6 Things to Do at NACAC

The NACAC Conference is upon us once again – and we couldn’t be more excited to attend.

For those of us in higher education, NACAC represents so much – a chance to meet other higher education leaders, to learn more about our areas of focus, and to share best practices and updates.

With so much to do, it can be difficult to prioritize all that’s going on. That’s why we’ve compiled 6 quick tips to help make the most of your time at NACAC:

  1. Attend the Welcome Reception. Whether this is your first time here or you’re a NACAC veteran, the Welcome Reception is a great chance to meet new people and learn the many conference offerings. The event starts at 4:30pm CST in the Convention Center.
  2. Network! This is the biggest one. NACAC might be the best opportunity to meet peers from higher education across the country, so don’t be shy! Share your institution’s victories, challenges, and ideas with others – you’ll be surprised how much you learn.
  3. Meet your match. Here’s a fun way to network! Upon check-in, pick up a button to attach to your conference lanyard. Then, keep an eye out for your match – attendees whose buttons match yours. When you find them, head to the NACAC booth (833) or Common App booth (827) to be scanned to win some great prizes.
  4. Attend data-centric sessions. You know we’re all about the data – it’s revolutionizing the higher-ed landscape, and the most successful institutions are finding creative ways to leverage it. Learn more in sessions about using data – here are a couple of good ones:
    • Managing Up & Down with the Right Data – Saturday, September 24, 9:30-10:30am
      Learn how to engage your most critical stakeholders with the data that matters most.
    • Strength in Numbers: Creating Better Enrollment Outcomes with Data – Saturday, September 24, 11:00am-12:00pm CST
      Learn which metrics deserve your attention (and how to use them to your advantage).
  5. Take advantage of pre-conference sessions. If you arrive in Houston prior to the conference’s official start, NACAC is hosting a wealth of pre-conference sessions. These are a great opportunity to jump-start your experience and begin networking! Again, we recommend an interesting data-centric session:
    • Using Data to Meet Challenges & Next Steps: An Expert Roundtable Discussion – Thursday, September 22, 8:30-9:45am CST
      A collaborative session. Engage with peers and roundtable guests to discuss universal challenges and develop personal action plans.
  6. Talk to us! We’re going to be there, and we’d love to meet you. Get in touch with John Nester,  Alex White, Anna Swanson, Jim Day, Buni Neighbors, or Peter Farrell to set up some time to discuss your institution’s data – we’d love to show you a preview of how your school stacks up to the nation!