Sunday, October 18-Wednesday, October 21, 2026
About the Conference
The Norris University Center and Campus Life teams are excited to welcome you to Northwestern University! Colleagues from across Big 10 student unions and student activities will convene in Evanston, IL from October 18-21, 2026.
The Northwestern campus is uniquely located within driving distance for our Midwest peers, and centrally located for our East and West Coast friends to travel by air. Evanston has the charm and walkability of a college town, with easy access to the city of Chicago, coupled with an urban transit system that is second to none, all situated along the beautiful coast of Lake Michigan.
Leveraging our partnerships with Follett Higher Education and Compass/Chartwells, we are excited to offer our Big 10 colleagues an array of dining and retail experiences, front and back of the house tours, and a showcase of our recently constructed Cohen Lawn, Kahn Pavilion, Luna's Pub & Grill, and the new Ryan Field. We will glide along the Chicago River exploring the city's unique architecture, hear from Northwestern and Student Affairs leadership, explore our F&SL and student organizational structure, share information across our programs, learn from experts in the field, and of course spend plenty of time socializing and networking with each other.
This webpage is designed to serve as your information hub for our Big 10 Conference and will be updated with new information as it becomes available. We can't wait to see you all soon!
Corbin Smyth, Executive Director
Norris University Center
Tracey Gibson-Jackson, Director
Student Organizations & Activities
Registration
- Registration cost: $475
- includes all meals, sessions, activities & conference related transportation
- Registration deadline: Friday, September 18
Thank You to Our Supporting Partners
About Northwestern
Northwestern is a comprehensive research university that is deeply interdisciplinary across multiple schools and units. Our rigorous yet empathetic academic environment provides a robust mixture of theory and practice, with an emphasis on top-tier research, new knowledge, creative expression and practical application.
Schedule & Speakers
The below schedule offers a sneak peek of the opportunities our team is planning for attendees. Times, details and locations will adjust as the conference nears; however, overall conference dates and start/end times will not change as you book your travel. Keep an eye on this page for updates as we near!
Sunday, October 18
| Afternoon | Arrival and check in |
|---|---|
| 5:00pm |
|
| Late Evening | Hospitality room at the Graduate open |
Monday, October 19
| 8:00am | Optional van to Norris University Center |
|---|---|
| Morning |
|
| Afternoon |
|
| Evening |
|
Tuesday, October 20
| 8:00am | Optional van to Guild Lounge |
|---|---|
| Morning |
|
| Afternoon |
|
| Evening |
|
| Late Evening | Hospitality Room Open |
Wednesday, October 21
| 8:00am | Optional van to Norris |
|---|---|
| Morning |
|
| 1:00pm |
|
Travel & Lodging
Guest Lodging
We are happy to offer a reservation block of rooms at the Graduate Hotel (1625 Hinman Avenue), in the heart of Evanston and just a short walk to campus! Easy walk to Norris. The conference will also provide shuttles at specific times (schedule to come).
| Saturday Hotel Nightly Rate | $269 |
|---|---|
| Sun, Mon, Tues Hotel Nightly Rate | $179 |
| Hotel Block Booking Deadline | Friday, September 18, 2026 |
| Overnight Parking | $35/car/night (no need to pre-book) |
Parking on Campus
Parking is available for $9 day (pay by CC), in the South Parking Garage (no overnight parking).
Evanston & Chicago
Things To Do in Evanston
Consistently ranked as one of America's top college towns, Evanston has beaches, shops and restaurants to explore. The perfect combination of a college town and bustling small city, Evanston offers everything you could need or want, and all just steps away.
Helpful Evanston Sites
- City of Evanston
- Evanston Chamber of Commerce
- Downtown Evanston
- Main-Dempster Mile
- Central Street Evanston
- Evanston Made
- Visit Chicago Northshore
Things To Do In Chicago
There's nowhere quite like Chicago. For a quick trip into the city, simply board the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)'s Purple Line or cruise down Lakeshore Drive; you'll be there in about the same amount of time it takes to walk the length of our Evanston campus.
Helpful Chicago Sites