THE BASICS

What is Compact26?
Compact26 is Campus Compact’s 2026 annual conference.

Where is Compact26?
Compact26 will take place in Chicago, IL. The main events will be at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Read more about the venues by clicking “Plan Your Trip” above or visiting events.compact.org/compact26/plan.

When should I be in Chicago?
Compact26 officially kicks off at 1:15 pm on Monday, March 16th with the first general session. Pre-conference workshops will take place beginning at 9am on March 16th. Some special programming, including the TRUCEN Annual Meeting, and AASCU’s American Democracy Project, will begin over the weekend prior to the start of the conference.

Where can I learn more about Campus Compact and their offerings?
It’s easy! Visit our website at compact.org for the latest events, programs, and resources.

 

REGISTRATION

Can I register for Compact26?
Yes! Anyone can attend Compact26. Visit our pricing & registration page to sign up.

Do I need to be a Campus Compact member to attend?
No. Anyone is welcome to attend! (But don't be surprised if you find yourself joining soon after). If you're interested in learning more about Campus Compact membership, reach out to our team at membership@compact.org.

How can I edit my registration?
Click here to make changes to your existing registration. If you need help, contact us at conference@compact.org.

How can I cancel my registration?
Cancel your registration by emailing us at conference@compact.org before March 1, 2026, to be refunded the value of your ticket less a $100 cancellation fee. We are unable to offer refunds for cancellations after March 1, 2026. Our cancellation deadline is based on a few factors, including locked-in food & beverage costs, hotel room booking minimums, and ordering of conference materials. In the event of extenuating circumstances that make it necessary to cancel after the deadline, please reach out to Compact staff at conference@compact.org. We may be able to offer options to recoup costs, such as comped registration for next year's conference.

How can I register a group?
During registration, you will be able to add multiple guests in one transaction. Groups of four or more Campus Compact members that are registered in a single transaction will be eligible for a 10% discount on Early Bird and Regular Campus Compact member rates. The group rate cannot be combined with already discounted student or national service member rates. All guests registered as part of a group must be from the same institution. Use code "Group" at checkout to activate the discount.

Do I need to sign up for specific sessions?
No. Registered attendees may attend any general session, breakout session, or opportunity listed in the conference schedule. You can however build your personal agenda on the Compact26 conference App once it is live in March 2026. Seating at sessions will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, so we recommend arriving early. Pre-conference sessions and other special opportunities will require separate tickets that are available as part of our normal registration process.
 

RATES, SCHOLARSHIPS & DISCOUNTS

How do you determine the cost of registration?
We work hard to keep the cost of registration as low as possible. We set a goal to break even on conference costs by pursuing ambitious fundraising goals to subsidize conference costs. We are always looking for sponsors & exhibitors to contribute to help us keep our conference as budget-friendly as possible. If you have sponsorship ideas or opportunities you would like to share, please contact us at conference@compact.org.

Are scholarships available?
We are proud to offer lower, more affordable rates to students, AmeriCorps members, and community partners who may not have conference funding or professional development budgets.

We also seek opportunities from sponsors that enable us to offer scholarships for free admission. Any available scholarship or financial support information will be sent to our mailing list and listed below.

If you would like to explore sponsoring scholarships for attendees, please contact us at conference@compact.org. 

How do you determine the cost of registration?
We work hard to keep the cost of registration low by pursuing ambitious fundraising goals to subsidize conference costs. We are always looking for sponsors & exhibitors to contribute to help us keep our conference as budget-friendly as possible.

What discounts are available?
Discounted admission is available to all faculty and staff at Campus Compact member institutions. To find out if you are a member, simply start registering and our system will check for you. If you have any questions or concerns about membership, please contact our team at membership@compact.org.

Discounted admission is also available for groups of four or more, students, national service members, community partners, and organizations currently partnering with Campus Compact. AASCU members who register for both ADP and Compact26 are eligible for the discounted Compact26 Campus Compact member rate. Use code ADPCHI26 at checkout. Not sure if your institution is an AASCU member? You can check here. These rates become available when early bird registration begins on September 16. Learn more about registration rates at events.compact.org/compact26/registration.

PROGRAM

How can I present a session?
Our call for proposals closed on October 10, 2025. Please click here to learn more about our program: events.compact.org/compact26/program.

How did you select the sessions?
Sessions were selected from proposals submitted by faculty, staff, students, and community partners. Proposals were reviewed by the Conference Program Committee and peer reviewers based on the relevance of topic, quality of the submission, and session outcomes.

 

NETWORKING & COMMUNITY

What is the conference code of conduct?
Please read and follow our code of conduct.

How can I connect with like-minded people?
The Compact coalition is a very welcoming place, so expect a warm welcome from just about anyone! However, if you’d like to find folks with a similar role to you or who share your interests, keep an eye out for meet-ups that will take place during the conference.

How will you moderate discussion?
We know that the Campus Compact network is a kind and caring community where people look out for one another. However, we understand that at any event, there is a risk that not everyone who joins will be on their best behavior. We require that everyone who participates in any of our conferences or events abide by our code of conduct. If any person violates our code of conduct, we reserve the right to immediately bar them from participating in the remainder of the event. If you witness any instances of harmful, disruptive, or offensive comments that violate our code of conduct, please immediately report it to a member of staff or submit it anonymously at compact.org/code-of-conduct.

 

OTHER

What is the dress code?
Most Compact conference participants wear comfortable, business-casual attire. Comfortable walking shoes are highly recommended. We aim to keep the temperature comfortable inside the conference spaces, but you may want to bring a sweater or a light jacket.

