2019 Region IV Conference

Region IV Conference 2020

See you next year in Coralville/Iowa City!

Preconference Workshops

Preconference workshops begin on Monday, October 21 and conference sessions end on Thursday morning, October 24. Available workshops include: 

• F-1 Student Advising for Beginners
• F-1 Student Advising: Intermediate
• J-1 Advising: Intermediate
• Intercultural Communication in Practice
• Recruiting International Students
• Fostering Transformative Intercultural Learning

Hotel

Book your hotel

Registration

The early bird deadline was September 6, 2019.

Mobile App

The NAFSA 2019 Mobile Conference App is available for download in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

Exhibitors

With discounted exhibitor pricing (the lowest priced of all eleven NAFSA regions!), we are looking to host the largest Region IV exhibit hall ever. Exhibitors can sponsor coffee breaks, the awards luncheon, state meetings, and various special events – options abound. Visit Exhibitor Harvestor for pricing and details. Non-Global Partners: exhibitor sponsorship will begin June 15.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsorship Opportunities Sponsor one of the many great events at the NAFSA Region IV Conference in Fargo. Sponsorship opportunities and the quantities are listed below. If you have any questions or want more information on please contact Libby Claerbout.

• Opening Reception (2) - $1,000
• Special Event Yoga - $250
• Special Event: Hjemkomst Center + Viking Ship Tour - $250
• Awards Luncheon (3) - $500
• Coffee Break (5) - $250
• Wine and Cheese KC Updates (5) - $250
• State Dessert Meetings (5) - $250
• Screen Display in Expo Hall (15) - $150
• Digital Splash Page (in conference app) - $500

Conference Site and Getting to Fargo

The Region IV Conference will be located at the Holiday Inn Fargo Hotel & Convention Center. Save the Date: Hotel registration with the Region IV block will begin August 6. If arriving by air, fly directly into Fargo’s Hector International Airport (FAR) and use Uber/Lyft to get around.

Reserve your room by September 20 under the NAFSA room block!

Volunteer in Fargo

We are looking for volunteers to help with a variety of tasks at the NAFSA Region IV Fargo Conference - October 21-24, 2019. Volunteers are so valuable and make the conference go smoothly! Any amount of time that you can commit to volunteering is appreciated. We know that everyone has different schedules, so we made the sign-up process as easy as possible where you can choose what day, time of day and how many hours you are able to help out. Please complete the NAFSA Region IV Conference Volunteer Form. Thank you!

Conference Grants

NAFSA Region IV Conference Grants are financial support for Region IV international educators with demonstrated need. The general Conference Grants cover the cost of full conference registration and we also offer grants modeled after NAFSA's Diversity Impact Program for Tribal Colleges, Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and Community Colleges within the Region IV area (Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, and South Dakota). Diversity Impact Grants cover the full conference registration plus a $500 travel grant. Conference Grants cannot be combined with the Very Motivated Presenter (VMP) discount.

Grants are available for individuals in the following categories:

• Student (seeking entry level ideas to enter international education field)
• Newcomer (employed in international education but new to the field and/or NAFSA)
• Seasoned professional (more than 5 years of international education and/or NAFSA experience)
• Professional from Tribal College, HBCU, HSI, and/or Community College (preference will be given to institutions that have not attended a Region IV conference previously)

Apply now
The deadline to apply is August 14, 2019

Awards and Recognition

NAFSA Region IV wishes to recognize the outstanding work made in the field of international education. Nominate your colleague for a NAFSA Region IV award in one of the following categories:

Distinguished Service Award
Recognizes Region IV NAFSAns currently involved in the association who have donated at least 10 years of service to NAFSA and who have acted as mentors to colleagues in all aspects of the field. In addition, this award may recognize: professional and personal contributions to the field of international education that are beyond the normal expectations of the job; contributions of time to program for international or study abroad students or campus internationalization efforts; significant leadership at the regional or national levels; reflects the ideals and goals of NAFSA through her/his professional commitment and dedication to the field; retiring international educators who have made significant contributions in the field of international education.

Friend of the Region Award
Recognizes individuals who have given exceptional service to Region IV. This may be someone who has: sacrificed a great deal of their own personal time and resources to train individuals within the region; assisted or aided in a variety of efforts promoting Region IV membership; furthered the interests of international educational exchange; remained active in regional activities, projects, or programs; demonstrated a commitment to promoting global understanding and providing international educational exchange in their local community; contributed to the spirit of volunteerism and demonstrated a long-term commitment to international education and exchange; may be engaged leadership for recruiting, training, and recognizing community volunteers; may actively participate in programming for internationals in the local community.

Internationalization Achievement Award
Recognizes an institution, organization, or group that is making strides, being innovative, and is committed to comprehensive internationalization of the campus.

Most Innovative International Initiative Award
Recognizes someone who has done something outstanding, innovative, or creative; someone who has given hours to a special project; someone who has an idea that could be adapted elsewhere and has potential to impact students or international education profoundly in a very positive manner.

Outstanding New Professional Award
Recognizes an individual who has been in the field for 1 - 5 years; a new professional who is contributing significantly and making a difference in the lives of students and co-workers; someone who is dynamic, enthusiastic, passionate, and who plans to stay involved in the field.

Outstanding Student Award
Recognizes a student who chose to present and participate in our regional conference. Ideally this individual will continue to be involved in the field, ultimately becoming a NAFSA member and serving in leadership roles for NAFSA or similar associations. The award is offered in the hope that the recipient may inspire more students to become involved in NAFSA and help get their foot in the door in the field.

Submit a nomination!

The deadline to submit a nomination is October 7, 2019.

Special Events

We are excited to welcome you to Fargo! Experience a real Viking ship at the Scandinavian Heritage Center – The Hjemkomst; and some great music and food at our Roaring 20s Opening Reception in Fargo’s Plains Art Museum. Dressing up in your best Roaring 20s attire is encouraged! Our regionally known “foody” town, which also boasts a booming craft beer culture, is great for your evening dinner and entertainment plans at the Region IV Conference! At the registration table, you’ll be provided with a list of a wide variety of food, entertainment, and shopping options for you to explore during your free time in Fargo!

Go to Fargo – Grab your Instagram shot - Spread your wings - "Go FAR GO Global"

Future Conferences

• 2020: Coralville, IA
• 2021: Schaumberg, IL (Bi-Regional with Region V)