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2025 Region III Conference | November 5–7 | Middle Tennessee State University
The Power of Us: Energizing People & Spaces
Darien Garrison, the 2025 Region III Conference Chair, and the rest of the Region III Leadership Team are excited to announce that the region is heading to Murfreesboro in 2025. Our host site will be the Student Union at Middle Tennessee State University.
Schedule
Wednesday, November 5
- 11 a.m.–12 p.m. – Pre-Conference 1A: Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Tour
- 11 a.m.–1 p.m. – Pre-Conference 2: Producing the Moment: MTSU’s Event and Tech Operations
- 11 a.m.–1 p.m. – Pre-Conference 3: Level Up: Building a State-of-the-Art Esports Arena
- 12–1 p.m. – Pre-Conference 1B: Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Tour
- 12–4 p.m. – Pre-Conference 4: Vanderbilt University Tour
- 1–2 p.m. – Pre-Conference 1C: Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Tour
- 2–3 p.m. – Pre-Conference 1D: Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Tour
- 2–5 p.m. – Registration/Help Desk Open
- 4–5 p.m. – Newcomers Welcome
- 4–5 p.m. – Emerging Professionals Welcome
- 5–6 p.m. – All Conference Welcome Session
- 6–9 p.m. – Conference Engagement Activity
Thursday, November 6
- 8 a.m. – Breakfast On Your Own
- 8 a.m.–4 p.m. – Registration/Help Desk Open
- 8:30–9:20 a.m. – Education Session 1
- 9:30–10:20 a.m. – Education Session 2
- 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – All-Conference Session 1
- 12:30–2 p.m. – Lunch (Provided)
- 2–3 p.m. – Education Session 3
- 2–2:25 p.m. – Flash Session 1
- 2–2:25 p.m. – Behind the Scenes Concert Tour
- 2:30–2:50 p.m. – Flash Session 2
- 2:30–2:50 p.m. – Behind the Scenes Concert Tour
- 3–4 p.m. – Education Session 4
- 4–7 p.m. – Dinner on Your Own
- 6:30–8:30 p.m. – Professional Staff Reception
- 7-8 p.m. – Devon Gilfillian Concert
Friday, November 7
- 8 a.m. – Breakfast On Your Own
- 8:30 a.m.–12 p.m. – Registration/Help Desk Opens
- 9–10 a.m. – All-Conference Session 2
- 10–10:50 a.m. – Education Session 5
- 11–11:50 a.m. – Education Session 6
- 12–1:30 p.m. – Closing Banquet, Live Auction, & Lunch (Provided)
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Before October 15
- Member Early Rate: $325
- Member Undergraduate/ Graduate Student Early Rate: $225
- Member Retiree Early Rate: $250
- Non-member Professional Early Rate: $425
- Non-member Undergraduate/ Graduate Student Early Rate: $325
- Non-member Retiree Early Rate: $300
After October 15
- Member Regular Rate: $375
- Member Undergraduate/ Graduate Student Regular Rate: $275
- Member Retiree Regular Rate: $300
- Non-member Regular Rate: $475
- Non-member Undergraduate/ Graduate Student Regular Rate: $375
- Non-member Retiree Regular Rate: $350
One-Day Registration
- Member, Student, or Retiree: $150
- Non-Member, student, or Retiree: $200
Travel & Lodging
A block of rooms has been reserved at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Murfreesboro for the ACUI Region III Conference at a special rate of $119 p/ night from Tuesday, November 4 through Saturday, November 8, 2025. Book your room by October 3, 2025, to guarantee this rate! The Murfreesboro DoubleTree Hotel is located at 1850 Old Fort Parkway, Murfreesboro, TN 37129.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Murfreesboro is located 5 miles (12 minutes driving distance) from the MTSU Student Union. The Conference Planning Team encourages attendees to make plans to drive or ride-share to the Student Union each day.
Local airports: Nashville International Airport (27 miles from Hotel) and Murfreesboro Municipal Airport (7 miles Hotel)
Middle Tennessee State University Student Union address: 1768 MTSU Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
Call for Sessions
Have a great Education Session?
Wonderful! Submit an application to share your knowledge with the region! The cutoff for submissions is October 3, 2025.
Interested in Presenting but Don’t Have a Topic?
No problem! Let us know you’re open to presenting-we can help you brainstorm ideas or connect you with a session that needs a co-presenter.
Let us know you’re interested, and we’ll take it from there.
Pre-Conference Information
Pre-Conference 1: Middle Tennessee State University Student Union Tour
Description:
At Middle Tennessee State University, our student-centered facilities are designed to do more than support day-to-day activity—they create space and place for students to gather, feel welcome, and thrive. This guided tour will take you through the Student Union Building, Keathley University Center (KUC), and James Union Building (JUB)—three distinct spaces that form the backbone of student life at MTSU.
