University of Illinois Chicago
Friday, March 28, 2025 – Sunday, March 30, 2025
Call for Programs
Proposals Due by Tuesday, January 21, 2024 (Extended to Friday, February 14) with decisions in February.
Submitting a program for a Regional Conference is a quick and simple process. You don’t need to be an expert to be a conference presenter, just have a program or idea you would like to share with the NODA community. While undergraduate students are welcome (and encouraged) to present at a NODA Regional Conference, we ask a professional or graduate student member be responsible for submitting the session proposal.
Submit a proposal for:
- Educational Session – Showcase current research, best practices, and/or professional techniques which advance the field of orientation, transition, and retention or enhance our professional careers.
- Roundtable – Organized conversation with one or more moderators. Moderators provide a contextual overview to the topic and then facilitate dialogue between participants.
- Skills Based Sessions – Highlight the skills and tools that don’t always get to shine in the OTR arena. Skill based sessions are practical demonstrations of everyday skills OTR professionals may need.
NODA recognizes the time constraints many of our members are under and has reduced the amount of information required to submit a program. We hope to make the submission process less onerous and more accessible for anyone interested in presenting.
Thank you for taking the time to submit a program, the strength of any Regional Conference begins with educational session submissions from our members.
To help guide your session development, each session should focus on a primary target audience, with the goal of achieving a predefined learning outcome or advancement in a core competency. Use the links below to learn more.
Call for Reviewers
Reviewers are needed to assist in the blind review process for Regional Conference educational session submissions as well as regional awards. Reviewers will provide feedback to the NODA staff and Regional Conference Planning Team to assist in the select process. The time commitment to review is nominal, with reviews happening in January and early February. To sign-up to be a reviewer, complete the interest form here or visit the NODA Submission Center and select the Educational Programs & Awards Reviewer Volunteer Form.
Registration & Pricing
|
Type / Deadline |
Early Bird Registration |
Regular Registration |
Late Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Undergraduate |
$195.00 |
$225.00 |
$280.00 |
|
Member |
$195.00 |
$225.00 |
$280.00 |
|
Non-Member |
$375.00 |
$405.00 |
$460.00 |
|
Associate Member |
$250.00 |
$290.00 |
$365.00 |
NEF Funding is available for this event. Learn more and apply here. Applications are due by January 15, 2025.
Hotel Information
Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop
25 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60661
$159.00 per night plus taxes & fees
Cutoff booking date is March 7, 2025
Conference Speakers & Highlights
Keynote
Illinois State University
Dr. Rockey was introduced to the field of student affairs as an undergraduate orientation leader at Illinois State University (ISU). After completing her bachelor’s degree, she stayed at ISU to earn an M.S. Ed. with a concentration in College Student Personnel Administration (CSPA). She spent ten years in community college student affairs administration before returning to school to earn a PhD in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). During her time at UIUC, she worked at the Office of Community College Research & Leadership (OCCRL) on multiple projects to support community college practitioners. In 2022, she returned to ISU and currently serves as the coordinator and advisor for the CSPA program. Dr. Rockey’s research and teaching interests center on rural student populations, community colleges, and student affairs administration. She is married to a fellow orientation leader, and they are the proud parents of three children including one that will be an incoming freshman this fall. When she’s not watching her kids play sports, she enjoys reading, traveling, and going to concerts.
