First Time Attendee

Must-Attend Sessions

• Convention Registration
  Your first stop! Pick up your badge, program book, and other convention materials.
• Newcomer’s Welcome and Orientation
  For first-time attendees and new members. Association officers provide an overview of the convention and NCA as a whole.
• Exhibit Hall
  Explore booths from publishers, tech companies, and other organizations. Many offer giveaways and valuable information.
• NCA Hub
  Located in the Exhibit Hall, the NCA Hub serves as the prime location to meet staff and learn about programs, products, and services. It also offers free professional headshots and giveaways.
• Welcome Reception
  All attendees are invited to reconnect and make new friends over light snacks.

General Sessions

• Opening Session (Thursday 5:30-6:45 p.m.)
  The Opening Session officially kicks off the convention and brings our entire community together. Sponsored by the National Office, this signature event features distinguished speakers who address current issues and trends in communication scholarship and practice. It’s an inspiring start to the convention that celebrates our field and connects attendees across all areas of communication studies—perfect for first-time attendees to feel welcomed into the NCA community.
• Carroll C. Arnold Distinguished Lecture (Friday 5:30-6:30 p.m.)
  This prestigious annual event, sponsored by the First Vice President, features presentations from the most accomplished researchers in the field of communication. The topic changes each year to capture the diverse range of research being conducted and demonstrate its relevance to society.
• Presidential Address and Awards Presentation (Saturday 5:30-7:00 p.m.)
  The President delivers an address, followed by the presentation of Awards. A champagne toast follows the ceremony.

Academic and Professional Development

• Graduate School Open House (Thursday 1-4 p.m.)
  Meet representatives from various graduate programs. Be sure to have your convention badge to enter. The list of participating schools will be available online in October.
• Scholars’ Office Hours (Friday 2:30-3:45 p.m.)
  Get one-on-one advice from senior scholars on research, academic projects, and career paths in an interactive session.
• Career Center (Friday 9:00 AM-12:00 p.m.)
  Features the Career Fair and CV Consulting. Be sure to wear your convention badge to enter. A list of participating organizations will be available online in October.

Networking Opportunities

• NCA Welcome Reception
  Open to all attendees—enjoy snacks and network with colleagues.
• NCA Intercaucus Reception
  Celebrate with new friends on the last night of the convention. All are welcome, and light refreshments will be served.

Community & Wellness

• Day of Service (Wednesday 2:30-5:30 p.m.)
  This unique opportunity allows attendees to make a meaningful impact on the local community. Each year, NCA partners with local organizations to address community needs through hands-on volunteer work. Past projects have included supporting local schools and youth programs. It’s a wonderful way to connect with fellow attendees while giving back to the host city.
• Morning Tea Conversations (Friday & Saturday 6:45-7:45 a.m.)
  Early morning gatherings for attendees to connect over tea and meaningful conversation. These intimate sessions feature guided discussions on topics like mindfulness, well-being, and life reflection. Two café options are typically offered:
  • Death Café: A supportive space to discuss end-of-life issues, emphasizing resilience, rest, and self-care
  • Mindfulness, Meditation, and Well-Being Café: Focus on mental health strategies and techniques for living better lives

         Morning beverages (up to $10 value) are provided for the first 12 attendees at each café.

• Wellness Activities
  The convention includes exercise options such as yoga and Zumba sessions. Check the program for specific times and locations—these popular sessions fill quickly and offer a great way to start or end your day while connecting with other attendees.
• Lunch Break and Decompression Time (12:15-12:45 p.m. daily)
  No concurrent sessions are scheduled during this time, giving you a chance to decompress, enjoy lunch, network in a relaxed setting, and take advantage of exclusive Exhibit Hall hours.

Get Involved

• Legislative Assembly (LA) (Wednesday noon-4 p.m. & Saturday 8-10 a.m.)
  The Legislative Assembly oversees NCA’s strategic direction and policymaking, with elected representatives from across the association’s divisions and interest groups. The LA meets to vote on budgets, bylaws, and resolutions that guide NCA’s future. All members are welcome to observe the democratic process in action, though only LA members may vote and participate in debates.
• Second Vice President Candidates Forum
  Meet the candidates, ask questions, and hear their plans for NCA. Candidate names will be shared in the fall.

Especially for Educators

• Great Ideas for Teaching Students (G.I.F.T.S)
  Discover new activities, projects, and techniques for teaching communication concepts and skills.
• Teachers on Teaching
  Learn insights from the winners of NCA’s Teaching Awards as they share their experiences.

For Administrators

• Department Chairs Forum
  Geared toward department chairs, this session addresses relevant topics selected by NCA’s Department of Academic and Professional Affairs.
• Doctoral Chairs and Graduate Director Forum
  A session designed for doctoral chairs and graduate directors, focusing on current topics selected by the NCA Doctoral Education Committee.

