Thank you to all of you who have for registered for the ACHA 2014 Annual Meeting in San Antonio! We’d like to share with you some information that may be helpful during your time in San Antonio.

Please note that the Marriott Rivercenter (RC) is the host hotel; while most events will be held in the Rivercenter, some will be held just across the street in the Marriott Riverwalk Hotel (RW). All event locations are included in the Final Program.

Upon arrival, pick up your registration materials at the “Badge Pick-Up Booth,” located in the Rivercenter Third Floor Foyer. You’ll need your badge to attend sessions and other events at the meeting. Your materials will include:

• Final Program, including room locations and floor plans (Want a sneak preview? Download a copy of the same program you’ll receive on site here)
• Name badge and holder
• Any tickets you purchased (Awards and Fellows Celebration dinner, lunch vouchers, pre-conference workshops)
• ACHA raffle ticket (there will be tumbler in the Exhibit Hall for these starting on Thursday)
• Instructions for the Online CE and Session Evaluation process
• A lanyard for your badge holder
  

Onsite Registration Hours:

Tuesday, May 27 and Wednesday, May 28:  7:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday, May 29: 7:00 AM – 3:45 PM

Friday, May 30: 7:00 AM – 4:45 PM

Saturday, June 1: 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM


If you are interested looking for ways to get involved in ACHA or find ways to collaborate with other in college health, consider attending these meetings:

• Section Meetings (12:00 PM – 1:15 PM, Wednesday, May 28): Connect with colleagues within your area of expertise. There are nine different sections, categorized by discipline. Learn about current section projects and plans for the future.
  

• Affiliate Meetings (12:00 PM – 1:15 PM, Thursday, May 29): Meet with other attendees from your region! ACHA regional affiliates help members forge strong partnerships with colleagues on the state or regional level.
  

• Committee/Coalition/Task Force Meetings (see Final Program for dates/times): ACHA's committees, task forces, and coalitions address a diverse range of exciting issues pertinent both to ACHA and to the health of college students. Your thoughts on pressing college health issues are always welcome, so come and share them with us!
  

Want to meet other attendees? Come to the Diversity Reception on Wednesday, May 28 from 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm in the RW-River Terrace! Enjoy appetizers while networking with your colleagues at this reception co-hosted by the Coalition of Allies for LGBT Health and the Ethnic Diversity Coalition. We’re planning a fun and informal atmosphere where you can relax and enjoy getting to know your colleagues!

Online CE and Session Evaluations: Following the meeting we’ll email you a link to the Online CE and Session Evaluation site. You’ll need to indicate the type of credit you’re requesting and evaluate each session you attended. Once completed, you’ll be able to print your CE certificate. Detailed instructions will be included in your meeting materials.

Poster Sessions: Spend some time between general sessions learning about the innovative research and programs being conducted around the country. Poster presenters will be available to answer questions, share handouts, and provide contact information. We think you'll enjoy checking out these informal, graphics-based presentations!

Is this your first time attending the annual meeting, or are you a new member of ACHA? If so, please plan to attend the Newcomer’s Orientation on Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 AM – 8:45 AM, in RW-Salons A-C. At the orientation you’ll learn about ACHA’s programs and services and how to get the most from the annual meeting. You’ll also meet ACHA’s officers and other colleagues. Section chairs will be available to introduce activities within your specialty. We'll be giving away prizes to a few lucky attendees!

Also of note are these featured events.

Don't forget to check out these programming updates! Updates include session cancellations and room changes as well as the addition of a new session, The White House Task Force to Protect Students Against Sexual Assault: Its Impact on College Health Services.

A few other things to know before you come:

• Check out abstracts of the sessions and posters before you arrive: Workshop and General Session Abstracts [pdf] and Poster Abstracts [pdf]

• We are hosting several free wellness events, including yoga and line dancing and Zumba classes, to keep our attendees feeling their best! Wellness events are listed here and in the Final Program.

• Convention hotels like the Marriott tend to be on the chilly side, so please pack a sweater.

• Cash concessions will be available Wednesday-Friday from 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM (in the Second Floor Atrium on Wednesday and Thursday and in the Exhibit Hall on Friday). If you purchased lunch vouchers they will be provided in your registration packet. Lots of other dining options are located in and around the hotel.

• If you are attending the Dorosin Memorial Lecture on Friday, May 30 at 12:00 pm, please feel free to bring your lunch with you! The lecture will be held in the Riverwalk Hotel – Alamo Ballroom. Cash concessions are available in the Rivercenter in the Exhibit Hall.

• Friday is School Spirit Day – wear something with your institution’s name, colors, or logo!

• Visit the resource tables located in the Meeting Registration Area for literature, posters, or extra speaker handouts. Items on the table are free for the taking.

• Visit the message boards in the Meeting Registration Area for employment opportunities, messages left by/for other attendees, and information on section socials.

We encourage you to download the ACHA 2014 Meeting App. Most of the information included in the Final Program is included in the app, and with the app you'll receive notifications about any sessions changes, have the ability to message other app users, create an agenda with notifications, and more!

We look forward to seeing you in San Antonio!

