With the Annual Conference just a couple of weeks away, this year’s conference planning team wanted to provide insider tips to make the most of your conference experience.
Before the conference
Need an accommodation to fully engage? Contact Anna Wagner at wagner.1476@osu.edu.
Double-check your hotel reservation. 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 until Tuesday 2/15.
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. We encourage all participants to wear business-casual attire for Thursday and casual attire for Friday. Be sure to check the weather (linked here)—current estimates have temperatures between 26- and 45-degrees Fahrenheit. 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.
Review the schedule at-a-glance at this link and prepare to map out what you would like to attend. You’ll receive access to the full, detailed, schedule when we get closer to the conference. This year, we are using Google Docs, so you may want to download the app to view this on your iOS (link to app store) or Android (link to app store) device.
Recruit graduate students to participate in the case study competition (link for details) for their chance to win a cash prize! If you or someone you know would like to participate in the case study competition but may have difficulty attending the conference, please email myOCPA@gmail.com so we can assist.
During the conference
Network. 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 afternoon.
Follow along on the backchannel with #OCPA2022 and be sure to engage with us on OCPA’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to share how you’re Reimaging Fundamentals at the conference!
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/ Happy Hour is a great opportunity to connect with friends and colleagues both old and new while continuing the conversations that began earlier in the day! Stay tuned for additional information.
Get (more) Involved! There are several opportunities to volunteer during the conference. Stop by the Registration table to learn how you can get more involved!
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.
COVID precautions
Physical distancing is strongly encouraged at all times. Seating capacity in the ballroom has been reduced by 50% and tables will be 6 feet apart. In Ed Session rooms, rows of chairs will be 6 feet apart and there will be additional space between chairs on either side.
Masks are required by the City of Worthington unless actively eating or drinking. Masks will be available at the registration table should you need one.
Symptom monitoring is expected for all attendees. Please stay home if you are feeling sick or are experiencing any of the symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19.
Get tested. Knowing your COVID status is a critical tool to keeping others safe. All attendees are encouraged to test prior to attending each day of the conference and again 5 days after the conference concludes. Rapid tests are accessible for free delivered to your home from the federal government, by reimbursement with most health insurances plans, and on many campuses.
A refund will be provided to any attendees that is unable to attend the conference due to COVID precautions. Please email us at myOCPA@gmail.com if this applies to you for additional details.
Meals. Breakfasts and socials will be provided grab-and-go style with prepackaged options whenever possible. Luncheons will be plated and served with physical distancing in the ballroom as outlined above.
After the conference
Continue the conversation with other attendees and on OCPA’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
Bring it back— set some time aside to strategically plan how you will Reimaging Fundamentals and 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 which will be emailed to you following the conference so we may keep improving the conference experience for attendees.
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!
We look forward to seeing you all in just a few short days for the 2022 OCPA Annual Conference. Thank you in advance for joining us on Thursday and Friday and for your commitment to personal and professional development.
The 2022 Annual Conference Planning Team
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