2024 NAFSA Region VII Conference

Conference Registration

Registration is now open. Early Bird Deadline: October 1, 2024.

Attendees will have the opportunity to request accessibility accommodations during the registration process. Attendees can expect to receive a confirmation receipt of their request within one week. 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 program/product start date, through the registration process, if possible. Or, you can contact [email protected].

Conference Travel Grant

Participating in the NAFSA Region VII Conference provides an opportunity to acquire and exchange information. It is also an excellent way to begin building a personal network of contacts in the field of international education. To assist in achieving professional development goals, NAFSA Region VII is pleased to offer conference grants to individuals attending the NAFSA Region VII conference. 

Grant Amounts: awardees will have the early-bird conference registration fee waived, plus be reimbursed for two nights at the conference hotel. The funds for the hotel nights will be reimbursed based on actual costs as indicated on submitted receipts. Awardees must stay at the conference hotel and make their reservation using the link on the conference website in order to be reimbursed.

Applications for conference travel grants are now closed.

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville
225 E Coastline Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32202

All attendees are encouraged to make plans to stay at the conference hotel for the convenience of being an elevator ride away from sessions!

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront (hotel website)

Conference Group Rate

The rooms set aside for conference group rate have been claimed for Monday, November 11 and Tuesday, November 12. At last update, there are still rooms available at the hotel for the days of the conference at the hotel's regular rates.

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront (hotel website)

For Sunday, November 10 and Wednesday, November 13, attendees can use the hotel booking link below to reserve a room and to receive the special discounted rate on your room nights. Although it may require two reservations, it is possible for attendees to take advantage of the group rate on the nights rooms are still available. Please contact the Hyatt directly with questions or for assistance.

Conference Group Rate at conference hotel (limited availability remaining)

Nearby Options

The following are nearby hotels at which attendees can seek accommodations. There is no conference rate for these hotels but other discount rates, such as AARP, AAA, or military, may apply.

• Marriott Jacksonville Downtown, 0.4 miles away from conference venue
• DoubleTree Jacksonville Riverfront, 0.8 miles away from conference venue
• Hampton Inn Jacksonville Downtown, 0.8 miles away from conference venue

By attending this event, your organization will directly reach the largest NAFSA region with hundreds of international educators from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands! The NAFSA Region VII Conference offers exhibitors more than 14 hours of exhibition time, including a dedicated hour during the Exhibit Hall Grand Opening - a no-competition time reserved for exhibitors. The five coffee breaks for the conference are served in the exhibit hall at locations chosen to increase attendee traffic in the exhibit space.

View our Jacksonville 2024 informational flyer. Exhibitor and sponsorship sales are currently open. Sign up today!

Exhibitor Portal

Exhibitor Information: Jacksonville, Nov 11–13 – Booth Price $800

The cost of exhibiting includes:

• Access to 450 attendees representing 7 states and 2 territories
• One (1) individual full-conference registration
• One (1) 6' x 3' table with two chairs

*WiFi and Power can be bought through a 3rd party vendor the hotel uses.

New this year, we are piloting a new ordering method for exhibitors attending 5 or more regional conferences. Interested in exhibiting at multiple conferences this fall? Companies attending 5 or more conferences can fill out this form.

Shipments

Shipping information can be found online here.

NAFSA Region VII appreciates the support of our sponsors, who are vital to the region's success and instrumental in supporting our members and their institutions. This year's conference allows sponsors additional opportunities to gain visibility while supporting the region. All sponsorships include one conference registration ($400 value!)

View our Jacksonville 2024 informational flyer. Exhibitor and sponsorship sales are currently open. Sign up today!

Advertising Benefit

Complete this form to be considered for an invitation letter.

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.

Thank you for your sponsorship of NAFSA Region VII!

