2024 Biregional IV and V Conference

*Propose a Conference Session By Friday, June 8^th which is accepted, receive $25 off Early Bird Conference Registration (Max 1 Per Session)

*CEP Presenters will receive ½ off Early Bird Conference Registration Fee (Max 3 Per Session)

**CTW Presenters will receive $50 off Early Bird Conference Registration Fee (Max 2 Per Session)

Travel Grant

Regions IV and V have travel grants available for individuals working in Regions IV or V as professionals or volunteers in the field of international education—more information to come.

Getting to Schaumburg

Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel

1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, 60173

Tel: +1 847-303-4100

Chicago O'Hare International Airport

Distance from Property: 13.0 Miles
Phone Number: +1 800-832-6352
Visit Website

Chicago Midway International Airport
Distance from Property: 37.5 Miles
Phone Number: +1 773-838-0600
Visit Website

Other Transportation

Bus Station

Pace Northwest Transportation Center

Train Station

Metra Northwest Line - Palatine Station 
Metra Northwest Line - Arlington Park Station

CLOSED - will open in July

All attendees traveling to the US from abroad can request a visa letter of invitation via the link above. 

All requests submitted by October 1st will be screened, but not all requests will be approved. Please allow one week from your date of submission for delivery. If approved, an invitation letter on official letterhead will be issued to you as a PDF document and will be e-mailed to the address you provided.

Please check with your local U.S. consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing. Your request for a letter of invitation to attend a NAFSA regional conference does not guarantee that you will receive a visa.

More details to come!

Two-Day Workshops(Tuesday, October 29th from Noon to 5pm and Wednesday, October 30th from 9am to Noon)

• F-1 Student Advising for Beginners
• Risk Assessment and Crisis Management in Education Abroad Programming
• Intercultural Communication in Practice

One-Day Current Topic Workshops (Wednesday, October 30th from 9am to Noon)

• Advanced F-1 Case Studies
• Beginner J-1 Case Studies
• H-1B Case Studies – From LCA to Visa Processing
• IEM for Beginners

Tuesday, October 29
Full-day workshops (first part) only - no sessions.

9am - 5pm – Registration Open
Noon - 5pm – Full-Day CEP Workshops (First Part)
Noon - 5pm – Exhibit Hall Set-Up

Wednesday, October 30
7am - 5pm – Registration Open
9am - Noon – Full-Day CEP Workshops (Second Part)
9am - Noon – Current Topic Workshops/Case Studies
9am - 12:30pm – Exhibit Hall Set-up
1pm - 7:30pm – Exhibit Hall Open
1pm – Welcome to Conference and Exhibit Hall Ribbon Cutting – Exhibit Hall
1:30pm - 2:30 – Sessions
2:30pm - 2:40pm – Break (No Coffee/Food)
2:40pm - 3:40pm – Sessions
3:40pm - 4:10pm – Networking Break (Coffee/Tea Only)
4:10pm - 5:10pm – Sessions
5:30pm - 6:00pm – Newcomers Reception
6:30pm - 7:30pm – Opening Reception

Thursday, October 31
8am - 5pm – Exhibit Hall Open
8am - 9am – Breakfast
9am - 10am – Sessions
10am - 10:30am – Networking Break (Coffee/Tea Only)
10:30am - 11:30am – Sessions
11:30am - 1pm – Lunch and State Meetings1pm to 2pm – Sessions
2pm - 2:15pm – Break (No Coffee)
2:15pm - 3:15pm – Sessions
3:15pm - 4:00pm – Networking Break (Coffee and Snack Provided)
4:00pm - 5:00pm – KC Meetings and MIG/SIG Meetings
6:00pm - 7:00pm – Possible VIP Reception (Contingent on Sponsor)
7:00pm - 9pm – Halloween Party and Awards Reception

Friday, November 1
8:00am - 11:30 – Exhibit Hall Open
8:00am - 9:00am – Breakfast
9:00am - 10:00am – Sessions
10:00am - 10:15am – Break (No Coffee)
10:15am - 11:15am – Sessions
11:20am - 11:30am – Closing Ceremony in Exhibit Hall

The full schedule will be available in September. The Biregional IV and V Team is pleased to offer sessions in addition to government presentations, state meetings, and a plenary. Through the Online Planner, you can view the time, room, presenters, descriptions, and learning objectives of each session. You can also star the events you're interested in and create your own conference agenda, to view on the mobile webpage at the conference

NAFSA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion. NAFSA does not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience, including people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for the conference. Participants violating these rules may be asked to leave the conference at the sole discretion of NAFSA’s management. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you witness unacceptable behavior, please inform the Regional Conference Planner, who will inform NAFSA staff, so that we may resolve any concerns. If you or another event participant witnesses or is a party to imminent physical danger or distress, promptly alert the appropriate security, law enforcement, or emergency medical authorities. This Code applies to all NAFSA members and event attendees in all NAFSA meeting venues, including the regional conference, ancillary events and social gatherings, whether officially sponsored by NAFSA or not and whether held in-person or virtually.

Conference registration and/or workshop registration may be canceled with full refund less a 10% processing fee, any time up until four (4) weeks prior, September 25th, to the conference start date.

A 50% refund is available for conference registration and/or workshop registration provided written notification is received between four (4) weeks, September 25th, and two (2) weeks prior, October 9th, to the conference start date.

No refunds will be granted after October 9th, 2023. In the case of emergency/extenuating circumstances, special requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the regional leadership team following the conference.

NAFSA follows COVID-19 safety protocols as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and local ordinances in the conference location, which currently do not require proof of vaccination or masking. Should the mandates change, NAFSA reserves the right to adjust conference attendance policies accordingly.

NAFSA strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, as vaccines are recommended as a proven way to prevent the threat of critical illness. Many attendees may still choose to wear masks indoors, and we ask that all attendees respect those who elect to do so. NAFSA recommends attendees self-test before leaving home for the conference. If you feel ill on-site, please remain in your hotel room and test to determine your health status.

By registering for this event, you agree to the collection of contact and demographic information in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy. This includes any information unique to you that is available in the individual's NAFSA profile. NAFSA will share limited information (name, title, organization, state, and country) in the official attendee list. NAFSA may further share your contact information according to your selected “Communication Preferences” in your MyNAFSA and in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy.

Your data will be collected and utilized for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, organizer of this event, to allow your access to the event as well as its digital platform, CadmiumCD. Additionally, you agree to the sharing of your contact information with the trainers, coaches, and other program participants for the purpose of fulfilling the program for which you have registered. As a condition to participation, attendees consent to be recorded.

NAFSA is committed to providing universal access to its products, services, digital content, and events and, in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs so we ask that requests for accommodations be made as early as possible, preferably at least three weeks in advance of the regional conference start date, through the registration process, if possible. Or, you can contact [email protected] for accommodation requests. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner, but services are subject to availability, and further, NAFSA may not be able to grant accommodations requests that place an undue burden on it or that fundamentally change the nature or structure of the goods or services.