You are Invited to Denver: March 24–28, 2024
We are excited to welcome you to Denver for the 2024 ACUI Annual Conference! There is still time to register!
The 2024 Annual Conference will be an opportunity to come together in a caring community of colleagues who also tie-in to the work you do to rejuvenate, elevate, connect, and celebrate each other.
The focus of our time together will be around the following pillars:
- Connections and Community
- Sustainability
- Belonging and Affirming Spaces
Additionally, the Annual Conference has educational goals to connect with three of ACUI’s Core Competencies—student learning, human resources, and planning.
All-Conference Sessions
Our 2024 event will feature three all-conference sessions.
TEMPLE GRANDIN
Temple Grandin is a distinguished professor of animal science at Colorado State University who will share how different kinds of minds add value to building teams and solving problems in the workplace. Appearing on numerous TV shows such as 20/20 and Prime Time, her books include Thinking in Pictures, Livestock Handling and Transport, and The Autistic Brain—with her books Animals in Translation and Visual Thinking having been on the New York Times Bestseller List. Temple was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Colorado Authors’ Hall of Fame in 2023.
SUSTAINABILITY PANEL DISCUSSION
Elevate your commitment to sustainability! This all-conference panel will bring together esteemed panelists from inside and outside of higher education to explore and discuss themes from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gain valuable insights into integrating eco-friendly initiatives on campus, fostering food sustainability, and leading impactful climate action strategies. Moderated by a Masters of the Environment student at University of Colorado-Boulder, this session will empower attendees to create a more sustainable and resilient educational environment for the future. Meet the panelists!
ACUI TALKS
Embark on a journey into the future with this year’s closing session—a dynamic forward-looking session featuring three influential speakers from the state of Colorado. Our speakers will delve into cutting-edge workforce strategies and tools, uncover insights into fostering mental wellness in the workplace, and unpack how our voices can serve as timeless instruments for driving social transformation. Join us for an engaging exploration of these pivotal topics, as our speakers share their expertise and vision, providing attendees with strategies and wisdom to navigate the evolving landscape of work, well-being, and social impact. Meet the speakers!
Make the Most of the Conference!
Current registrants can now sign up for a variety of additional activities and experiences to personalize their schedule for a memorable event in Denver. Follow the links below to sign up for these opportunities:
ACUI Adventure
Included as part of your conference registration fee, you will have the option to experience Colorado, area campuses, or take a deeper dive into a topic of your choice on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 26.
Socials and Meet Ups
Various components of ACUI are coordinating opportunities to gather, grab a meal, visit a site, and more. Explore options beyond the core conference schedule to networking and experience the city.
Volunteer at the Event
Find a role that suits your talents to help us ensure the conference is a success—from helping to welcome attendees to supporting our Career Center.
Support ACUI
The Education and Research Fund has multiple opportunities for your to engage at conference, while support research and scholarships through fundraising activities.
View Newcomers WEbinar
If you missed or want to watch the newcomers webinar again, it is now available, along with the slides from the program, to help you prepare for ACUI24!
Education & Schedule
The 2024 Annual Conference will be full of meaningful opportunities to learn and connect as a community of professionals. Each day will feature a conference-wide experience—keynotes, panel discussions, and adventure experiences. The event will start on Sunday, March 24, with welcome activities, regional gatherings, a dinner, and an opening event. Monday will include educational sessions and the opening of the ACUI Expo. Tuesday will feature educational sessions, lunch in the ACUI Expo, and the unique ACUI Adventure experiences in the afternoon. And Wednesday, March 27, will include educational sessions, a panel discussion, and the Closing Banquet.
In addition to the curated educational experiences described below, there will be approximately 100 educational sessions across 10 educational blocks—exploring all of the ACUI Core Competencies and appealing to audiences from undergraduate students to senior professionals.
Learn more about highlights from this year’s schedule below.
DOWnload the Mobile Guide
The conference guide is now available through ACUI’s mobile experience provider, Eventsential. You will need to create an account and login to access all the features of the guide.
- Download Eventsential from your smartphone’s app store
- Create an account using the same email as you have on your ACUI account
- Confirm your email address via a confirmation email from Engagefully
- Add the 2024 ACUI Annual Conference Guide
Note: If you already created an account with a non-ACUI-affiliated email address, be sure to add your ACUI-affiliated one as a secondary email to your account, then complete the email confirmation process again.
Are you presenting an educational session? Guidelines and resources for presenters are available here.
Enhance Your Experience
Take your ACUI24 experience in Denver to the next level by adding one of these engaging opportunities:
- Preconference Programs
- Tours (If you want to be added to the waitlist for a full tour, please email acui@acui.org.)
