NAFSA 2026 Region IV Conference

Through the Online Planner, you can view the time, room, presenters, descriptions, and learning objectives of the sessions. You can also star the events you're interested in and create your own conference agenda, to view on the mobile webpage at the conference! There is also information on Sponsors, Exhibitors, and more!

More information coming soon!

Thank you for supporting NAFSA Region IV! We look forward to welcoming you to Rochester, MN.

Expo Portal

Booth Details & Schedule

Please find the following schedule for all exhibitors:

Exhibitor Hours:

Exhibitor booth includes:

• One (1) individual full-conference registration

• One (1) 6’ x 30” table with two chairs
• Visibility in the online conference program
• Free Wi-Fi Access

Please note: Access to power at your exhibitor table may require an additional fee.

Shipments

Exhibitors may mail their boxes no more than one month before the start of the conference. More information to come.

Sponsorships

Awards

NAFSA Region IV is seeking nominations for our 2026 Regional Awards that will be presented during this year’s Region IV Conference.

There are so many amazing people in international education in Region IV!  We encourage you to take the time to recognize someone special in your sphere!  This is a way that you can have a positive and lasting impact on someone’s life as they are recognized for their achievements in the field of International Education!  Please, Nominate! Nominate! Nominate!

To learn more about the awards, please visit:
Region IV Awards

Already know who you want to nominate? Go straight to the nomination form here:
Nomination Form

Deadline to nominate for 2026 will be announced soon.

Travel Grants

2026 NAFSA Region IV Conference Grants

More information to be announced soon!

NAFSA Region IV is offering Conference Grants to provide financial support to international educators within Region IV who demonstrate need. These grants will cover the full registration fee for the NAFSA Region IV Regional Conference in Rochester, Minnesota, October 26 - October 29, 2026.

Grant Details

Five conference grants will be awarded (one for each state in Region IV). The grants will cover the full conference registration cost, but do not include special events, workshops, or travel expenses. 

Eligibility

You must be a paid NAFSA member to qualify for the grant. Applicants will only be considered for the grant if the applicant is registered to attend the conference at the time of application.

Expectations of Grantees

Grantees are expected to attend all conference-related events covered by the grant. Grantees will also be required to complete volunteer hours during the conference. Further details will be provided upon selection.

For any questions regarding the application process or grants, please contact [email protected].

Travel to and around Rochester

Please see the official Experience Rochester website for various transportation methods. 

Travel with CANIE

This year, we are partnering with the Climate Action Network for International Educators (CANIE) Americas Chapter to make climate-conscious choices when traveling to Portland. Learn more about why and how at https://canie.org/take-action/travel-with-canie. 

How can you participate in #TravelwithCANIE? 

Once you’ve made travel arrangements to Rochester, tell us your plans so we can calculate our cumulative impact!

Request a Letter of Invitation - Opens May 1, 2026

All attendees traveling to the US from abroad can request a visa letter of invitation via the link above. 

All requests submitted by Wednesday, October 1st will be screened, but not all requests will be approved. Please allow one week from your date of submission for delivery. If approved, an invitation letter on official letterhead will be issued to you as a PDF document, and will be e-mailed to the address you provided.

Please check with your local U.S. consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing. Your request for a letter of invitation to attend a NAFSA regional conference does not guarantee that you will receive a visa.

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, September 28, 2026, prior 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 28, 2026, and two (2) weeks prior, October 12, 2026, to the conference start date.

No refunds will be granted after October 12, 2026. 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.

NAFSA is committed to providing universal access to its products, services, digital content, and events and, in compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, will honor requests for reasonable accommodations made by individuals with disabilities. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs so we ask that requests for accommodations be made as early as possible, preferably at least three weeks in advance of the regional conference start date, through the registration process, if possible. Or, you can contact [email protected] for accommodation requests. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner, but services are subject to availability, and further, NAFSA may not be able to grant accommodations requests that place an undue burden on it or that fundamentally change the nature or structure of the goods or services.