Annual First-Year Experience & Students in Transition 2027
Event Date
February 13–16, 2027
Location
Orlando, FL
About This Show
AI-drafted summaryThe Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience is a higher education gathering focused on the success, learning, and development of students during their first year of college. The 2027 edition is the 46th Annual Conference, and it is sponsored by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina. The conference provides an ongoing forum where higher education professionals can share experiences, concerns, and accomplishments related to supporting student learning, development, and success in the first college year.
Conferences are attended by faculty members, academic deans, campus chief executive officers, student affairs professionals, counselors, learning specialists, first-year program directors, institutional researchers, assessment practitioners, and students from two-year and four-year colleges and universities.
The conference is designed to provide educators from every segment of higher education a comfortable, welcoming environment to share innovative ideas, programs, tools, and research critical to the learning, development, and success of first-year college students, and it aims to promote a comprehensive and engaging community open to a diversity of ideas. It is a strong choice for anyone seeking research, peer connections, and practical strategies for improving first-year student outcomes.
Show Highlights
- Concurrent sessions and presentations selected through a competitive Call for Proposals, covering research, programs, and tools for first-year student success.
- Preconference workshops offered ahead of the main program.
- Vendor hall featuring publishers and providers of course texts, technology, and assessment resources.
- Opening reception, continental breakfasts, and networking breaks.
- A community open to a diversity of ideas that welcomes graduate and undergraduate students, encouraging them to deepen their knowledge of the academic communities of which they are a part.
Booth Pricing
Exhibit booth pricing for the 46th Annual Conference (fees subject to change):
- Nonprofit Organization: $1,200; Commercial (for-profit or academic): $1,600; Each Additional Representative: $475.
- Corner Booth — Nonprofit Organization: $1,400; Commercial (for-profit or academic): $1,800.
- Program advertising: Full Page: $850; 1/2 Page Horizontal: $550.
Vendor registration includes admission for two representatives and two authors per booth to the vendor area; access to all conference sessions, continental breakfasts and snack breaks, and the opening reception; a company description in the electronic program PDF; and a pipe and drape (10' x 10') booth, a 6- to 8-foot table (site dependent), two chairs, and a waste receptacle. Only two booths are allowed per company/organization, and exhibition space is limited, so early registration is recommended.
Registration
Registration is open online. Early registration is open through November 12 — register early and save $75.
2027 attendee fee schedule:
- Early Registration (Aug 12–Nov 12, 2026): Attendee $675; Student $475.
- Regular Registration (Nov 13, 2026–Jan 12, 2027): Attendee $750; Student $550.
- Week of/On-site: Attendee $875; Student $875.
Registration and payment must be received before the published deadlines to receive the published rate, or the registration will be cancelled. For cancellations, a written request for refunds is required; cancellations on or before November 12, 2026 are refunded less a $100 administrative fee, and no refunds are made after November 12, 2026. Those registering as a full-time graduate or undergraduate student must upload a letter from an advisor, registrar, or dean as proof of full-time enrollment. The related Call for Proposals had a submission deadline of Tuesday, September 22 at 11:59 p.m. EST.
History
The event is organized by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina, and the 2027 meeting is the 46th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience, indicating a decades-long history of annual gatherings dedicated to first-year student success. The National Resource Center also produces companion events, publications, and research, and hosts a separate National Conference on Students in Transition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2027 conference held?
The 46th Annual Conference on The First-Year Experience takes place February 13–16, 2027 in Orlando, Florida, at the Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819.
Who should attend this conference?
It is designed for higher education professionals, including faculty, academic deans, campus executives, student affairs staff, counselors, learning specialists, first-year program directors, institutional researchers, and assessment practitioners, as well as graduate and undergraduate students from two- and four-year colleges.
How much does registration cost and how do I register?
Registration is online. Early attendee registration (through November 12) is $675, rising to $750 for regular registration and $875 on-site; student rates are $475, $550, and $875 respectively. Registering early saves $75, and payment must be received before the deadline to keep the published rate.
How can I exhibit or become a vendor?
Companies and organizations can exhibit by reviewing the vendor prospectus and registering online. Booth fees are $1,200 for nonprofits and $1,600 for commercial exhibitors, with corner booths at $1,400 and $1,800; only two booths are allowed per organization and space is limited.
Are there hotel and travel discounts for attendees?
Yes. The Rosen Centre Hotel is the host venue with a room block (booking deadline January 20, 2027), and the National Resource Center has partnered with Delta, United, and Southwest Airlines to offer travel discounts of roughly 3%–10% depending on airline and ticket type.
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