Centers of attention: roles of collegiate conference centers come into focus - includes list of members of Assn. of Conference and Events Directors International for Collegiate Conference and Events Professionals - Cover Story

Black Issues in Higher Education, March 20, 1997 by Carolyn Bennett

Scheduling conferences is one of the ways campus facilities differ from regular hotels or conference centers.

"Our academic classes have first priority," says Karen McDonald, university conference and facility use manager at University of North Carolina-Charlotte. "Once our course schedule is completed, then student organizations are able to reserve their space. Once they reserve their space, it's open to university departments. Then we open it up to off-campus groups for conferences or seminars."

As a result, McDonald said she cannot confirm space until a few months before groups need it -- something that would prevent a large group from meeting on campus.

UNC-Charlotte does not have a standalone conference center. What it has is typical of many campuses -- meeting and classroom space and residence halls in the summer. Its goal is to provide those to the campus and surrounding community and cover its own costs. Even so, it brings in about $1 million in revenue.

"Our long term plan for the year 2010 includes a proposal for a conference center," McDonald says.

McDonald sees a big future for campus conference centers "primarily because of the downsizing of organizations. They are looking for ways to save money. They have to have meetings, but they have to have ways to save money."

The summer is, for obvious reasons, the busiest time for college conference centers. Campuses are relatively empty, hosting only summer classes. And according to Lancaster, one of the biggest moneymakers for colleges is high school cheerleading camps.

"Some folks in academe say, `we don't need people cheerleading outside the windows in summer classes.' But they are high school students and the recruitment possibilities are enormous," said Lancaster.

RELATED ARTICLE: Institutional of members of Association of Conference and Events Directors International for Collegiate Conference and Events Professionals (ACED)

ACED is the organization of professional conference organizers on college campuses.