2022 Undergraduate Student Conference Planning committee 

The Undergraduate Student Conference (USC) is a two-day conference preceding the NASPA Annual Conference each year. The conference focuses on two main areas: exploring student affairs and higher education for students interested in the profession and tangible skill building for students that are committed to entering the profession.

If you have a passion for working with undergraduate students who are interested in student affairs and higher education, we welcome your application to serve on the conference planning committee! Working alongside the conference chair and the NASPA staff, the committee will be responsible for:

• Developing conference schedule and content
• Managing logistics of two day conference onsite
• Serving as a positive, professional role model for students in attendance at the conference
• Promoting and expanding the reach of USC through social media channels and personal networks

Committee members are assigned to subcommittees based on their experiences and interests. Subcommittees include:

• Conference Engagement

• Small Group Facilitation

• Marketing & Communication

• Educational Sessions

• Assessment & Evaluation

• Recruitment & Registration

Additionally, we are seeking individuals interested in serving in the following opportunities:

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor

• Logistics & Operations Advisor

• Partnerships Advisor

Applications have closed. 

Conference Themes & Learning Outcomes

As a result of attending the Undergraduate Student Conference, participants will be able to: 

• Develop meaningful relationships with undergraduate peers, student affairs professionals, and faculty to build their network of connections.
• Learn a variety of pathways to begin and progress through a career in higher education and student affairs.
• Enhance one’s understanding of the context of higher education in the United States and identify connections to current issues and concerns of our field
• Reflect on one’s personal and professional identities and develop a preliminary understanding of the positionality one holds and the role that higher education plays in building equitable and socially just spaces.
• Apply learned information, theories, and experiences to identify and plan for next steps on one’s professional path.

Call for programs

Similar to the NASPA Annual Conference, the pre-conference is grounded in the fundamental stages of the NASPA/ACPA Competencies (with heavy emphasis on Social Justice and Inclusion; Leadership; Personal and Ethical Foundations; and Values, Philosophy, and History) with the ultimate goal of participants being able to answer these basic questions:

• What is the profession of student affairs/higher education?
• How can I best prepare to enter the profession?
• What knowledge, skills, and abilities do I need to succeed in the profession?
• What does professional success in student affairs/higher education look like to me?

Call for Programs are open and available! Deadline is January 31, 2022 at 11:59pm ET.

Small Group Facilitation

Small group discussions are a critical part of the Undergraduate Student Conference that allow participants to engage in reflection and dialogue about their experience throughout the experience. Given the virtual format of the USC this year, Small Group Facilitators are vital for both the success of the program and the acculturation of current undergraduates students and future graduate students to the field. These small groups are led by a team of student affairs administrators and graduate students who serve as facilitators, leading their participants through the USC experience while encouraging their reflection and meaning-making.

Facilitators will meet with their small groups throughout the program to lead discussions centered around the sessions students are attending and the intended outcomes of the conference. Facilitators will be provided with resources and prompts to guide the discussion. The small group facilitators will also reach out to the participants prior to the conference to help get the students excited about the experience, and to answer questions. The aim of this is to also help preemptively build community. 

The small group discussions are consistently rated as the most meaningful and memorable component of the conference, as participants intimately connect with one another while current professionals and graduate students are able to inspire and guide future student affairs professionals.

Specific responsibilities and expectations of small group facilitators include:

• Serve as a positive professional role model for students in attendance at the conference.
• Have experience with and be willing to present to undergraduate students on topics related to student affairs.
• Present content in a way that encourages reflection, challenges assumptions, and is inclusive of all attendees.
• Promote and share information about the annual conference using social media platforms that may include tweeting, blogging, etc.
• Provide students with next steps, action items, or where to find more information or resources.
• Be available to attend the pre-conference between March 19-20, 2022. You will be notified if your proposal was accepted for the Undergraduate Student Conference in February 2022. The specific date and time of your presentation will be assigned by late February 2022. Please note that individuals selected as presenters must have a secure Internet connection and a camera and microphone for use during presentations. 

Applications for Small-Group Facilitators  are open and available. Deadline extended until December 19, 2021 at 11:59PM ET.