ACHA announces the availability of a completely redesigned mobile app for the 2014 Annual Meeting. Follow these simple steps in order to take full advantage of the new features, including messaging, interactive maps, custom scheduling, and more!

1. Scan the QR code, visit ddut.ch/ACHA2014, or go to the app store and search ACHA 2014.

2. Create your profile. Enter your email address, name, title, and institution to create your profile. This will allow other app users to find and connect with you. You also have the option to upload a picture for your profile.

3. Adjust your settings. For Apple users: from your profile, click the gear wheel and choose settings. For Android users:  from your profile, click your app settings (either in the top right corner or on the bottom near the home button) and choose settings. From here you can turn on private messaging*, push notifications, and adjust other settings.

4. Build your own custom schedule through the Agenda tab on the app menu. Bookmarked sessions will appear in your personal agenda. 

5. Connect with other attendees. You can find other attendees on the app using the App Users menu item. If you are looking for an attendee who has chosen not to use the app, you can find them under the Full Attendee List**. 

6. Post updates and photos and check-in to sessions to earn points and badges. Users with the most points will be displayed on the Leaderboard, while badges can be found in your attendee profile. 

Some areas of the app are still being uploaded with final conference content, so if you don't find what you're looking for, check back soon!

*If you enable private messaging, you are allowing all other app users (including exhibitors) to send you a message via the email address you entered when you created your profile. However, they will not be able to see your email address unless you choose to respond. 

**The Full Attendee List does not provide any contact information and not all attendees will be currently using the mobile app. For an up-to-date list of app users, see the App Users menu item.

At this year’s Annual Meeting, we’re offering a variety of activities designed to enhance your sense of well-being. These activities provide a chance to challenge your physical and emotional self in the same way you stretch your intellectual muscles during educational sessions.

So take a break from classroom learning and don’t be afraid to try something new!


Line Dancing

Tuesday, May 27
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Thursday, May 29
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Room: RC — 2nd Floor Atrium

Learn some fun and simple line dance moves in this beginner’s level class! Line dancing is a great way to exercise both your body and your mind, all while improving your coordination. You don’t need a partner, and there is a style for everyone in this class! Please wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes. Towels will be provided.
 

Walk Your Way to Fitness — in Fifteen Minutes!


Thursday, May 29
9:30 am – 10:00 am
3:15 pm – 3:45 pm

Friday, May 30
9:30 am – 10:00 am
2:45 pm – 3:15 pm

Room: RC — Conference Rooms 13 and 14

Even the busiest person can achieve fitness! This brief and fun walking workout will reenergize you between sessions, so join your colleagues and stretch out those leg muscles.

 

Seated Chair Massage

Thursday, May 29
3:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Friday, May 30
11:30 am – 3:30 pm

Room: RC — Grand Ballroom (Exhibit Hall)

An on-site professional masseuse will administer this highly effective technique that provides an immediate sense of tranquility. Chair massage helps decrease stress symptoms, fatigue, muscle tightness, and tension in the neck, arms, and shoulders. (First come, first served.)



Sunrise Yoga

Thursday, May 29
6:00 am – 7:00 am

Room: RC — Conference Rooms 13 and 14

Yoga can help improve balance, strength, and flexibility and reduce stress and tension. This basic yoga class is suitable for all levels. The instructor will show modifications for poses as needed. Please wear comfortable clothing, and bring your yoga mat if you have one. Towels will be provided.
 

Boot Camp for All Levels

Friday, May 30
6:00 am – 7:00 am

Room: RC — Conference Rooms 13 and 14

This class combines cardio, strength, and agility training in one fun workout! Suitable for all levels, this workout is great for those looking to break a sweat and start the day off right. Please wear comfortable clothing and appropriate shoes, and bring your yoga mat if you have one. Towels will be provided.

 

Zumba®

Friday, May 30
5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

Room: RC — 2nd Floor Atrium

Ditch the workout and join this Latin inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness party! Come check out the Zumba® phenomenon that’s moving millions of people towards joy and heath! Participants should dress for exercise and have comfortable shoes. All fitness levels are welcome. Towels will be provided.

The 2014 Annual Meeting is quickly approaching! We hope you are as excited as we are for five days jam-packed with meeting events, but we hope you are equally looking forward to exploring the vibrant city of San Antonio. One of the great things about San Antonio is there truly is something for everyone. Whether you are a historian, foodie, artist, or shopper, you won’t run out of things to do. With all these choices it may be overwhelming, so ACHA has put together a page on the Annual Meeting website with some travel resources to get you started. 

One noteworthy resource is the San Antonio Vacation Experience (SAVE) Coupon Book which provides discounts for some of San Antonio’s most popular attractions. These coupons include discounts for Six Flags FiestaTexas, helicopter rides, Alamo Imax, and various sightseeing tours. The book also has discounts for museum, zoo, and rodeo admissions. There’s something for everyone so be sure to check it out! You can download and print the coupon book or access these deals through the San Antonio SAVE Mobile App.

Another great resource is the “Show Us Your Badge” offers provided by the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here you’ll find a list of restaurants – many within walking distance from the conference hotels – which are providing discounts or special offers to anyone who shows up with their conference ID. Participating restaurants offer a range of selections from authentic Mexican/Tex-Mex to seafood, from steakhouse favorites to sushi. 