Each facility plays a vital role in fostering inclusion, connection, and engagement. From our vibrant game room and flexible lounge areas to our cutting-edge Level Up Esports Arena, these buildings reflect the evolving interests of today’s students. A highlight of the Student Union is our stunning atrium, featuring international flags that represent every country our students call home—a powerful symbol of our diverse and global campus community.
So come join us for this free tour and behind-the-scenes look at how our facilities help shape the student experience at MTSU. We look forward to welcoming you!
Time/ Date: Wednesday, November 5. Offered 4 different times: 11am–12pm, 12pm–1pm, 1pm–2pm, 2–3pm
Cost: $0
Pre-Conference 2: Vanderbilt University Tour
Description:
Join us for an immersive tour of Vanderbilt University’s diverse Student Center spaces! Explore the newly renovated Student Life Center, designed for student organizations and campus events, before visiting former Greek houses that have been transformed into unique meeting and event spaces. We’ll take a look at the integrated community areas within Vanderbilt’s new residential colleges, where you’ll experience how these spaces foster a connection between academic, housing, and social life. Finally, we’ll visit the flagship Sarratt Student Center|Rand Hall, a comprehensive student life hub comprising two connected buildings that unite to provide dining, event spaces, and activity areas. This tour offers valuable insight into how we manage a variety of campus facilities to support student engagement, community building, and campus life!
This pre-conference experience includes a 45-minute van ride (each way) and a boxed lunch will be provided.
Time/ Date: Wednesday, November 5 from 12pm–4pm
Max Attendance: 20
Cost: $30
Pre-Conference 3: Level Up: Building a State-of-the-Art Esports Arena
Description:
Esports continues to grow as a powerful force in student engagement and campus life. Across the ACUI community, student unions are incorporating esports labs and arenas into their facilities—and Middle Tennessee State University is no exception.
MTSU’s Level Up Arena, which opened in Fall 2024, is a cutting-edge esports facility that welcomed over 11,000 visitors in its first year. It has hosted a wide range of club competitions and continues to expand in scope and capability. In partnership with Extron’s Esports team, MTSU developed a space that supports both competitive play and community building.
In this educational session, we’ll walk through the full journey of bringing an esports arena to life—from initial concept and design, to technical requirements, campus approvals, and final execution. You’ll meet the team behind the project, get an inside look at the facility, and have the opportunity to ask questions about what it takes to create and sustain a successful esports environment on campus.
This pre-conference experience includes lunch!
Time/ Date: Wednesday, November 5 from 11am–1pm
Max Attendance: 15
Cost: $15
Pre-Conference 4: Producing the Moment: MTSU’s Event and Tech Operations
Description:
At Middle Tennessee State University, located near the heart of Music City, our events are more than just gatherings—they’re immersive, high-impact experiences. With the nation’s top-ranked recording industry program and a powerhouse Media and Entertainment department, we’ve built a unique collaboration that merges academics and real-world event production.
Our Events Team produces everything from elegant banquets to large-scale concerts. During the 2024–2025 academic year alone, we hosted 367 events across three premier facilities. Supporting these productions is a dynamic team of student technicians, event staff, setup crews, and full-time event managers who ensure every detail is covered.
In this educational session, discover how MTSU has streamlined event operations from the initial request through post-event wrap-up. Tour behind the scenes of our main Ballroom, explore our technical infrastructure, and hear how our partnerships with academic departments have enriched both student learning and event quality. Whether you’re looking to grow your events team, enhance technical capabilities, or create deeper student engagement, this session offers a look at a model that works.
This pre-conference experience includes lunch!
Time/ Date: Wednesday, November 5 from 11am–1pm
Max Attendance: 15
Cost: $15
Sponsorships
Interested in sponsoring our 2025 conference? Reach out to Kyle McAlear at kmcalear@utk.edu for more information about sponsorships!
2025 Conference Planning Team
2025 Conference Coordinator
Darien Garrison
dmgarrison@uab.edu
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Corporate Sponsors
Kyle McAlear
University of Tennessee
Keynotes & All-Conference Sessions
Alison Ward
University of Tennessee
Conference Fundraising
Charlie Gray
Vanderbilt University
Registration & Hospitality
Caroline Gschwind
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Central Office Liaison
Amy Morgan
ACUI
Site Host/ 2026 Conference Coordinator
Sadie Katie Hampton
Middle Tennessee State University
Pre-Conference Experiences
David Murkison
Georgia State University
Conference Communications
Kevin Kish
Appalachian State University
Education Sessions
Robert Edmiston
University of South Florida- St. Petersburg
Conference Engagement
Zach Greene
Vanderbilt University
Request approval to attend the ACUI Region III Conference with this justification letter template. It highlights the benefits of attendance, from professional growth to institutional impact, empowering you to build a strong case for your request.