Getting the most out of the C.O.O.L. Idealist Conference
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In an effort to help students and administrators make the most of the 2006 C.O.O.L. Idealist National Conference,
we have put together some suggestions to enhance your experience before, during, and after the conference.
 Students
Before the conference:
Think about why you are attending this conference and what you hope to gain from it. Do you want to:
- Explore a specific issue in more depth?
- Learn how to make your campus program stronger?
- Meet like-minded folks?
- Gain skills to help advance your career?
- Hang out in Nashville?
Try to come up with two to three personal goals that complete these sentences:
- After this conference, I will be able to
- After this conference, I will know
- After this conference, I will have met
Prior to the conference, read through the list of workshop offerings and note the ones
that look interesting. With about 150 choices, choosing just five (one in each of the
five workshop blocks) is often the most overwhelming part of the conference. You might
want to mark a few during each block and rank them, as some might fill up quickly and
youll want to have a second or third choice ready to go!
Consider applying to be a keynote speaker! If you would like
the chance to address the entire gathering of people at the conference, think about
putting together an application for this remarkable opportunity.
Nominate a student, advisor, or program for an award.
There are several opportunities to recognize an outstanding student, an especially
helpful advisor, or an innovative program to receive an award at the closing ceremony.
Think about whether you would like to make a nomination!
Identify some activities in Nashville that you would like to do. There are all
kinds of interesting places to go in and around Nashville — do some homework and
make a list of all those things that you just cant miss!!
During the conference:
Get out of your comfort zone! Go to a workshop on a topic you know nothing about.
Eat with students youve never met before. Talk with an organization youve only
recently heard about. This is your chance to meet active students, administrators,
and nonprofit representatives from across the country — take advantage of it!
Seize the opportunity to meet students from campuses all over the country.
Ask questions of students you eat with about the workshops and forums they attended.
Learn more about whats happening on their campuses. Remember that this is a group
effort — youre not supposed to go it alone!
Have some fun! The social events are a great way to meet folks and have a great
time in the company of some really amazing students.
Keep a journal. Spend some time each day writing about your experiences —
things you learned from workshops, people you met, thoughts that occurred to you,
etc. Make sure that you dont lose these bits of information and reflection in the
craziness of the conference!
After the conference:
Follow up with contacts you made at the conference, either from other schools or
from organizations. It is really important to nurture these relationships directly
following the conference so that others remember you!! A brief thank you email can
go a long way
Thank whatever office(s) on campus may have provided funds for you to attend the
conference. You would not have had this awesome experience without them!
Follow up with the other student(s) from your school. Ask them what theyve decided
to do on campus or in the community after participating in the conference.
Meet with some of the staff members on your campus who you think would support
your ideas for action. These may include your:
- Community Services or Service-Learning Director
- Chaplain
- Director of Multicultural Affairs
- Career Services Director
- Art Department faculty member
- Director of Institutional Research
- Or a whole host of others
Share with them your experiences at the conference and find out if they are
interested in helping you pursue your ideas for change!
Keep in touch with us! Consider whether your campus would benefit from linking
with the Idealist On Campus program, through training sessions, networking possibilities,
ongoing communication, or a variety of other initiatives. Email us at heather@idealist.org.
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