Conference Location & Accommodations

ROCHESTER, NY

Land Acknowledgement: We gather on the traditional territory of the Onöndowa'ga:' or “the people of the Great Hill.” In English, they are known as Seneca people, “the keeper of the western door.” They are one of the six nations that make up the sovereign Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

We honor the land on which RIT was built and recognize the unique relationship that the Indigenous stewards have with this land. That relationship is the core of their traditions, cultures, and histories. We recognize the history of genocide, colonization, and assimilation of Indigenous people that took place on this land. Mindful of these histories, we work towards understanding, acknowledging, and ultimately reconciliation.

RIT Inn & Conference Center Executive Room Rate: $179/night

All standard rooms have been booked.

The conference will be held at the RIT Inn and Conference Center in Henrietta, NY. The hotel is located at 5257 West Henrietta Road, Henrietta, NY 144676.

Guests can call directly at (585) 359-1800 and ask for the CSPA-NYS (College Student Personnel Association of New York State) room block when making your reservation or use the website:  https://www.rit.edu/ritinn/ and use Group Attendee Code: 241019CSPA. The last date to book a room for the CSPA-NYS rate is October 10th. Parking is available for conference attendees.

Keynote Speaker | Michael Christakis

Dr. Michael N. Christakis serves as Vice President for Student Affairs.

Christakis was named Vice President for Student Affairs in May 2015. In this position, he leads a team responsible for a broad range of services and programs related to undergraduate student recruitment, enrollment and support; campus programming and planning; assisting in creating a campus culture that promotes the academic achievement and personal development of all students (undergraduate, graduate and professional); supporting crisis response and institutional initiatives; advocating on behalf of students; and fostering collaborative relationships among students, faculty, and staff.

Since his arrival to the University in 1999, Christakis has served in numerous positions in student affairs, having served as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs prior to his appointment as Vice President. As a member of the Vice President’s staff since 2007, Christakis developed assessment and evaluation practices; improved the effectiveness of divisional planning, professional development, communications and risk management; and provided oversight to critical campus life areas.

He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Association for Public and Land Grant University’s (APLU) Council on Student Affairs. Previously, Christakis served as Regional Director for NASPA - Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Region II, while concurrently serving on NASPA’s Board of Directors. He is the immediate past national president of Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, and past national co-chair of NASPA’s Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community. He currently serves as the president of the Board of Directors for University Auxiliary Services at UAlbany.

A Fellow of the State Academy for Public Administration, he was appointed Public Service Professor in 2013 and teaches undergraduate courses in public policy, public administration and political science for which he was honored with Rockefeller College’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2010 and the UAlbany Student Association’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 2014.

Christakis holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Alfred University, and a M.P.P. and Ph.D. from the University at Albany Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy.

Registration

Your 2024 CSPA-NYS Conference registration includes:

  • educational session blocks

  • individual sessions

  • special events

  • meals throughout the conference (see FAQs for details)

Payment 

Conference payment may be accepted only through valid credit card. CSPA-NYS allows for the transfer of your conference registration to another individual at your organization at no extra cost. If you are unable to pay by credit card, please contact annualconference@cspanys.org.

Grants and Scholarships

CSPA-NYS offers a Professional Development Grant, intended to provide CSPA-NYS members with the opportunity to attend the Annual Conference when sufficient funding is not available from their current institution. 

CSPA-NYS also offers a Graduate Student Scholarship, intended to provide CSPA-NYS graduate student members with a monetary contribution toward tuition, fees, books, or supplies needed to successfully complete their coursework.

Educational Sessions

 

The Annual Conference Team seeks program proposals for 50 minute educational Sessions for the annual conference or one of the pre-conference options. Program proposals should include:

  • Contact information and a brief bio for presenters;

  • Time frame desired;

  • Intended audience;

  • Title, abstract, and objectives/learning outcomes;Session title, abstract, learning outcomes and objectives

Presenters should also include what attendees can expect during the session (interactive activities, round table discussions, case studies, etc.) and which ACPA and NASPA Professional Competency Area(s) will be addressed.

An exciting incentive offered is that every presenter will be able to take advantage of the early-bird registration rates for the conference. One program from the CSPA-NYS conference will be selected and recognized with the “Best of CSPA-NYS” award.

