
May 17, 2021
Call for programs due
August 27, 2021
Early Bird Registration Deadline
October 15, 2021
Registration Deadline
November 5, 2021
Late Registration Deadline
Presented By


CALL FOR PROGRAMS OPEN!
The deadline for program submission is May 17, 2021. Submit a program today!
Message from the Chair
On behalf of the 2021 Planning committee, I am very honored to announce that the 2021 Western Regional Conference will be in San Francisco, CA, on Ohlone, Ramaytush, and Muwekma Ohlone land.
In November of 2021, We will be exploring the theme “Courageous and Resilient Leadership: Together We Rise”. We are experiencing a time like no other in our communities and on our campuses - where student affairs professionals at every level have been confronted with enormous challenges never imagined before, and we have responded with courage and resilience, oftentimes abruptly and with urgency. Our professional, social, political and personal worlds have collided and Higher Education as we know it has been changed forever. We have so many critical conversations to share.
My hope is that we are re-inspired and hopeful for a better future again in our space together in San Francisco. And finally after a year of countless event cancellations, we are optimistic that we will have the opportunity to gather together in person, to learn from each other, to celebrate the work we have done, and to be in community again. We will need to heal and reaffirm one another. Right now our work is greater and even more important! Let us come together to forge a better future for our profession, our students, and our campuses. WRC 2021 will provide us opportunities to reflect, recenter, and rediscover our purpose - Together We Rise.
NASPA family, Iʻll see you in San Francisco in 2021!
Conference Committee
Roster
Call for Programs
The NASPA Western Regional Conference Committee invites you to submit a proposal and join us in San Francisco, California from November 10-13, 2021.
Courageous. Resilient. Leadership. Together. Rise. These are the words that as student affairs professionals we have had to embody this past year and are the theme to this year’s conference. As we reflect back on the year of unprecedented times, there is no denying that our experiences have radically changed us and the students we serve. In San Francisco, we will be called to connect these words with the difficult work we have done, in the ways our practice has evolved, and in the stories that have inspired us to center our purpose. Collectively, we share our gained knowledge and together we rise.
This year, we are especially interested in program submissions that provide opportunities for professionals to connect, converse, dismantle barriers, develop new skills, honor our authentic selves, and be invigorated by our work. Proposals will be evaluated based on content; relevance to the conference theme and the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners; evidence of clearly stated goals and outcomes; contribution to the knowledge and practice of student affairs; and adherence to program submission guidelines.
We want to acknowledge that we are living in a global pandemic. Systemic racism, especially anti-Black anti-Asian racism, economic disparities, and a divisive political landscape are additional challenges in our current community. Like many of our institutions, the committee has been looking for creative solutions to prioritize members' health and safety. One exploration is the ability to provide a virtual experience for both members and presenters. The submission form will include information regarding these options if you choose to participate.
The deadline for program submission is May 17, 2021. Submit a program today!
We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco!
Types of Educational Sessions
General Interest Sessions
50-minute sessions should fall into ONE of the following categories: (1) Directly related to the conference theme and to the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners; (2) provide an opportunity to showcase programs, strategies, or interventions that have been successful on a particular campus; or (3) allow for discussion of current events, developing trends.
Note: If you are interested in being considered as a KC spotlighted General Interest Session, you will have the opportunity to indicate this on the application form.
Research Sessions
The format of the research sessions includes two research paper presentations, each to be read for not more than 15 minutes. A moderator/discussant will respond briefly followed by a Q&A from the audience. Accepted single research paper submissions will be placed together by co-chairs.
Poster Sessions
A poster session showcases research and/or institution programs and is held during a 50-minute concurrent session. Unlike a General Interest Session or Research Session, a poster session allows viewers to study and re-study your information and discuss it with you one-on-one. It combines text, images, and dialogue to create an interactive exchange of ideas between presenter and participant. As viewers walk by, your poster should quickly and efficiently communicate your topic.
SA Speaks Session
Student Affairs (SA) Speaks – are 10-minute talks that offer Student Affairs storytellers and participants an opportunity to connect through personal narratives on topics and ideas that focus on the narratives of our practitioners, the evolution of higher education, and the significance of cultivating courageous and resilient leaders to advance our field. SA Speaks sessions from the 2019 NASPA Annual Conference can be viewed here. SA Speaks submissions can be completed via the program submission form. For any specific questions please contact Isaac Rodriguez Lupercio at rodriguez_isaac@smc.edu.
Registration
Registration as a member is based on individual membership status. If you are employed by a college or university that is an institutional member, you can join as an individual member at the $75 rate. This gives you the conference registration and a year of membership for less than the non-member registration fee. If your institution is NOT a member, then you will need to join at the associate affiliate rate of $242 and then you can pay the individual member rate for conference registration. Visit the membership section of the NASPA website to learn about membership types.
Registration Fees |
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Early Registration before 8/27/21 |
Regular Registration |
Late Registration after 10/16/21 |
NASPA Member | ||
$295 | $345 | $395 |
Non-member | ||
$450 | $500 | $550 |
NASPA Student Member | ||
$175 | $225 | $275 |
Student Non-Member | ||
$200 | $250 | $300 |
NASPA Member Emeritis/Retiree | ||
$250 | $300 | $350 |
Pre-conference Workshop Fees |
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Early Registration before 8/27/21 |
Regular Registration |
Late Registration after 10/16/21 |
NUFP Institute | ||
No Fee | ||
Grad/New Professional Institute | ||
$100 | $125 | $175 |
Mid-Level Institute | ||
$150 | $175 | $225 |
Dean of Students/AVP Institute | ||
$150 | $175 | $225 |
SSAO Institute | ||
$175 | $200 | $225 |
Community College Institute | ||
$125 | $200 | $250 |
*Please note, all pre-conference workshops require additional registration
Venue

San Francisco Marriott Marquis
San Francisco, CA
Instantly recognizable for its distinctive, postmodern high-rise appearance, our hotel in downtown San Francisco channels the vibrant cultures of the SoMA neighborhood and reflects the creative energies of the City by the Bay. On-site parking fee is $90 USD daily; Valet parking fee is $80 USD daily/Valet Parking Available Overnight Fee - $80 USD daily; Limited Self Parking Available Fee - $9 USD daily.
Hotel |
Room rate/night |
San Francisco Marriott Marquis |
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Transportation
Weather
November in San Francisco often experiences a few rainy days. The temperatures gradually cool down with average nightly lows in the 50°F (10°C).