Schedule of Events
|
Time |
Event |
Location |
|
Friday, March 28 (School Spirit Attire) | ||
|
3:00 p.m. |
Hotel Check-in Begins |
Crown Plaza Hotel |
|
3:30-4:30 p.m. |
Conference Committee Meeting |
SCE- Monarch |
|
4:30-6:30 p.m. |
Conference Registration / Check-In |
SCE- IL Foyer |
|
4:30-6:30 p.m. |
Graduate Student Welcome & Symposium |
SCE- Cardinal Room |
|
6:00-6:30 p.m. |
Undergraduate Student Welcome |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
6:00-6:30 p.m. |
NODA Region V Newcomer Welcome |
SCE- Ft. Dearborn |
|
6:30-8:00 p.m. |
Opening Banquet featuring Roll Call & Keynote Speaker |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
8:00-9:30 p.m. |
Undergraduate Programming: Case Study |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
8:00-9:30 p.m. |
Professional & Graduate Dessert Reception |
TBD |
|
Saturday, March 29 (Orientation Attire) | ||
|
8:00-9:00 a.m. |
Conference Registration/Check-In |
SCE- IL Foyer |
|
9:00-9:45 a.m. |
Educational Session 1 |
Various rooms in SCE |
|
10:00-10:45 a.m. |
Educational Session 2 |
Various rooms in SCE |
|
11:00-11:45 a.m. |
Educational Session 3 |
Various rooms in SCE |
|
12:00-1:00 p.m. |
Lunch & Swap Shop |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
1:15-1:45 p.m. |
Educational Session 4 |
Various rooms in SCE |
|
2:00-2:45 p.m. |
Roundtable Discussions – New, Mid, Senior |
Various rooms in SCE |
|
2:00-2:45 p.m. |
Graduate Symposium Continued |
SCE- Cardinal Room |
|
2:00-4:00 p.m. |
Orientation Leader Institute (OLI) |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
3:00-3:30 p.m. |
NODA Business Meeting |
SCE- Ft. Dearborn |
|
4:00-5:00 p.m. |
Campus Tour & Affinity Spaces |
TBD |
|
7:30-9:00 p.m. |
Undergraduate Student Evening Entertainment – Playfair |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
7:30-9:30 p.m. |
Professional and Graduate Student Networking Reception |
Emporium Arcade (Fulton Market) |
|
Sunday, March 30 (School Spirit Attire) | ||
|
8:00-10:00 a.m. |
1:1 Conference Connection Meetup |
SCE- Cardinal Room |
|
9:00-10:00 a.m. |
Undergraduate Student Case Study Competition |
SCE- Illinois Room |
|
10:00-11:30 a.m. |
Closing Ceremony featuring Awards & Fashion Show |
SCE- Illinois Room |
Award Nominations
Applications and nominations are now open for the award categories listed below. All award submissions are due Thursday, February 6, 2025 by 11:59 PM CST. Recipients will be honored during upcoming Regional Conferences. Regional award winners will advance for consideration for the 2025 Annual Conference awards. Award submission forms can be found at forms.nodaweb.org/award/browse.
Open Awards
- Innovative Program Award
- Outstanding New OTR Professional Award
- Outstanding OTR Professional Award
- Outstanding Student Leader Award
Award Reviewers Needed!
Award reviewers are needed for the 2025 Regional Awards cycle. If you would like to assist in the review process, please complete this form. This opportunity is open to all NODA members.
Planning Committee
Hannah Wilson
Conference Co-Host, Speakers and Special Initiatives
University of Illinois Chicago
Derrick-Robert Fookes
Conference Co-Host, Speakers and Special Initiatives
University of Illinois Chicago
Whitney Hedge
Graduate and Professional Experience
University of Chicago
Jake Dyer
Graduate and Professional Experience
Luther College
Seth Kochheiser
Graduate and Professional Experience
University of Iowa
Jordan Baumgardner
Technology, Communications, and Volunteer Engagement
Iowa State University
Jenny Krzyszkowski
Technology, Communications, and Volunteer Engagement
University of Wisconsin Whitewater
Kailyn Tauber
Technology, Communications, and Volunteer Engagement
Creighton University
Emily Klesner Platt
Technology, Communications, and Volunteer Engagement
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Natalie Davis
Educational Sessions, Awards, and Assessment
University of Iowa
Emily Parker
Educational Sessions, Awards, and Assessment
University of Iowa
Lankin Tyll
Educational Sessions, Awards, and Assessment
University of Chicago
Skylar Carlson
Undergraduate Experience, Case Study, and ROLI
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Danielle Fineza
Undergraduate Experience, Case Study, and ROLI
Iowa State University