The Newman Convening will be held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL, 60601).

Campus Compact will book rooms for all convening participants by September 25, 2025 (so please be sure you register by then!). Campus Compact is also covering the room expenses for the nights of October 16th and 17th. Campus Compact assigns roommates based on gender identity. Newmans often report that hanging out with their roommate is the highlight of the Convening!
 

If you are staying extra nights outside of October 16th and 17th (due to travel plans for example), there will be an extra cost of $259.00 (plus tax) per night. Please mark in registration that you are staying extra nights. If you are requesting a single room, there will be an extra cost of $129.50 (plus tax) per night. In both cases, you will receive a credit card authorization link prior to arrival. This authorization will secure payment for a single room or any additional nights directly with the hotel. Make sure to complete the authorization promptly to avoid any delays during check-in.

Please note: The hotel does not have any availability on October 15th, so please book your flights accordingly. 

Check-in time is 3:00 pm and checkout time is 12:00 PM. Should you stop by the hotel prior to the convening on October 16th, the hotel can store your luggage at the front desk if your room is not ready.

Please see the map below for navigating the hotel during the convening.

Campus Compact will be providing the following meals during the convening (students and institutions will not have to pay for these meals):

• Dinner on Thursday, October 16th
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on Friday, October 16th
• Breakfast and Lunch on Saturday, October 17th

Campus Compact will also be providing coffee and tea throughout the convening.

If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, please specify that in your registration.

We highly recommend that you bring a reusable water bottle with you to Chicago. The hotel will have water available during meal and snack times, and the hotel will have multiple water sources to fill up your water bottle. 

Getting from the airport to the hotel:

• Coming from O'Hare International Airport:
  • You can take the Blue line for $5 and get off at the Washington stop. It is then a 17-minute walk from the Washington stop to the hotel. Here is the route to walk from the stop to the hotel.
  • You can take a Lyft straight to the hotel for approximately $53, or
  • You can take an Uber straight to the hotel for approximately $83.
  • *** To get to the rideshare area in the airport, navigate to Terminal 2 (Upper Level) ***
• Coming from Midway International Airport:
  • You can take the Orange line and get off at the State/Lake stop. It is then an 11-minute walk from the State/Lake stop to the hotel. Here is the route to walk from the stop to the hotel.
  • You can take Lyft straight to the hotel for approximately $34
  • You can take an Uber for approximately approximately $53.
  • *** To get to the rideshare pickup go tothe lower level (arrivals level), near baggage claim, outside Door 4***

If you are driving to the Convening, here are some parking options:

• Valet Garage parking at the hotel for 6+ hours is $87. For 3-6 hours the cost is $65 (note: this will work on Thursday and Saturday because the program is shorter on those days).
• There are also several walkable garages nearby with more affordable parking options ranging from $7-$79 if you check here on SpotHero.

Dress Code:

Attire is not strictly enforced. Still, we do recommend business casual (no formal ties or suits needed), just pants or nice shorts and a nice shirt or top. We want you to be comfortable but don't wear gym clothes or pajamas in the workshop sessions. We will take a group picture on Friday, October 16th, but participants will be wearing their Newman t-shirts mainly during the day (t-shirts will be distributed when you check-in). 

• Check out the weather in Chicago to help you for what to pack
• Check out the 2024 Convening pictures to get a sense of what students wore. But please know, we are very casual at Campus Compact and the most important thing is for you to feel comfortable and confident. The idea of "professionalism" (including workplace dress codes) are rooted in problematic and outdated thinking.

