Annual Conference

NODA’s Annual Conference, commonly referred to as NODAC, is the Association’s signature event of the year. Taking place each fall, the Annual Conference serves as a gathering place for hundreds of orientation, transition, and retention professionals and students. The four day conference includes keynote speakers, panels, dozens of educational sessions and roundtables, networking events, as well as vendor showcases. 

 

Rates & Fees
Hotel & Travel Info
Sessions
Conference Experience
New to NODAC 2026
Awards and Scholarships

Learning outcomes

The NODA Annual Conference (NODAC) outlines six core learning outcomes for attendees in Orientation, Transition, and Retention (OTR) in higher education. Expanding on each outcome highlights how these goals translate into practical value and professional development:

  • Learn Trends, Program Strategies, Philosophies, and Best Practices

    • The Goal: Gain exposure to innovative programmatic approaches and high-impact strategies across higher education.
    • Key Takeaway: Attendees explore diverse operational frameworks—from digital onboarding tools and family engagement models to first-year seminar structures. Participating in peer-led sessions and roundtables helps professionals identify best practices to adapt and apply to their home campuses.

  • Engage with Current Research in the Field

    • The Goal: Ground practice in empirical data, educational frameworks, and student development theory.
    • Key Takeaway: Higher education continuously evolves alongside shifts in demographics, mental health awareness, and technology. Engaging with research ensures OTR professionals build evidence-based programs designed to increase student sense of belonging, persistence, and long-term retention.

  • Benchmark with Similar Institutions

    • The Goal: Compare institutional metrics, budgets, staffing, and strategies against peer universities and colleges globally.
    • Key Takeaway: Benchmarking allows attendees to assess how their institution's programs measure up on regional, national, and international scales. These insights equip leaders with data to justify resource allocation, identify gaps, and streamline departmental operations.

  • Network with Colleagues Formally and Informally

    • The Goal: Build a professional support network across the OTR community.
    • Key Takeaway: Through structured networking events, region-based gatherings, and informal discussions, participants build relationships with peers facing similar institutional challenges. These connections serve as ongoing resources for collaboration, mentorship, and career growth well beyond the four-day event.

  • Enhance Student Experiences, Knowledge, and Leadership Skills

    • The Goal: Provide actionable development opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate student leaders.
    • Key Takeaway: NODAC is structured to benefit student attendees—such as orientation leaders and graduate assistants—by strengthening their communication, facilitation, and leadership skills. Professional staff can also translate conference insights into improved training programs for their student staff back on campus.

  • Develop an Understanding of the Local Culture, Customs, and Community

    • The Goal: Connect learning to the surrounding host city and its local context.
    • Key Takeaway: Grounding the conference in its host location gives participants perspective on how local cultural, social, and geographical factors shape regional higher education ecosystems and community engagement efforts.

History

Expand all

History

The first national conference of orientation professionals was held in Columbus, Ohio in 1948. Twenty-four professionals attended the conference. The conference has grown in its 75+ year history to serve hundreds of professionals each year with dozens of educational sessions.

present - 2020

1999 - 1980

  • 1999 – Tampa, FL
  • 1998 – Austin, TX
  • 1997 – Denver, CO
  • 1996 – Providence, RI
  • 1995 – Minneapolis, MN
  • 1994 – Portland, OR
  • 1993 – Savannah, GA
  • 1992 – Kansas City, KS
  • 1991 – Costa Mesa, CA
  • 1990 – Hartford, CT
  • 1989 – Traverse City, MI
  • 1988 – Sacramento, CA
  • 1987 – Charlotte, NC
  • 1986 – Fort Worth, TX
  • 1985 – Scottsdale, AZ
  • 1984 – St. Louis, MO
  • 1983 – Burlington, VT
  • 1982 – Lexington, KY
  • 1981 – Salt Lake City, UT
  • 1980 – New Orleans, LA

1979 - 1948

  • 1979 – Washington, DC
  • 1978 – Kalamazoo, MI
  • 1977 – Los Angeles, CA
  • 1976 – Knoxville, TN
  • 1975 – Cleveland, OH
  • 1974 – Albuquerque, NM
  • 1973 – College Park, MD
  • 1972 – Jefferson City, MO
  • 1971 – Stillwater, OK
  • 1970 – Gainesville, FL
  • 1969 – Salt Lake City, UT
  • 1968 – Columbia, SC
  • 1967 – Lexington, KY
  • 1966 – Columbus, OH
  • 1965 – Minneapolis, MN
  • 1964 – University Park, PA
  • 1963 – Bloomington, IN
  • 1962 – Ann Arbor, MI
  • 1961 – Bowling Green, OH
  • 1960 – Madison, WI
  • 1959 – Carbondale, IL
  • 1958 – Grand Forks, ND
  • 1957 – Columbus, OH
  • 1956 – Lexington, KY
  • 1955 – East Lansing, MI
  • 1954 – Athens, OH
  • 1953 – Minneapolis, MN
  • 1952 – Bloomington, IN
  • 1951 – Ann Arbor, MI
  • 1950 – Monticello, IL
  • 1949 – West Lafayette, IN
  • 1948 – Columbus, OH