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Registration Deadline: January 20, 2022
41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience
When: February 12-15, 2022
Where: Rosen Centre Hotel, Orlando, Florida
Sponsored by: National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition
University of South Carolina
COVID-19 Event Safety and Responsibility
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition Conference Safety During the Pandemic
As the COVID-19 Global Pandemic continues, The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is both cautiously optimistic and prepared to manage our place-based events with the health, safety, and well-being of our attendees in mind. The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is committed to providing a safe, productive, and welcoming environment in which to learn. All participants, including, but not limited to, attendees, speakers, sponsors, volunteers, National Resource Center staff, service providers, and others are expected to abide by our code of conduct, and all polices in effect for the event.
We will continue to monitor and update safety precautions for the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience regularly and coordinate with trusted national resources, state and local public health agencies, and the hotel hosting the event.
Currently, we plan to host our first place-based meeting since February 2020, in Orlando, FL, February 12-15, 2022. We will continue to assess the risks in the area local to the event and the status in the United States. In keeping with the Center’s responsibility as host, The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition has implemented safety requirements for the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience.
We reserve the right to modify these policies and procedures at any time given the rapidly changing nature of the current global pandemic.
Vaccination/Testing Requirements
In keeping with the standards of practice across the meeting/conference industry both within and outside of higher education, the National Resource Center will require all participants at the in-person 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience, whether a presenter, attendee, exhibitor, staff, guest, or vendor be required to be fully vaccinated or provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of their arrival at the conference venue. "Full vaccination" means that 14 days have passed since receiving either the second dose of FDA or WHO authorized (or emergency use authorized) double-dozed vaccines or a single-dose vaccine. Proof of vaccination or negative test within 72 hours will be required to attend the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience.
Attendees will be required to provide CDC-or WHO-approved proof of vaccination status or negative PCR COVID-19 test prior to attending the conference in Orlando. The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition will follow-up with all registrants with HIPAA-compliant online process to upload a copy or photo of your documentation.
If you are unable to meet one of these requirements, we encourage you to register for the Virtual Pass option for the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience that will offer many sessions at the same time as the place-based event and keynote recordings following the conference.
Mask Requirements
All participants at the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience will be required to wear masks during the event. Masks must be worn at all times except while actively eating/drinking, presenting, or in an outdoor venue where individuals can be physically distant. Masks must cover both the mouth and nose. We ask that participants honor the requests of others to mask up and/or maintain physical distancing.
Individuals who have a documented disability which precludes the wearing of a mask may request a modification to mask policies. Please contact the National Resource Center’s Conference and Continuing Education staff, to discuss modification(s) to mask policies at fyeconf@mailbox.sc.edu.
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition will provide physically-distant seating and event space set-up to allow individuals who wish to physically distance while in sessions to do so comfortably. Additionally, to help attendees communicate their level of comfort interacting with one another, The National Resource Center will provide color-coded indicators to all onsite attendees:
- Red = Waves
- Yellow = Elbows
- Green = Hi-fives
We ask that attendees please wear or visibly display these indicators while engaging in conference activities.
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is continuing to develop onsite protocols for seating, signage, meals, and other events during the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience. Our approach is subject to change based upon local, state, or federal requirements. More information will be posted on this website throughout the preparation for your arrival in Orlando. We look forward to welcoming you to Orlando for what we hope to be a wonderful FYE return to in-person conferences!
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition will require registrants to understand the place-based 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience is taking place during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Registrants will be asked to click "I understand" following reading the wavier information. The waiver language is listed below:
Despite reasonable precautions taken, the University of South Carolina; National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition cannot ensure that you will not be exposed to or contract COVID-19 as a result of participating in this event or related activities. As a participant in this event, you agree to abide by all applicable local public health policies and ordinances regarding COVID19. By registering for this event, you acknowledge and understand all risks associated with possible exposure to and contraction of COVID-19 and are voluntarily participating in the event for your own benefit, the value of which is sufficient consideration for your voluntary execution of this agreement. You further acknowledge that you understand and assume the risk that exposure to and contraction of COVID-19 may result from the actions, omissions, or negligence of yourself and others, including, but not limited to, the University of South Carolina; National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition employees, officers, representatives, agents, trustees, and any others present at the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition event(s). Additionally, you agree to release and hold harmless the University of South Carolina; National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition and its employees, officers, representatives, agents and trustees from any and all alleged and/or actual liability, claims, actions, lawsuits, damages, or losses of any kind which arise out of or result from attendance at and participation in the University of South Carolina; National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition event(s). You understand and agree that this release includes any claims based on the actions, omissions, or negligence of the University of South Carolina; National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition, its employees, officers, representatives, agents, or trustees. Attendee agrees to release and hold harmless the University of South Carolina; National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience® & Students in Transition and its employees, officers, representatives, agents, and trustees from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action arising out of or relating to your participation in the event you are registering to participate in and use of any associated facilities or hotels. If any provisions contained in this agreement shall be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable in any respect, under any applicable law, the validity, legality, and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not, in any way, be affected or impaired. Your registration confirms your consent to these terms.
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is contracting event space from the venue and therefore is able to maintain rules and regulations for that space alone. The Center is not responsible, nor are we able to, require masks or vaccination/testing for the other spaces or areas where the conference is being held. The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is not able to require vaccinations of the venue’s staff, but we will request masking of staff working The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition contracted space.
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition recommends that all participants screen themselves daily for symptoms. Symptoms may appear 2 – 14 days after exposure to the virus. The following symptoms are outlined on the CDC Website indicating an individual may have COVID-19:
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- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Individuals who have these symptoms and are unwell should not attend the 41st Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience. Additionally, if a conference attendee is exposed to COVID-19 or develops symptoms while at the in-person event, they should notify event organizers immediately to allow for additional communication to other event participants.
Reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 by:
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- Washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Personnel must be able to wash their hands after touching any surface/tool suspected of being contaminated, before and after eating or using the restroom, and before touching their face.
- Avoiding touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Practicing physical distancing
- Wearing a mask when indoors
- Avoiding contact with people who are sick
- Staying home while sick and avoiding close contact with others
- Covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and immediately disposing of the used tissue
The CDC provides detailed information on when and how to wash your hands. When to wash your hands:
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- Key times to wash your hands (or use hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to soap and water) include:
- Before, during, and after preparing food
- Before eating food
- Before and after treating a wound
- Before and after removing gloves or other personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Before exiting a laboratory
- After using the toilet
- After contact with frequently touched surfaces (e.g., elevators, lobby areas, reception desks)
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- After touching an animal or animal waste
- After touching garbage
For further information, please visit the following websites:
Conference Venue and Accommodations
Rosen Centre Hotel
9840 International Drive
Orlando, Florida 32819
Reserve your room
Room rate: $215 plus taxes/fees
Reservation Deadline: January 19, 2022
All conference sessions will be held at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Please book your room
using the reservation link. The room block is limited and will fill prior to the conference.
Please book your room early to guarantee access to the conference rate.
Conference Culture
The Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience is designed to provide educators from every segment of higher education a comfortable, welcoming environment to share innovative ideas, programs, tools, and research critical to the learning, development, and success of first-year college students. The conference aims to promote a comprehensive and engaging community open to a diversity of ideas, in which all delegates are given the opportunity and resources to grow personally and professionally. The conference welcomes graduate and undergraduate students, encouraging them to deepen their knowledge of the academic communities of which they are a part.
Conference Undergraduate Student Fellowships
The National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition is offering five undergraduate student fellowships that will cover the registration fee for the Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience. Contact the conference staff at fyeconf@mailbox.sc.edu with questions. The application window for the 2022 conference will open in Summer 2021.