The San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau also has a lot of great resources on their website. They have attractions grouped into categories so guests can explore lots of options all at once based on their interests. One section that is particularly fascinating is Be A Local, where a diverse group of people who call San Antonio home share what they love about this city. It’s definitely worth checking out for yourself!

Have you not yet registered for the 2014 Annual Meeting? There’s still time! Pre-registration ends May 9, 2014, and full details are available on the Annual Meeting website. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you have any questions. 

The ACHA Nursing Section is hosting a networking and discussion session! Nurses from all sections are welcome to attend this event on Thursday, May 29, 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM, at the ACHA Annual Meeting in San Antonio! (Room to be announced). Not a member? That doesn’t matter – please join your fellow nurses to talk about current issues and practices in the college health nursing field!

The four main topics we will be discussing include:

• clinical nursing topics
• staffing, workflow, and personnel topics 
• college health nursing practice standards 
• flu vaccine programs and other immunizations for college-aged adults

Choose the best category for you. We will split into groups to discuss each issue. These discussions are intended to be informal and flexible, so if another topic strikes your fancy, that’s okay!

Each discussion category will be facilitated by a member of the Nursing Section, and we welcome all other attendees who would benefit from these discussions!

Come join your colleagues with your ideas and (more importantly) your breakfast! 

For several years, ACHA has offered Pre-Conference Workshops on the first day of the Annual Meeting. Our general sessions are designed to meet a wider range of needs among our attendees – something for everyone, if you will, or at least everyone in a certain discipline. The workshops, however, are tailored to meet a more specialized need and give participants a chance to hone their skills in a more hands-on approach. 

Pre-conference workshops go beyond the lecture format and even the question-and-answer make-up of many sessions. There is an emphasis on interactivity as well as intense discussions, enabling attendees to really get at the meat of the matter and develop the specific competencies they need in their discipline. 

In the workshops, you won’t just learn how to do something – you’ll get to practice or discuss it before you take it home to your campus. What better way to be able to share your newly-acquired knowledge with colleagues who couldn't attend the Annual Meeting? 

You’ll get a crash course in effective leadership in the boot camps for health/counseling center and health promotion directors; you’ll practice some of the evidence-based approaches to enhancing students’ resilience to stress and trauma triggers; you’ll delve deep into examining best practices in prescribing contraceptives. These are just a few of the exciting topics being covered in the pre-conference workshops.

Visit the 2014 Annual Meeting site to see the full list of workshops and CE credits available.

Each workshop is three hours long and will take place on Tuesday, May 27 at either 9:00 am - 12:00 pm or 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm. You must pre-register and purchase a ticket ($50 per workshop) to attend the workshops. If you have already registered for the meeting and want to add a workshop, simply go back into the registration site, use the login information you used when you registered, and add the ticket. You can do this any time until May 9; after May 9, you can purchase tickets onsite if they are still available. Please note that the workshops sell out quickly, so reserve your spot today!

We are so pleased to announce that registration for the ACHA 2014 Annual Meeting has begun! We encourage you to register early – hotel rooms can go fast, and you’ll need to register before you can reserve a room at the discounted rate. Though this may seem like just one more step in the registration process, it helps us preserve rooms in our room block for those who have already registered and committed themselves to attending.

Since our founding in 1920, ACHA’s meetings have been a way for college health professionals to meet in person and catch up on the latest college health trends and practices. Even with today’s technology making it possible to have online meetings with colleagues from near and far, without ever leaving your office, there’s simply no substitute for meeting face to face.

The other great thing about attending a meeting is the charge in the air at these conferences. It’s an amazing thing when 2,000 energized, passionate people sharing the same goal – enhancing the wellness of their campus communities – come together. Our attendees are there to learn from one another and perhaps flip their old ways of thinking on end and come away with new ones. You can feel the excitement brewing and there’s a buzz in the air.

We really hope you’ll join us this year. We have lots of great sessions scheduled as well as some fun events and activities to help you recharge and meet other attendees!

Stay tuned for more posts that will cover featured events, programming, and other things to do in San Antonio. In the meantime, check out these conference FAQs.

Now that the Call for Programs for the 2014 Annual Meeting is over, we are starting to look ahead to that exciting time of year when registration for the meeting officially opens! Meeting registration will open in January, but it’s never too early to plan ahead.

The ACHA meeting is five days long and jam-packed with sessions, workshops, meetings, networking events, and more. The array of choices can be dazzling – or maybe just a bit confusing. And because we’ve made some programming changes for 2014 (most noteworthy: our addition of 60-minute sessions – more on that to come) we thought a brief primer in the form of some FAQs could help everyone understand the ins and outs of the meeting.

There’s a lot to know – How do I get the member discount on my registration fees? How many hotels offer the conference rate? Will meals be included? Can I add something to my registration? – and we want you to be able to find the answers! We are always happy to answer any questions you have by phone or email, but the FAQs are another fast and easy way to get the information you need.

Check out the FAQs here and please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you don’t find what you are looking for.