OCPA 2020 Annual Conference Quick Reference Guide
With the Annual Conference just around the corner, this year’s conference planning team wanted to provide insider tips to make the most of your conference experience.
Before the conference
Double-check your hotel reservation. To make sure you feeling your best while attending the conference balancing work and rest is necessary. The Doubletree Worthington (175 Hutchinson Avenue Columbus, OH 43235) is the official conference hotel. If you haven’t secured accommodations yet, you can still do so at this link.
Plan your travel. Worthington is conveniently located just north of Columbus proper but that also means it occasionally comes with big-city traffic.
Plan & Pack. To keep with our theme of balance we are encouraging participants to wear business-casual attire for Thursday and casual attire for Friday. The conference planning team will be supporting Casual Friday by wearing blue conference t-shirts so we hope you will join us by dressing comfortably for that day. Finally, be sure to check the weather... right now they are predicting cold and cloudy with a high of 36 and low of 23. Don’t forget to pack your business cards to maximize the awesome networking opportunities. If you are presenting, be sure to bring your own technology & adapters if you intend to use projection. Each session room includes a projector and an HDMI cord.
Download the Conference App to find all of the most up-to-date information about the conference including other attendees, a map, and the option to build your own schedule complete with reminders!
- Visit the iTunes Apple or Google Play App Store
- Search "CampusGroups" (no space) and download the app
- Open the app and search for "OCPA"
- Select the "OCPA2020" app and verify your email address
Review the conference schedule and map out what you would like to attend. As with any conference, there is likely more to see and do than you have time for. Make the most of this choose your own adventure experience by being strategic in your program selection. Also, don't miss our featured speakers – Dr. Colette Masterson and Dr. Jason Pina!
During the conference
Network. This year we have the privilege of networking with professionals in the American Student Conduct Association (ASCA). We are excited for participants to meet new people, reconnect with colleagues, trade business cards, and share promising practices. Take advantage of the open networking time on Thursday during session 4 which includes an ASCA meet up.
Follow along on the backchannel with #OCPA2020 and be sure to send us a tweet us your story about how you’re liking the conference: @myOCPA!
New attendee? We’ve got a social for that—join the OCPA leadership for the New Attendees Coffee Connections Social Thursday morning. Friday morning’s social will allow new attendees to network.
The OCPA Social is a great opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues both old and new while continuing the conversations that began earlier in the day! This year the social is at AR Workshop in Worthington where participants will be able to make-and-take a small woodcraft. For examples of the woodcraft click on this link.
Get (more) Involved! There are several opportunities to volunteer during the conference. Stop by the Volunteer table to learn how you can get more involved!
Membership Accounts. Make sure your membership is up to date or join the association. If you have questions regarding CampusGroups, our new membership management program, we will have a table set up in the atrium where you can get your questions answered and/or update your account.
Attend the OCPA Business meeting Friday morning to ensure you are up to date on all things OCPA and meet the folks behind the association.
Bid & win items in the silent auction—a fundraiser for scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students interested in our field this year’s silent auction features some awesome prizes.
AFTER THE CONFERENCE
Continue the conversation with other attendees and be sure to follow the conversation on OCPA’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
Bring it back—set some time aside to strategically plan how you will implement the things you learned at the conference into your daily work.
Tell us about your experience. Please be sure to visit the Conference Assessment link on the OCPA2020 Conference App so we may keep improving the conference experience for our members.
Grow your experiences with OCPA! Consider joining the OCPA Board for an elected or appointed position. Stay tuned for information about the other opportunities OCPA provides, calls to submit awards and conference proposals, as well as information on joining next year’s Conference Planning Team!
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