Navigating & Scheduling

• Arrive early: Get to popular sessions 10-15 minutes before start time as seating can fill quickly
• Plan for walking time: The venue is large, so build buffer time between sessions for walking and unexpected conversations
• Use the app: Download the convention app (available mid-October) to bookmark sessions and create your personal schedule
• Check exclusive hours: The Exhibit Hall has exclusive hours during lunch breaks—great time to visit vendors without crowds

Networking & Professional Development

• Quality over quantity: Don’t feel pressured to attend every session—meaningful connections matter more than cramming in everything
• Structured opportunities: Take advantage of Scholars’ Office Hours, the Career Fair, and organized receptions for networking
• Meal connections: Consider sharing meals with new contacts to continue conversations in a relaxed setting
• Business cards: Bring business cards and prepare a brief elevator pitch about your research/interests

Conference Culture and Etiquette

• Accessibility awareness: Respect fragrance-free spaces (particularly Disability Issues Caucus rooms) and avoid flash photography (prohibited for accessibility reasons)
• Session etiquette: Silence phones during sessions and save detailed questions for after formal presentations to respect presenters’ time
• Professional courtesy: Be mindful that attendees may have different comfort levels with physical contact and social interaction

Wellness and Self-Care

• Take breaks: Use the dedicated lunch break (12:15-12:45 p.m.) to decompress—no sessions are scheduled during this time
• Try wellness activities: Join yoga or Zumba sessions for a healthy start or end to your day (check program for times)
• Morning connections: Consider the Early Morning Tea Conversations for meaningful discussions in a small group setting
• Quiet spaces: A Quiet Room is available during convention hours Thursday-Sunday for a calm space away from noise and stimuli
• Community service: The Day of Service on Wednesday afternoon offers a chance to give back while bonding with fellow attendees

Practical Considerations

• Cashless venue: The venue accepts only cards and mobile payments; use Cash-To-Card kiosks if you need to convert cash
• Stay connected: Free Wi-Fi information will be posted throughout the venue and available at Registration
• Comfort items: Bring comfortable walking shoes, a water bottle, and a phone charger/portable battery

Family Services

• Lactation room: A private, comfortable lactation room is available for nursing parents throughout convention hours. Contact Registration or any NCA staff member for location and access information.
• Childcare services: Camp NCA provides on-site childcare during convention hours. For details on registration, age requirements, schedules, and fees, visit our CampNCA page.

NCA offers several cost-saving opportunities for students planning to attend the NCA Annual Convention.

Student Volunteer Program A limited number of students can receive free convention registration in exchange for volunteer work during the convention. To be eligible, all student members must maintain current membership through December 1. Students who have already registered for the convention and secure a volunteer position will receive a full refund of their registration fee. For complete details, visit the Volunteer Information page.

Student Meal Voucher Program Student volunteers can receive sponsored meals during the convention. Community members can sponsor meals for $15 each to help address food insecurity among student volunteers. Students interested in receiving meal vouchers should inquire about availability through the volunteer program.

Student Caucus Travel Grant The NCA IDEA Council provides $200 travel grants to qualifying students on a first-come, first-served basis, with a maximum of 150 grants available. To qualify, students must:

• Hold active NCA student membership
• Be a member of at least one NCA caucus
• Be registered to attend the NCA Annual Convention
• Submit a letter from their department chair or graduate advisor confirming they receive less than $700 in institutional support for convention attendance

Student Rate Hotel Rooms Discounted hotel rooms are available exclusively to registered NCA student members. Reservations made by non-student members will be cancelled. These rooms have limited availability and fill quickly, so early booking is recommended.

Student Lounge A dedicated space exclusively for student attendees is available Thursday through Saturday during conference hours in Spruce 1. The lounge provides complimentary snacks and charging stations, offering students a comfortable place to recharge between sessions, grab a quick bite, and connect with fellow student attendees.

For more information about these opportunities, visit the respective program pages on the NCA website.

Stay Connected:

• Convention app: Download the app (available mid-October) for real-time updates and personal scheduling
• Online program: Visit the interactive schedule for the most current session information
• App support: Get help at the App Support Desk in the exhibit hall
• Social media: Use #NCA2025 to connect with other attendees and share your experience

After the Convention:

• Follow up quickly: Connect with new contacts on LinkedIn or via email within a week of the convention
• Stay engaged: Join relevant caucuses or interest groups to stay connected year-round
• Get involved: Consider volunteering for committees or editorial boards
• Plan ahead: Save the date for next year’s convention
• Share your experience: Use #NCA2025 on social media to continue conversations and help future first-time attendees

• Convention FAQs: Find answers to common questions on our Convention FAQs page
• Accessibility: For detailed accessibility information and accommodations, visit our Accessibility page
• Hotel and Travel: For transportation options and dining information, see our Hotel & Travel page
• Professional Development: Explore our Convention Resources Library for presentation tips and career guidance
• Schedule: View the complete Schedule at a Glance and interactive online program

If you have any questions about your first convention experience, please contact convention@natcom.org.