If you have any questions about conference programming, contact the Programming Committee at conferenceprogramming@cspanys.org.

Submissions for presentations are due TBD.

Special Events

We will be hosting various special events throughout the conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to reunite with colleagues across the state or make new connections in an informal setting. Special events will take place both on and off-site.

Engaging with Us

Stay up to date and share when you’ve registered! Our social media platforms is also where we plan to make some big announcements like keynote presenters and more! During the conference tweet using the hashtag #CSPANYS24 to connect with other attendees!

View fullsize Share your experiences, expertise, initiatives, and knowledge at our 2022 Annual Conference! Join us in Binghamton and submit a proposal at the 🔗 link in our bio! Registration is also OPEN! Register today to reserve your spot with early bird prici
View fullsize CSPA-NYS celebrates Juneteenth! – Juneteenth recognizes June 19th 1865, when a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas discovered they were free almost three years after the United States Emancipation Proclamation passed. In Texas, the ens
View fullsize Reunited and it feels so good! The Executive Board met yesterday both in person and virtually to discuss our goals for the coming year and make plans to make your CSPA-NYS experience even better! Looking forward to being together soon with the whol
View fullsize today marks 4️⃣ months until our #CSPANYS22 Annual Conference in Binghamton, NY! Registration is OPEN! Check the link in our bio or IG story for more info!
View fullsize Happy Birthday to our current VP for Communications, Joe Grande! 🎉
View fullsize We’re 3️⃣ days away from our inaugural summer PD offering, the CSPA-NYS Summit! This year’s summit is focused on supervision and will engage participants in conversations around dismantling white supremacy in the work place, inclusive sup
View fullsize Join us TOMORROW our Higher Ed Hang Out “Cheers to Our Grads” edition! Let’s raise our glasses and celebrate the success of this years’ CSPA-NYS graduates! 🔗 link in bio to register!
View fullsize Thanks to all who joined for our first Member Meetup! Who will we see next month?!
View fullsize We’re starting a monthly member meetup! Join us June 2nd and register at the 🔗 link in our bio!

Accessibility

CSPA-NYS is committed to accessibility. The CSPA-NYS Conference Planning Team recognizes that accessibility is a continuous process, both systemic and individual. If you have questions, comments, or concerns that have not already been addressed here, please e-mail us at conferenceinclusion@cspanys.org.

+ How do I communicate accessibility needs to the CSPA-NYS Annual Conference Planning Team organizers?

To request accommodations and/or inquire about accessibility for the Annual Conference, please contact our Accessibility and Inclusion Sub-committee at annualconference@cspanys.org. We encourage participants to make requests at least two weeks prior to the Conference to ensure that we can fulfill those requests.

+ Do you have screen reader-friendly materials?

Our Marketing Committee will be following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) on most of the materials for the Conference. A .pdf version of the Conference booklet will be available closer to the conference date. We also request that all presenters prepare accessible versions of their presentation materials; we will provide guidelines on preparing presentation-friendly PowerPoint/slide decks to all presenters. To help us improve on our accessibility practices, we welcome any feedback regarding providing accommodations and implementing universal design into the Conference.

+ Will sign language interpretation or closed captioning be available?

Sign language interpretation will be provided upon request. Please e-mail annualconference@cspanys.org as soon as possible if you would like to request this service so that we can follow up accordingly. We recognize that informal interactions (social events, meals, walks between sessions, coffee breaks, etc.) are super important at conferences, and that interpreters may be preferred during these times. We cannot guarantee that closed captioning will be provided throughout the Conference; however, we will work with the other sub-committees to determine if this can be implemented in Educational Sessions.

+ Can a volunteer assist me during the conference?

Volunteers and Conference Planning Team members will be available to assist attendees with navigation, meal service, or other accessibility needs. If you will need volunteer assistance at the Conference, please indicate this on your registration form.

Attendees who require personal care assistance should bring their own assistant. Personal care assistants should register separately and indicate on the registration form that they will be attending as a personal care assistant. They will be able to receive the early bird rate for the conference. Please contact our Annual Conferenence committee at annualconference@cspanys.org if this introduces a hardship.

+ Will the conference be accessible by wheelchair or power scooter?

Yes, the conference will be accessible to wheelchair users.

