Last minute tips

Can you believe in just a few short days over 2,800 NACADA members will be in Orlando for the Annual Conference? Whether this is your 1st time attending or you were in Burlington, VT in 1977, I'm sure you are excited!

I wanted to share some last minute tips:

• Don’t forget to check out information on transportation to the conference. You might be feeling confident, but it can't hurt to double check.
• Bring apparel to represent your University – Monday is School Spirit Day!
• Comfortable shoes are a must! There is a lot of walking, but you can utilize the shuttle as well.
• Disney Downtown is easy to get to via shuttle and has some great restaurants, if you want off Disney property then visit the Hospitality Desk for some great ideas and approximate cost for a taxi ride. The Annual Conference Program Committee created a great Orlando Guide.
• Find your niche! Look for a commission or interest group related to your interest in advising and attend their meeting. If you like what you see, volunteer to get involved. You can also view sessions by topics/tracks.
• Wear your name tag! They must be worn to enter Veracruz A/B (meal functions) and other events. Plus, you want people to see who you are and where you're from.
• Bring your business cards - great to network and keep in touch after conference (especially important if you’re presenting).
• You will love the choir! Join them on Monday at 5:30 p.m. - make new friends with whom to network and be a part of this tradition.

If you’re presenting, please make sure you check out the reccomendations.

For those of you attending your 1st NACADA Annual Conference, take a few minutes to read some advice from NACADA Executive Charlie Nutt and don’t forget to attend the New Member & 1st Time Attendee Orientation from 8:45-9:45 a.m. on Monday.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone in Orlando! If you have any questions as you prepare for your trip, don't hesitate to post them below as a comment.

Special thanks to Glenn Kepic from the University of Florida for collaborating on this post and sharing his tips.

Safe travels!

More than just sessions

With just 12 days remaining until we kick things off in Orlando, I wanted to share information on a few bonus opportunities NACADA offers at the Annual Conference. Of course, be sure to put the finishing touches on your presentation, finalize your travel plans, check out the interactive schedule planner, etc. But don't forget about the following events...

Common Reading Event

• Join your colleagues at NACADA’s Common Reading Event to discuss research on how first-generation students experience higher education. The discussion will focus on issues presented by Peter Collier and David Morgan, Higher Education 55, 425-446.
• Regardless of your experience, gain a perspective on the value of research and analysis in the field of academic advising. You can even read the piece en route to Orlando!
• Start off the conference by meeting other NACADA members at the Common Reading Event on Monday, October 4 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in Coronado S/T.

Silent Auction

• The 3rd Annual Silent Auction will begin with bids on Sunday, October 3 at 8:30 p.m. and bidding ends on Tuesday, October 5 at noon. Please visit the Silent Auction schedule for more information.
• The 2010 bidding items are plentiful, including a complete set of NACADA journals, a keynote address and/or workshop from several NACADA leaders, various gift bags, and more.
• All proceeds from the auction will be used to fund graduate student scholarships for attending NACADA's events.

Exhibitors

• Throughout the conference you will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from other universities, professional organizations, private companies, etc. about what they can offer you and your institution - check out the full list of registered exhibitors.
• Stop by exhibit area in Veracruz C on the following dates: Sunday, October 3 from 8:30 a.m-10:00 p.m., Monday, October 4 from 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-4:30 p.m., and Tuesday, October 5 from 8:30 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3:00 p.m.
• NACADA members have the chance to earn a DOOR PRIZE when they enter the exhibit area - prizes include Amazon and Barnes and Noble gift cards, an iPod Nano, NACADA monographs, DVDs, books, and many others!

Annual Conference Social Media Guide

Blog

• Serves as the hub for all social media during the conference in Orlando.
• NACADA members can find links for Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr from the blog; all updates from social media sources can be found on this blog.
• Be sure to follow along with the blog during the conference for quick recaps, highlights for major events, updated pictures, and links for additional information and happenings.
• NACADA members are encouraged to comment on each post to share their experience/opinion (try it now and comment on this post!).

Twitter

• Find frequent 140 character updates via the Twitter account: twitter.com/nacada.
• Tweeting about conference cancellations, schedule changes, and reminders.
• This is another opportunity to digitally interact with other NACADA members. Just use hashtag #nacada10 and share a message, picture or more on Twitter.
• You do NOT need a Twitter account to view the NACADA Twitter account, but we highly encourage you to get involved – it’s simple:


Step 1: Sign up for a Twitter account and learn Twitter 101.
Step 2: Take your laptop, smartphone or Twitter-ready mobile to Orlando.
Step 3: Post updates or retweet on Twitter about the conference: session pointers, take-aways, best practices, key issues, and any Tweetups (advisor happenings).
Step 4: In every 140 character post, include #nacada10.

Virtual followers:

Step 1: Follow the virtual conference action via a Twitter search for #nacada10.
Step 2: Repeat step 1.

Flickr

• Features photos and albums before, during, and after the annual conference on the blog and Flickr page for all to view.
• NACADA members can upload their photos to Flickr via the NACADA10 group:


Step 1: Visit Flickr and start an account (you can use an existing yahoo account).
Step 2: Add NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising as your new contact.
Step 3: Find and join the NACADA10 Flickr Group.
Step 4: Add photos to the NACADA10 Group Pool of photos.

Facebook

• Take a second to find NACADA on Facebook.
• Be sure to give us the thumbs up by clicking “Like.”
• Periodic updates will be posted to the NACADA Facebook page during the conference and after you leave Orlando.

During registration in Orlando, NACADA members will receive a Social Media Guide with this information as well. Start today and get involved in social media with NACADA - tweet, comment, upload, post, like! These opportunities will further connect you to the global community for academic advising.

Special thanks to Laura Pasquini from the University of North Texas for all of her contributions to NACADA's social media, be sure to check out her blog.

The Pre-Conference Experience: An Opportunity to Engage

This week we have the co-chairs for the pre-conference as our guest bloggers, Kathleen Smith and Nikki Raimondi from the Advising First program at Florida State University. Remember, the pre-conference takes place 9:00 a.m. - 5:15 p.m on Sunday, October 3 in Orlando. Thanks for serving as co-chairs and sharing information on a great opportunity!

We want to take this new forum to highlight the pre-conference experience and promote the benefits of attendance. Throughout the last year, we have had the privilege of reviewing proposals and selecting a wide range of sessions that promise the highest quality conference experience!

• Have you ever left a concurrent session feeling fully charged by the presenter’s knowledge, and wishing the session could be extended for at least another hour?
• Maybe you’ve read the work of a particular author or researcher in our field, and daydreamed about the questions you would ask if you had the chance to meet face-to-face?
• Is there an improvement you’d like to make in your advising program and you know you would move forward if you could only find a time to talk through your ideas with advising professionals who are committed to the same process?

You know where this is headed! The pre-conference offers a rich, meaningful, hands-on experience where your unique conference goals can be achieved. We encourage you to go deeper, stay longer, engage fully, and focus in on your current advising needs!

There are still openings in many sessions, so take a few minutes and review the abstracts. You can also view the 2010 pre-conference selections by using the interactive schedule planner. These workshops offer the widest array of advising topics facilitated by the most seasoned professionals! We guarantee that you will not be disappointed… see you in 25 days!