2024 Conference Signage Sponsor	Image
2024 Conference Plenary Lunch Sponsor	Image
2024 Bold City Celebration Sponsor	Image
2024 HBCU/MSI Form	Barcelona SAE
2024 Newcomer's Orientation	International Student Insurance
Coffee Break Sponsorship	Academic Evaluation Services, Inc.
Coffee Break Sponsorship	Garfinkel Immigration Law Firm
Coffee Break Sponsorship	IES Abroad - Chicago, IL
Coffee Break Sponsorship	Terra Dotta
Coffee Break Sponsorship	Ware|Immigration

Region VII is delighted to host NAFSA CEP workshops again at the Jacksonville conference. Workshops will be an all-day preconference event on Sunday, November 10, 2024. Registration will open with conference registration on Tuesday, July 23. 

The following workshops will be offered.

• F-1 Student Advising: Intermediate
• Education Abroad: Critical Skills for the Adviser

HBCU Forum:  Building Bridges to further International Education at HBCUs and MSIs
Sponsored by Barcelona SAE

Sunday, November 10, 2024 
2pm – 4:30pm 
Hyatt Regency Jacksonsville
 

The HBCU Forum is returning to an in-person program to be held prior to the opening of the NAFSA Region VII Conference.  Join us on Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 1pm for a series of presentations, panels, and small group discussions.  In addition to attending the program, we invite you to submit a proposal to present innovative programs and support services  that are building bridges to further international education on your campus or within your organization. There is no additional cost for joining this program.  Registration is required during the conference registration process.

The Schedule-at-a-Glance provides an overview of conference events. The full schedule will be available online in late August/early September. Resume Review and Mentorship Program meetings will be taking place throughout the conference. The Exhibit Hall is open during the Grand Opening, all Coffee Breaks and all concurrent sessions.

The full Region VII Conference schedule will be available online in early September! Through the Online Planner you can view the time, room, presenters, descriptions, and learning objectives of the sessions. 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! There is also information on Sponsors, Exhibitors, and more!

Newcomers Orientation: Monday, November 11th at 9:00AM

Are you new to NAFSA or the field of international education? Join us at this session to learn how to make the most of your conference, get an overview of all of the opportunities available to you through NAFSA, and meet your Region VII team.

"My Big, Bold Idea": New this year!

Region VII is diving into the Shark Tank with the My Big, Bold Idea presentations. Participants will fill out the online form below to share your innovative idea(s) for supporting student and scholar success in our very first "Shark Tank" style conference session. If selected, each participant will give a 5 minute presentation with slides to convey their "Big, Bold, Idea" during a dedicated conference session block. After the presentation, conference attendees will have the opportunity to chat one-on-one with presenters as with poster sessions.

Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Enhanced Communication Strategies
• A specific program
• A service process
• An information presentation/workshop
• Examples of achieving sustainable development goals (SGD - United Nations)
• Internal Infrastructure Updates: organization collaboration, database/system use
• How you have implemented NAFSA's core competencies in your work.

Submit online form to participate: https://forms.gle/8h4GJ7TnqrHLLnXQA 

Mentorship Program: Now open!

The purpose of the NAFSA Region VII Mentorship program is to create a welcoming environment for new International Education professionals.

Mentors commit to four meetings with their mentees. Mentors should aim to meet with their mentee(s) twice virtually before the conference is held, once in person during the conference, and then one follow-up meeting post-conference. The mentor should have at least three years of experience in International Education, have knowledge of NAFSA and/or other professional resources, and have an interest in helping new professionals!

We understand that some members will not be attending the conference due to budget concerns, and we do not want this to interfere with your participation in the Mentorship Program. If you want to participate but will be unable to attend the conference, we encourage you to sign up! We want to be as inclusive as possible and help new professionals connect with seasoned practitioners.

Mentee sign up: >https://forms.gle/KGQDaCCn3xWHVhia6/a>

Mentor sign up: https://forms.gle/uGYwqDUj8PBiUh3t7

Questions can be directed to Chasity Drew, [email protected].

Resume Reviews: Sign up with your Conference Registration!

NAFSA Region VII will be matching experienced international educators with those seeking feedback on their resume. Resume reviews will be assigned based on reviewer availability and knowledge community. This program will be taking place virtually following the fall conference. Please indicate in your conference registration if you would like to participate in this program as a reviewer or reviewee. Registration is now open.

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, October 14, 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, October 14, and two (2) weeks prior, October 28, to the conference start date.

No refunds will be granted after October 28, 2024. 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.