Registration | 2023 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education

The 2023 Convergence: Credential Innovation in Higher Education is being held November 1-3, 2023 at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC as a joint presentation between UPCEA + AACRAO.

Registration & Fees          
To attend the 2023 Convergence conference and take advantage of the Early Registration Fee, you must fill out the online registration form and pay the registration fee by August 9, 2023. The Regular Registration Fee will apply beginning August 10, 2023 and ending October 4, 2023. To attend the 2023 Convergence conference and take advantage of the Regular Registration Fee, you must fill out the online registration form and pay the registration fee by October 4, 2023. The Late Registration Fee will apply beginning October 5, 2023. Payment for the full amount of the Late Registration Fee must be made by October 31, 2023.  The On-Site Registration Fee will apply as of the first day of the conference (November 1, 2023).

UPCEA reserves the right to cancel registrations that go unpaid prior to the conference, and charge the corresponding cancellation fee.  Access to the conference will not be granted until full payment is received. 

Need an invoice in order to pay by check? Please email info@upcea.edu for assistance. (Available until Oct. 4, 2023 for UPCEA Members Only)

Refunds
All registration cancellation and refund requests must be made in writing.  Full refunds will be granted for cancellations received by August 9, 2023.  A refund of the conference fee, minus a $75 administrative fee, will be given for cancellations received between August 10 – October 4, 2023.  No refunds or credits will be granted for cancellations after October 4, 2023. 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 initial invoice has yet to be paid.

Conference Photo Policy
Registrants of the 2023 Convergence 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.

Health & Safety
By registering for this event, you agree to abide by the host hotel's, local, state, and UPCEA's health and safety guidelines in effect as of the conference dates.

UPCEA recommends that attendees be up to date on their vaccinations, and wear a properly fitting face mask during UPCEA events at all public indoor spaces. Conference attendees are reminded to be respectful of individual  choices made by fellow attendees, UPCEA staff, and others at the conference. These guidelines are subject to change at any point, and attendees will be notified if any additional requirements are implemented. 

Waiver
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization and is extremely contagious. UPCEA cannot guarantee that attendees will not become infected with COVID-19 as a result of participation in the conference. By registering for the conference, I:

• acknowledge the contagious nature of COVID-19;

• voluntarily assume the risk that I may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 by attending UPCEA events which exposure or infection may come from the actions, omissions, or negligence of myself and others, including, but not limited to, UPCEA employees, volunteers, and program participants and their families; 

• acknowledge that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death; and 

• hereby release, covenant not to sue, discharge, and hold harmless UPCEA, its employees, agents, and representatives, of and from any injury to me resulting from being exposed to or infected by COVID-19 in connection with my attendance at UPCEA events (including claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of UPCEA, its employees, agents, and representatives).

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

Media Registration for UPCEA Conferences
Qualified members of the media are encouraged to register for complimentary press passes to UPCEA events. Every press pass application is evaluated independently for each event, regardless of prior event attendance. Press credentials are not transferable. Read more.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness Statement for UPCEA Conferences

UPCEA’s Commitment to Diversity and Inclusive Excellence extends to its conferences and participants. 

UPCEA calls on all members and member institutions to assume personal and institutional responsibility for the recognition and elimination of inequity and barriers to member engagement or success.

• UPCEA virtual events utilize attendees’ web cameras and feature both real-time and asynchronous discussions or chats. These activities are not required and UPCEA encourages attendees to participate in the way they feel most comfortable.

• UPCEA events are an opportunity to invest in your own professional growth. While not ideal, personal and professional distractions and scheduling conflicts will occur. Attendees are encouraged to reserve time on their calendars to attend sessions when they can and access session recordings when available.

UPCEA encourages all to respect the value of diversity.

• UPCEA conferences will be spaces where diversity, equity, access, and inclusion are fundamentally reflected not only across sessions, but also through the companies we partner with to sponsor and host these important gatherings.

• UPCEA is committed to cultivating a professional community space in which members of all races, ethnicities, orientations, gender identities, abilities, and backgrounds, and the institutions they serve, feel welcome, heard, and valued.

• UPCEA institutional and individual members participating in our conferences reflect a rich tapestry of viewpoints, values, talents, and experiences. It is expected that participants will demonstrate, in words and actions, an openness to considering differences in perspectives shared during presentations and discussions.

As a committed body of diverse members, UPCEA pledges to forever strive for inclusive excellence as we serve as an essential industry resource.  

• Conferences and its attendees create an environment that enables inclusive excellence in all forms.

• Presenters strive to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in purposeful and relevant ways in their presentation and to facilitate respectful discussion among participants. 

• Participants will listen with the intent to understand, think broadly, lean into discomfort, and engage in respectful dialogue with thoughtful regard for the challenges and opportunities encountered during the pursuit of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion in professional, continuing, and online education