For more information about wheelchair accessibility at the RIT Inn & Conference Center, please contact a hotel representative at (585) 359-1800 or visit their website. Please note that some events, including night time activities are held at off-site locations and full accessibility cannot be guaranteed. However, the Conference Planning Team will do their best to ensure that all attendees are able to participate in the Conference both off-site and the hotel.

+ What are the restroom facilities like?

RIT Inn & Conference Center offers standard restroom facilities as well as select restrooms that are ADA-certified. Restrooms are available on the main floor of the hotel, in proximity of the lobby and elevators. There are also restrooms on the lower level where most conference programs will take place.

Restrooms will be designated gender neutral for the duration of our conference.

+ Can I bring my guide dog?

Yes! Guide dogs and service animals are welcome. Please indicate on your registration form if you anticipate bringing a service animal to the conference.

+ What food service will be provided?

The Conference will provide various dining options. If you have dietary needs, please indicate these clearly (including any severe food allergies/sensitivities) on your registration form.

+ Can the conference accommodate special dietary needs?

Yes. Attendees who indicate dietary needs on their registration form will be provided with meal alternatives when the Conference catering does not accommodate them. If you have a severe allergy, please indicate this on your registration form. For more detailed information regarding meals, please contact us at annualconference@cspanys.org.

+ Will speakers and audience members asking questions be using a microphone?

Yes, microphones will be used for keynote speakers. There will not be a microphone for attendees, but we will work with the keynote speakers to ensure that if there is an interactive portion of the presentation, audience members will be able to utilize the microphone. Microphones may be used for the educational sessions.

Association Awards

CSPA-NYS is proud to offer the eight awards in recognition of outstanding student affairs practitioners and scholars working in New York State.  Awards are presented at the CSPA-NYS Annual Conference each year. This year, the following awards will be presented:

Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Outstanding New Professional Award
Champion of Diversity & Inclusion Award
Eminence in Mentorship Award
Distinguished Service to the Profession Award
Dr. Daniel Bratton Award for Outstanding Service to the Association

Nominations for Association Awards are due: TBD.

+ What if I can't stay for the entire conference?

We may be able to record some sessions and make them available through our Members Resources page. We will also have a Monday only option for registration.

+ Are meals included in my registration?

We will provide Sunday dinner, Monday lunch and dinner, and Tuesday breakfast!

+ Will the Conference be a smoke-free environment?

Yes, CSPA-NYS and the hotel are committed to maintaining a smoke-free environment. Please note that there are designated outdoor smoking areas for attendees and regular hotel patron.

+ What if I have a medical emergency or health problem during the conference?

In case of an emergency, call 911. The nearest hospital from the Conference venue is TBD. If you require non-urgent medical care, please contact us at annualconference@cspanys.org, or ask any Conference Planning Team member or the hotel receptionists. They will provide you with information about local doctors, specialists, chiropractors,etc. For non-resident attendees, we strongly recommend buying travel insurance that covers medical expenses, as fees for emergency treatment can be very high.

+ What is the conference space like?

You can find further information on the RIT Inn & Conference Center website, including a capacity chart with dimensions, HERE.

+ What COVID-19 prevention measures will be in place?

We will be following all local and state guidelines. For more inforamtion about COVID-19 in Rochester, NY, CLICK HERE.

+ I’ve never been to a CSPA-NYS conference, so what can I expect?

You can expect to learn from higher education and student affairs scholars and practitioners from around the state and beyond. Our Association is focused on fostering the development of our members; a diverse community of educators, students and scholars within higher education. Our conference planning team develops robust and disverse schedule of programs, and there should be no shortage of new ideas, best practices, and the opportunity to connect. There is also the opportunity to network, attend socials, and get involved and volunteer with CSPA-NYS!

Annual Conference FAQs

For more questions related to this year’s conference, please contact: annualconference@cspanys.org

Our Educational Partners

Educational Partnership with CSPA-NYS is one of the highest levels of involvement in our organization. As a prestigious relationship with CSPA-NYS, all Educational Partners are featured below with links to their sites and any services they may offer. CSPA-NYS has four levels of Educational Partners total: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze - in addition to options for event-specific partnership.

If you wish to learn more about becoming an Educational Partner of CSPA-NYS, please contact us at educationalpartner@cspanys.org.