Packing List:

Documents & Essentials:

• Photo ID (for hotel check-in and any travel needs)
• Conference confirmation email
• Personal health information (insurance card, emergency contact info)
• Mobile phone and charger
• Notebook, pens, or tablet for taking notes during workshops
• Business cards (if available for networking)
• Any travel tickets (plane, bus, or train) or itinerary details
• Neck pillow or blanket (for travel if needed)
• Download Uber/Lyft App or Ventra App

Clothing:

• Business casual attire for conference sessions and networking events (e.g., slacks, blouses, dress shirts, blazers, modest dresses)
• Comfortable shoes for walking around the conference venue and Chicago group adventure
• Evening casual wear for dinner and the mocktail networking happy hour
• Weather-appropriate outerwear (the boat tour will be at night on the water, so please dress appropriately)
• Workout or lounge wear (optional, for downtime or relaxing in the hotel)

Personal Items:

• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)
• Haircare items and makeup (if needed)
• Travel-size hand sanitizer and tissues
• Water bottle (optional, but helpful for staying hydrated during long sessions)
• Snacks (for breaks between sessions)
• Medications (any prescriptions or over-the-counter meds)

Other Helpful Items:

• Laptop or tablet (if you'll be taking electronic notes or checking in on work)
• Portable phone charger or power bank
• Earbuds or headphones
• Small backpack or tote bag for carrying items during the day
• Light reading material or something for relaxation during travel
• Extra cash or cards for any personal expenses
• Padfolio/Notepad/ Pens

Travel Reminders:

• Plan for airport or train station arrival times, and allow enough time for any security checks.

COVID-19:

If anyone wishes to wear a mask at all during the convening, you are welcome to do so and we ask that everyone be respectful of each other's comfort level when it comes to in-person space sharing. We will be providing social contact stickers (green = hugs ok, yellow = handshakes ok, red = distance please) that will be placed on name tags to ensure everyone is respecting one another's boundaries. We encourage all Newman Fellows to take precautions as necessary to stay safe and healthy. Follow the CDC prevention guidelines for further information. 

We will also have KN95 masks available when you check in at the hotel, and we will have some Antigen Rapid Tests should you need to test yourself anytime throughout the convening. 

If able, please take a COVID-19 rapid test before you leave for the Convening, and if you have a positive test or strong sickness symptoms, please stay home. Your health is the first priority. We will work with any Newman who has to miss due to sickness. 

Photo Consent:

When you register be sure to select whether or not you consent to having your photo taken during the convening. We will have a professional photographer at the convening taking pictures throughout our time together. We will provide special lanyards to those who do not wish to have their picture taken.

Code of Conduct:
Campus Compact is dedicated to providing a harassment-free and inclusive network for everyone regardless of gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disabilities, neurodiversity, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, nationality, race, age, religion, veteran status, or other protected category. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Campus Compact takes violations of our policy seriously and will respond appropriately. View the full Code of Conduct here.

Wifi

• Network Name: Campus Compact
• Access Code: campus2025

Social Media

• Connect on social media using #NewmanEffect
• Tag us on Insta @Campus_Compact

During the conference, Campus Compact will be producing a series of promotional videos to highlight the work we’re doing across the country, and we need your help! In the videos, we’ll feature the voices of Newman Civic Fellows to tell the story of the fellowship, the impact our fellows have in their communities, and the importance of supporting this work. We invite you to participate by sharing your unique story with us.

If you choose to participate, Compact staff will interview you about your participation in the fellowship, the social issues that matter to you, and the importance of democracy. By sharing your story, you will help us spread awareness about Campus Compact’s mission and impact, allowing us to raise critical funds and grow our impact for years to come.

Interview opportunities: During the afternoon Coffee/Tea break on Friday and at the conclusion of the convening on Saturday. Check back here for updates on when interviews will be taking place.

Find Molly Leiper, Director of Communications at Campus Compact, at the Convening if you would like to contribute!

We appreciate your help!

Campus Compact is a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education. Campus Compact supports institutions in fulfilling their public purposes by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility. As the largest national higher education association dedicated solely to campus-based civic engagement, we provide professional development to administrators and faculty to enable them to engage effectively, facilitate national partnerships connecting campuses with key issues in their local communities, build pilot programs to test and refine promising models in engaged teaching and scholarship, celebrate and cultivate student civic leadership, and convene higher education institutions and partners beyond higher education to share knowledge and develop collective capacity. Visit compact.org.