completed. In the event that we need additional information or we are not able to accommodate your request, you will receive a follow-up communication with those details.

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

Help! I need assistance with the program submission process.

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

Meeting and Reception Space Requests

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

Meeting and reception requests for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference are now closed. 

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

There are two deadlines for meeting and reception requests for the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference in Seattle - 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 2024 NASPA Annual Conference is November 3. Requests received after this deadline will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to a 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 November 3 deadline will be confirmed in mid- to late 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?

General meeting/reception updates are closed as of February 9. Following this date, only event  cancellations will be accepted. Please note that requests for new events closed as of February 2.

If you need to cancel your meeting, reception, or other event at the 2024 NASPA Annual Conference, complete the Meeting/Reception Update Form

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.

Program Reviews

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 2024 NASPA Annual Conference is closed as of Monday, September 12. Visit the Call for Reviewers page for program review instructions and deadlines.

What is the difference between the NASPA Reviewer Profile and the 2024 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 2024 NASPA Annual Conference Reviewer Sign-Up Form is specific to #NASPA24. 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. 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 2024 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 please NASPA at [email protected] for assistance.

When will I receive my review assignments?

Assignments will be ready for review by September 15. 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 AccountMy Reviewing Assignments.
  3. Select Open to view your assignments for the 2024 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 28 at 11:59pm Pacific Time.

Can I have more time to complete my assignments?

The Conference Leadership Committee will meet at the beginning of October to select programs, which means there are no opportunities to extend the review period beyond September 28. We recommend that you block time on your calendar between September 15-28 to complete your reviews, allowing time to thoroughly read 5-10 proposals and provide thoughtful feedback.

I’ve completed my reviews. Do you need more help?

We would love additional assistance with the program review process! If you have finished your assignments and would like to review more programs, sign up to be a super reviewer here! We will email you when your new assignments are ready.

Help! I need assistance with the program review process.

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