- ACUI Adventure
- Undergraduate Student Trail
- Copper Mountain
Registration
Online registration is now closed. Please email acui@acui.org or call 812.245.2284 with any changes or additions. The 2024 Annual Conference offers valuable professional development opportunities included in your registration fee:
- Ten educational session blocks
- Three all-conference sessions
- Two times to discover product solutions from exhibitors
- One afternoon of unique learning adventures
Each day of the conference will feature multiple programs to facilitate attendees to connect with colleagues, learn best practices, and explore opportunities to elevate their campus community through receptions, showcases, community gatherings, meals, and more.
Three meals are included in the registration: an opening dinner and reception; a lunch in the ACUI Expo, and dinner at the closing banquet.
EARLY REGISTRATION
(THROUGH DECEMBER 14)
- Professional Member: $825
- Professional Nonmember: $995
- Student Member: $425
- Student Nonmember: $525
- One-Day Member Registration: $325
- One-Day Nonmember Registration: $425
- Retiree Registration: $425
REGULAR REGISTRATION
(DECEMBER 15–FEBRUARY 8)
- Professional Member: $925
- Professional Nonmember: $1,095
- Student Member: $450
- Student Nonmember: $550
- One-Day Member Registration: $375
- One-Day Nonmember Registration: $475
- Retiree Registration: $425
LATE REGISTRATION
(AFTER FEBRUARY 8)
- Professional Member: $995
- Professional Nonmember: $1,195
- Student Member: $475
- Student Nonmember: $575
- One-Day Member Registration: $450
- One-Day Nonmember Registration: $550
- Retiree Registration: $425
The cancellation policy for the event is available here.
Interested in just attending one meal or joining us for the closing banquet? Email acui@acui.org to explore these options.
Travel & Hotel
HOTEL
The hub of all conference activities and lodging is at the Sheraton Denver Downtown at: 1550 Court Pl, Denver, CO 80202.
Online booking is no longer available. Please call Marriott reservations at 888.236.2427 to modify your existing reservation or inquire about availability for a new reservation. Email events@acui.org with any questions.
TRANSPORTATION
The closest airport to the conference venue is the Denver International Airport, located just over 20 miles from the conference hotel.
- We are pleased to partner with United Airlines for air travel to the annual conference in Denver. To make flight reservations online please click on discount code ZNXA982339. MileagePlus members earn valuable miles for their travel when using the Meetings discount code.
- You may also call United Meetings Reservation Desk Monday – Friday at (800) 426-1122 for booking assistance. Booking fees are waived for Meeting reservations. International customers may contact their local United Reservation Desk.
To save energy and cost, utilize the RTD A Line for ground transportation, which departs every 15 minutes from the airport to Union Station for just $10.50. Then, catch the Free MallRide from Union Station to Court Place and arrive at the Sheraton Denver Downtown.
Amtrak routes through Union Station are also available to get you to downtown Denver.
Meet the 2024 Conference Program Team
- Eve Esch, University of Houston, Chair
- Isaac Barber, University of Connecticut
- Katie Beaulieu, Wayne State University
- Larissa Bonnet, Sheridan College
- Beth Goad, University of Denver
- Amanda Griffiths, University of Tennessee
- Aidan Grills, Leeds University Union
- Clayton Kolb, West Chester University
- Molly Orr, University of North Texas
- Mike Schmit, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
- Scott Shea, University of Massachusetts–Boston
- Justin Rudisille, ACUI, Staff Liaison
Justifying Your Attendance
With such a variety of cost saving opportunities and valuable experiences available for the 2024 Annual Conference, template letters have been created for you to use to help submit your requests for approval on campus. These templates are intended to provide a structure with key information included, and space for you to fill in specific information based on your campus and professional development needs.
Feel free to use any of the information available through the conference website to include as additional details to the letter. Below are some additional Frequently Asked Questions to help you prepare for the event. Email acui@acui.org with any questions.
Denver 2024 Graphics Inspiration
In embracing the location of the Annual conference, it was important to integrate key elements of the landscape and culture of the area into our design pieces. The Conference Program Team wanted to incorporate the location into the design and help create a visual identity that connects our Association with our host location to help elevate the conference experience.
The color palette of dark blue and red were inspired by the flag of Denver while also combining ACUI secondary colors from the brand guide. The official flag of the city of Denver includes four specific elements:
- The yellow circle represents the sun above and the region’s Gold Rush history
- The blue represents the unmatched skies experienced in the mile-high city
- The red represents the sandstone soil, the mountains, and the meaning of “Colorado”
- The zigzag pattern represents the snow caps and has connections to the indigenous history in the state. Specifically, the Zigzag and “Z” have symbolic meanings of:
- Navigating sharp turns while moving forward along the path of our lives, facing forces from above and within, with many separate journeys along the way
- Connection or gateway that links Mother Earth and Father Sky, the spirit world above and the mortal world, and
- Rapid change, like the lightning striking from the sky to the earth during a cleansing rain
We hope you enjoy these intentional design elements throughout the conference experience.