Will there be wifi?
Yes! We'll provide information about how to connect in lots of places.

Is there a conference app?
Yes! It will be launched in March 2026, likely about a week before the conference is scheduled to begin. Keep an eye on your inbox for more information.

What should I bring?
Compact26 will be a great opportunity for learning and networking. You may want to bring a laptop or a notebook and pen and your business cards.

 

ACCESSIBILITY

We want everyone to feel comfortable at Campus Compact events. We provide all reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Please review our accessibility page for more detailed information.

 

Who do I contact if I need help?

Kaitlin Rattigan, Events Manager (conference@compact.org), will be the key contact person for speakers leading up to and during the conference, but any Compact staff will be able to help. Your best bet, if you need assistance before or after your session, will be to stop by one of the Campus Compact Help desks on either the Lobby Level (outside of Crystal Ballroom) or the Ballroom Level (outside of Regency Ballroom). During your breakout session, there will be a Compact staff member assigned to your breakout room who can also provide assistance.

 

Where do I need to be for my session?

Check the conference schedule at compact.org/compact26/program or the Compact26 App to find your room assignment (the app is not yet live, but stay tuned). Please double-check your session location day-of, as room assignments may shift. Until the conference starts, you can always find the most up-to-date information on the program page at compact.org/compact26/program. During the conference, the Compact26 app (to be released the week before the conference) will be the best source of up-to-date information. 

 

When do I need to arrive for my session?

Please arrive for your session at least 10 minutes before the scheduled start time. Many rooms will be in use for sessions back-to-back, so it is likely that your assigned room will be in use until 15 minutes before your session is scheduled to begin. 
 

What do I need to bring?

If you would like to show a presentation or other visual media, please bring your own laptop. You are also welcome to bring handouts or additional visual aids.
 

What will be available in my room?

• Knowledge-to-Action Workshops, Author Talks, and Promising Practices sessions will have:
  • Projector, screen, HDMI adapter, and a clicker you can use to progress slides (USB attachment)
    Microphone and speaker — We ask that all presenters facilitating these sessions use the microphone to accommodate hearing-impaired attendees. 
    • The following rooms will not have a microphone due to the intimate size: Columbian, Comiskey, Gold Coast, Haymarket, Picasso, San Francisco, Soldier Field
  • Head table with three chairs
  • Flipchart paper and markers
  • HDMI cable and an aux cable if you will be playing a video or using audio for your session
  • The following breakout rooms will also have a podium: Acapulco, Crystal A, Toronto, Hong Kong, New Orleans, Regency A, Regency D, and Water Tower
  Roundtable sessions will have:
  • Signs on the table with the session title that indicate which table you are assigned to
  • No AV will be provided for Roundtables
  • Each roundtable will have 14 chairs per table—this is inclusive of the presenter(s). 
• All breakout sessions will be assigned a Compact staff member who can help with setup, crowd management, and timekeeping.

 

How should I make sure my presentation is accessible?

If you plan to play a video or audio file, please ensure that closed captions are available. Here is a video about how to do that for Microsoft PowerPoint. For videos on YouTube, use the closed caption button. Additionally, please test your audio within your presentation software prior to presenting. Breakout rooms (excluding roundtables and the exceptions listed above) will be equipped with a microphone and speakers. We ask that all speakers use the microphone provided to accommodate hearing-impaired attendees.

 

What do I do if I am having technical issues?

Get in touch with the Compact staff member assigned to your breakout room. They can help troubleshoot or get in contact with Encore, our technical support team.

 

What is the setup for Roundtable sessions?

For Roundtable Sessions, there will be multiple discussions assigned to the same room. Tables will be labeled for each group by a Compact staff member. Each table will have 10 seats. There will be a few extra empty tables if you need to spill over into an extra table or need additional chairs. Please do not take chairs from another active Roundtable.

 

How do Promising Practice sessions work?

We have revised how we operate Promising Practice sessions. These are now 30-minute session blocks with a single group presenting (as opposed to prior years, when we paired two groups of speakers). 

 

POSTER PRESENTERS

What size should my poster be?

The maximum tackable surface to hang your poster is 91" wide x 43" high. Posters should be single-sided and will be pinned to an 8 ft x 4 ft board. Pins will be provided.

How do I get my poster to the hotel?

Posters can be shipped to the hotel no earlier than March 3, 2026, using this address:

Campus Compact/[Your Name] Mar 16-18
Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 East Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60601

If you are looking for a local place to print your poster onsite, there is a FedEx attached to the hotel.

When and where do I set up my poster?

Setup begins at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17th. All poster presenters should have their posters set by no later than 3:50 pm. Space will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so plan to set up early if you want your choice of spot!

The poster session ends at 5:30 pm, and all posters should be removed right after.

If you do not wish to take your poster with you at the conclusion of the poster session, you may leave it on the board and it will be disposed of by the hotel staff.
 

PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE PRESENETRS

Breakfast and lunch will be provided to all presenters and participants of the pre-conference institutes. Breakfast will be available from 8:00 - 9:30 AM in the Water Tower breakout room. A boxed lunch will also be available from 12:00 - 1:30 PM in the Water Tower breakout room. 

It is up to the presenter to decide on a time to break for lunch that best works for your session schedule within the 12:00 - 1:30 PM timeframe. Participants should collect their food from the Water Tower breakout room and bring it back to their pre-conference breakout room.

 

CONTACT US

Need to get in touch with our team? Contact us at conference@compact.org to speak directly to a member of the Campus Compact team.