2023 NAFSA Region X and XI Conference

Registration opened on August 15th, 2023. Early bird registration closed on Friday, September 22nd, 2023. 

 Preconference Workshops

We are excited to be offering the following pre-conference workshops: 

• NEW: NAFSA Management Development Program (MDP)- Sunday, October 22nd to Tuesday, October 24th 

The NAFSA Management Development Program (MDP) is the most trusted and comprehensive management training program for international education professionals. Build managerial and leadership competencies by enrolling in this essential program for building international education management skills. During this comprehensive program, participants will learn key skills to become a more efficient and effective international education manager. This MDP offering will be held entirely in person, for the first time since November 2019! This is a two and a half day workshop beginning before the Bi-Regional Conference. Learn more about the MDP here: www.nafsa.org/mdp

Image

• J-1 Intermediate Advising (ISSS) - Monday, October 23rd to Tuesday, October 24th 

This workshop compliments and broadens your knowledge gained after completing the J-1 Advising for Beginners workshop since it goes more deeply into grey areas of J advising. This workshop is designed to help you think through the development of policies, procedures, and practices necessary to maintain a healthy J program for your institution. Ample time is provided to focus on model practices based on current scenarios as well as to reflect on how these practices could improve your own J program. 

Following this workshop, participants will be able to: 

• Build a conceptual foundation and practical knowledge for J-1 advising.
• Develop critical analytical skills for resolving common J-1 Exchange Visitor dilemmas.
• Balance and manage the interests of key constituencies.
• Establish solid professional networks in the J-1 visa community.

• F-1 Intermediate Advising (ISSS) -  Monday, October 23rd to Tuesday, October 24th

  Discuss the gray areas of F-1 Advising and explore the nuances of more complex issues regarding maintenance of status, travel and reentry, employment and STEM OPT, change of status, and reinstatement. Designed for experienced international student advisers. 

  Following this workshop, participants will be able to: 

• Be a self-sufficient adviser by knowing your resources 
• Develop interpretations of F-1 regulations and guidance 
• Interpret and develop institutional policy
• Learn techniques to advise F-1 students on situations where clear guidance is not available

• NEW: Forum on Education Abroad Workshop: Mental Health Through the Lens of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EA) - Tuesday, October 24th

Reports of mental health concerns are on the rise across campuses and on education abroad programs. Education abroad professionals need tools to support students of varying backgrounds and intersecting identities in managing their well-being while participating in education abroad. This workshop will highlight how to incorporate mental health as part of equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies. Through case studies and group discussion, this workshop will introduce participants to current trends in student mental health, the intersectionality student identities, and how international educators can support underrepresented populations for success on education abroad

Following this workshop, participants will be able to: 

• Understand the current trends in mental wellness concerns and insight into intersecting identities; 
• Learn strategies for supporting participants of varying identities at all stages of the life-cycle education abroad; 
• Knowledge of The Standards of Good Practice and how The Standards can inform program development, policy, and participant preparation on education abroad programs. 

To learn more about the NAFSA CEP Workshops, please visit the NAFSA website, and to learn more about the Forum Education Abroad Pre-Conference workshops, please visit the Forum’s website. You can register to participate in these workshops as part of your conference registration.

NAFSA is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, or religion. NAFSA does not tolerate harassment of conference participants in any form. All communication should be appropriate for a professional audience, including people of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Sexual language and imagery are not appropriate for the conference. Participants violating these rules may be asked to leave the conference at the sole discretion of NAFSA’s management. If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, or if you witness unacceptable behavior, please inform the Regional Conference Planner, who will inform NAFSA staff, so that we may resolve any concerns. If you or another event participant witnesses or is a party to imminent physical danger or distress, promptly alert the appropriate security, law enforcement, or emergency medical authorities. This Code applies to all NAFSA members and event attendees in all NAFSA meeting venues, including the regional conference, ancillary events and social gatherings, whether officially sponsored by NAFSA or not and whether held in-person or virtually.

Conference registration and/or workshop registration may be canceled with full refund less a 10% processing fee, any time up until four (4) weeks prior, September 18, to the conference start date.

A 50% refund is available for conference registration and/or workshop registration provided written notification is received between four (4) weeks, September 19, and two (2) weeks prior, October 2, to the conference start date.

No refunds will be granted after October 2, 2023. In the case of emergency/extenuating circumstances, special requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis by the regional leadership team following the conference.

NAFSA follows COVID-19 safety protocols as required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and local ordinances in the conference location, which currently do not require proof of vaccination or masking. Should the mandates change, NAFSA reserves the right to adjust conference attendance policies accordingly.

NAFSA strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination and boosters, as vaccines are recommended as a proven way to prevent the threat of critical illness. Many attendees may still choose to wear masks indoors, and we ask that all attendees respect those who elect to do so. NAFSA recommends attendees self-test before leaving home for the conference. If you feel ill on-site, please remain in your hotel room and test to determine your health status.

By registering for this event, you agree to the collection of contact and demographic information in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy. This includes any information unique to you that is available in the individual's NAFSA profile. NAFSA will share limited information (name, title, organization, state, and country) in the official attendee list. NAFSA may further share your contact information according to your selected “Communication Preferences” in your MyNAFSA and in accordance with NAFSA’s Privacy Policy.

Your data will be collected and utilized for NAFSA: Association of International Educators, organizer of this event, to allow your access to the event as well as its digital platform, CadmiumCD. Additionally, you agree to the sharing of your contact information with the trainers, coaches, and other program participants for the purpose of fulfilling the program for which you have registered. As a condition to participation, attendees consent to be recorded.

We would like to acknowledge that the conference is taking place on unceded Indigenous lands. The Kanien’kehá:ka Nation is recognized as the custodians of the lands and waters on which we gather today. Tiohtià:ke/Montréal is historically known as a gathering place for many First Nations. Today, it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respect the continued connections with the past, present and future in our ongoing relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.

Land acknowledgements are one way of acknowledging the presence of Indigenous nations. Another important step towards reconciliation is learning about the particular communities and nations with ties to Tiohtià:ke/ Montreal. We encourage conference attendees to engage in this learning. We recommend this website to start: https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/indigenous-experiences-montreal 

Special thanks to Concordia University for their guidance and providing us with this acknowledgement.