Foundations Conference 2018

Join us for our kick-off of the 2018-2019 academic year with Foundations 2018!

Quick links:

Register by April 26
Book hotel by April 26
Schedule
Plenary agenda
Board of Directors application form (due May 23rd at 11:59 pm ET)

What is Foundations?

Foundations is our first conference of the academic year, and it provides the first opportunity for our new delegates to meet each other and learn about the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). Participants will get expert training to help with their duties throughout the year and into the future. These training sessions will teach you how CASA works, how to be an effective lobbyist, how to develop policy, and more. We will also provide information sessions on topics related to post-secondary education, including Indigenous education, youth employment, and student financial assistance.

In addition to these valuable training sessions, elections to CASA's Board of Directors and committees will occur during this conference. As a member-driven organization, we count on our member student leaders to run CASA and improve its ability to advocate for students effectively through their work on the board and on committees. These are great opportunities for personal and professional development, and to make a real difference in the lives of post-secondary students across the country.

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Who can attend?

Anyone who currently works for a student association at a Canadian university, college, or polytechnic is welcome to attend. This includes delegates from our member associations as well as those who are not members but are curious about CASA (we call you observers).

When is it?

Foundations 2018 will be held from Monday, May 21st at 5:00 pm to Friday, May 25th. On May 25th we will host our closing plenary as well as committee elections, so it is important that members be present into the evening should it go late.

Where is it?

This year, Foundations is being held at the Four Points Hotel in Gatineau, Québec - just across the river from Ottawa's downtown core.

The Four Points Hotel has reserved a block of rooms for CASA delegates to stay from May 21st (check-in) to May 26th (check-out). This block of rooms will be available at a discounted rate until April 26th. Following this date, there will be no discount or guarantee of availability. Book here now.

Participants are responsible for booking and covering the cost of their accommodation. If desired, participants are welcome to stay at a different accommodation, though this may require arranging transportation to the conference each day.

How will I get there?

Delegates are expected to make their own travel arrangements. This may include renting a car, taking the train, or booking a flight to the Ottawa MacDonald-Cartier International Airport. We recommend that you travel early on May 21st and May 26th.

How much does it cost to register?

CASA members: FREE - Generally speaking, associations send two representatives to CASA conferences. However, if you would like to send an additional person or two, you are more than welcome to. If your association represents graduate students, we highly encourage you to bring a graduate student representative to the conference as we are looking for members to sit on our Graduate Committee throughout the year.
Observers (non-members): FREE for up to 2 people from each association. If an observer association wishes to bring more than 2 people, each additional person will be charged a $300 registration fee.

All participants, including members, must cover their own transportation, accommodation, and meal costs.

Is there a conference schedule I can look at?

Coming soon.

Observer Guidelines

Code of Conduct

As is the case with all participants at CASA’s conferences, observers are required to abide by CASA’s Code of Conduct.

Participation during CASA Conferences

Members shall decide before the beginning of any breakout sessions, committee meetings or other similar informal planning sessions held by CASA members, what rules they wish members to adhere to for the session in question, and shall be responsible for communicating those rules to observers prior to the session commencing.
Observer schools are encouraged to participate in discussions, ask questions of member schools, and otherwise to engage in lines of inquiry that help clarify for themselves the nature of CASA operations, policy and advocacy goals.

Plenary

Observer schools are invited to view the plenary session, but will not be permitted to sit at the plenary table.
Speaking permissions can be given to an observer by a CASA member school.
The membership, at its own discretion, can, by a majority vote, choose to enter in an “in-camera” session during plenary. Should this occur, all observers and non-members are required to leave the room.

Social Media

You're encouraged to post and tweet about the event using the hashtag #Foundations2018. While you're at it, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Note: All attendees are required to abide by CASA's Code of Conduct.

Questions?

Please contact Lindsay Boyd at [email protected].

Register

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