Events

Welcome to the central events hub for NODA, the Association for Orientation, Transition, and Retention in Higher Education. NODA hosts regional and national conferences, institutes, symposiums, and webinars designed to advance student success, onboarding, and retention practices for higher education professionals, faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate student leaders.

Events and Educational Programs

  • Annual Conference (NODAC)
    Format: In-person annual event Audience: All higher education professionals, executive leaders, graduate students, and undergraduate student leaders Focus: National networking, keynote presentations, emerging research, and comprehensive orientation, transition, and retention best practices.
  • Spring Learning
    Format: Virtual online conference Audience: Undergraduate student leaders, graduate students, and professional staff Focus: Mental health initiatives, student leadership skill-building, and foundational onboarding practices.
  • Core Competency Curricula
    Format: Virtual and self-paced professional development modules Audience: Professional staff and graduate students looking to align work with industry standards Focus: In-depth learning tracks centered on assessment, organization, campus culture, and OTR practice.
  • Directors and Managers Institute (DMI)
    Format: In-person institute Audience: Senior directors, department heads, and experienced managers Focus: Strategic planning, retention analytics, budget allocation, resource management, and high-level leadership development.
  • Graduate Student Symposium
    Format: In-person and virtual components Audience: Master's and doctoral students in higher education and student affairs Focus: Career development, job search preparation, scholarly research, and networking with seasoned professionals.
  • Internship Program
    Format: Institutional placement program Audience: Graduate students seeking practical experience and host institutions Focus: Matching graduate students with orientation and transition summer internship positions across North America.
  • Orientation Professionals Institute (OPI) 
    Format: In-person and hybrid Audience: New and mid-level orientation and transition professionals (0-3 years in the field) Focus: Fundamentals of orientation planning, campus partner integration, Title IX compliance, and budget management.
  • Retention Symposium
    Format: Virtual and hybrid event Audience: Retention specialists, academic advisors, and institutional researchers Focus: Data-driven retention strategies, early alert systems, and long-term student persistence models.
  • Student Leadership Institute
    Format: In-person and virtual tracks Audience: Undergraduate orientation leaders, peer mentors, and student staff Focus: Leadership communication, group dynamics, diversity and inclusion on campus, and peer facilitation skills.
  • Transition Symposium
    Format: Virtual and hybrid event Audience: Student affairs staff, FYE coordinators, and academic transition specialists Focus: First-year experience, second-year persistence, transfer student support, and sense-of-belonging initiatives.
  • Two-Year College Summit
    Format: Virtual / Hybrid event Audience: Community college, junior college, and technical college staff and administrators Focus: Tailored orientation strategies for non-traditional students, commuter populations, trade programs, and part-time learners.
  • Webinars
    Format: Live virtual events and on-demand recordings Audience: All NODA members and higher education professionals Focus: Emerging topics in higher education, AI integration, mental health support, CAS standards compliance, and evaluation metrics.

Core Educational Pillars

All NODA events and session proposals align with NODA core competencies to support professional growth:

  • Orientation, Transition, and Retention Practice: Designing intentional experiences that foster student sense-of-belonging, academic integration, and persistent enrollment.
  • Organization and Leadership: Operational planning, financial and budget management, risk mitigation, and staff supervision.
  • Campus and Community Cultures: Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, supporting special populations such as first-generation, international, veteran, and transfer students, and family engagement.
  • Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: Data-driven decision making, benchmarking student outcomes, and publishing scholarly work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NODA?

NODA is an international professional association chartered in 1976. It provides resources, networking, and professional development to higher education staff and faculty focused on new student orientation, transition, and long-term retention.

Who should attend NODA events?

NODA events serve a wide range of higher education stakeholders, including orientation directors, managers, first-year experience coordinators, graduate students in student affairs, undergraduate student leaders, and faculty researchers.

How do I register for an event or webinar?

Active members and guests can register directly through NODA Connect or individual event portals. Members receive discounted registration rates for all conferences and access to selected on-demand webinars.

Can I submit a proposal to present at a NODA conference?

Yes. NODA encourages proposals from professional staff, graduate students, and undergraduate student leaders. Call-for-proposal deadlines and guidelines are posted on individual event pages prior to each conference.

Event Inquires and Administrative Contact

For questions regarding event registration, session proposals, accommodations, or sponsorship opportunities, contact the NODA Association Office.

Email: [email protected]
Toll-Free Phone: 1-866-521-NODA (6632)