Updated March 17, 2020. Today we have been forced to cancel the UPCEA Annual Conference originally scheduled for March 18-20, 2020, at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. This year’s conference will not be rescheduled.
As we shared previously, we originally opted to postpone the conference due to conditions stemming from the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Though we had every intention to reschedule, the uncertainty surrounding large scale events is likely to continue for some time. In addition, campus travel bans make it nearly impossible to determine whether a viable number of presenters and attendees are able to attend the rescheduled event; and finally, many of our attendees are on the front lines of crisis management for the foreseeable future. For these reasons, we have decided the most prudent course of action is to cancel the 2020 Annual Conference.
We want to thank our volunteer leaders who have worked diligently for more than a year to create an outstanding conference program. With such an abundance of timely sessions, we are working on ways to repurpose content in virtual and other formats. Please stay tuned for more information.
We are offering several options for your paid Annual Conference registration, such as transferring your registration to the 2021 Annual Conference (April 7-9 in Washington, D.C.) or applying it to your 2020-2021 membership renewal. Registrants will receive an email today with a form that includes all available options. We ask registrants to review and respond by May 1, 2020. Please contact kzaski@upcea.edu or bkaiser@upcea.edu with any questions.
As you focus on supporting your own campuses during this difficult period, I encourage you to stay informed and connect with colleagues. With your UPCEA membership in place, you will continue to be part of a powerful group of colleagues who are leading on their campuses during these challenging times. We have a list of curated resources and tagged threads in CORe for our community that we will continue to update.
Thank you for your ongoing support during this time. We appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely,
Bob Hansen
CEO
UPCEA
Nelson Baker
Georgia Institute of Technology
UPCEA President 2019-2020
Registration & Fees
Your registration will not be complete until you have both completed the registration form and paid.
To attend the 2020 UPCEA Annual Conference and take advantage of the Early Registration Fee, you must fill out the online registration form and pay the registration fee by January 22, 2020.
The Regular Registration Fee will apply beginning January 22, 2020 and ending February 19, 2020. To attend the 2020 Annual Conference and take advantage of the Regular Registration Fee, you must fill out the online registration form and pay the registration fee by February 19, 2020. The Late Registration Fee will apply beginning February 19, 2020. Payment for the full amount of the Late Registration Fee must be made by March 17, 2020. The On-Site Registration Fee will apply as of the first day of the conference (March 18, 2020).
Refunds
All registration cancellation and refund requests must be made in writing. Full refunds will be granted for cancellations received by January 22, 2020. A refund of the conference fee, minus a $75 administrative fee, will be given for cancellations received between January 23 – February 19, 2020. No refunds or credits will be granted for cancellations after February 19, 2020. Please submit all requests to Jacqueline Romero at jromero@upcea.edu. Anyone who is registered but cannot attend may send a substitute from the same organization. Refunds will not be given for no-shows. Please note that all cancellation fees apply even if the initial invoice has yet to be paid.
Conference Photo Policy
Registrants of the 2020 UPCEA Annual Conference agree to allow UPCEA and its official photographer to photograph them in the context of the conference. Footage captured by the official photographer may be used in future print and electronic promotional and archival materials. For questions or concerns, please call 202.659.3130 or email info@upcea.edu.
Affiliated Events Policy
The association has gone to great lengths and expense to negotiate and contract for a reduced room rate at conference hotels. That rate is based upon the projected attendance at the meeting. If corporate member and nonmember attendees elect to stay at other hotels, it subjects the association to attrition penalties that can cause significant financial loss to the association. We count on our corporate community to support the association, and one of the ways to do that is to honor our efforts to secure a sufficiently large room block at a reduced rate at a first class hotel/conference venue.
For these reasons, corporate member and nonmember attendees are prohibited from holding any meetings (briefings, seminars, etc.) within a 25-mile radius, targeting professional, continuing, and online leaders in higher education during the scheduled hours of UPCEA events unless otherwise negotiated and scheduled with and by UPCEA. Any such meeting occurring within 36 hours before or after the UPCEA conference must be coordinated with UPCEA and, space permitting, be held at the conference hotel. This policy helps ensure that the association’s contracted obligations to the hotel for guest rooms and food and beverage minimums are met, which is essential for the financial health of the association and its members. If UPCEA cannot find space for the corporate member or nonmember attendee’s event at the contracted hotel, we will work to help find alternative space. In no circumstances, however, is it permissible for a corporate member or nonmember attendee to contract a separate hotel block, either at the conference hotel or elsewhere.
UPCEA reserves the right to prohibit corporate member and nonmember attendees who violate this policy from exhibiting or participating at UPCEA events.
If you encounter any errors or need assistance with your registration, please contact us at 202-659-3130 or jromero@upcea.edu.