Who attends ABACC Annual Conferences?

• Christian Liberal Arts Institutions
• Bible Colleges
• Seminaries
• All sizes, from very small to very large
• From all parts of the United States and Canada
• From a multitude of denominational backgrounds and affiliations
• From a variety of accrediting credentials, whether in the accreditation process or multi-accredited

Would you like to see a list of last year's conference attendees?
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Attendees will...

• Study and discuss issues specific to higher education through a Christian worldview perspective;
• Hear from top-notch experts and experienced professionals speaking about a variety of topics important to business officers;
• Cultivate long-term professional relationships with your colleagues and network with your peers;
• Discuss how other institutions solve universal problems;
• Gain insight to anticipate and respond to campus challenges;
• Learn from the "best practices" of your peers;
• Advance your technical expertise; and
• Refresh, rejuvenate, and prepare yourself to return to your campus ready and excited about your service.

Getting Budget Approval and Buy-In From Your President...

• Private higher education is under attack by economic forces, the media, and the government. Donor giving is drifting, families are finding it increasingly difficult to borrow, retention rates are plummeting, and the experts say the "real" downfall may not have even hit yet! We didn't learn how to deal with this in college. This is new. We need to re-learn everything we thought we knew. We cannot simply rely on old strategies to make it through. If we want to lead as successful business officers we need all new information. The ABACC Annual Conference provides that education.
• Building a top-notch network of like-minded peers is critical to the success of a business officer. None of us can do this alone. We need to be communicating, to be discussing the issues on our campus, and learning from the best practices of our peers. ABACC's roundtable discussions and the many other networking opportunities will provide dedicated time for building your network.
• Having 80+ exhibitors in one location will reduce the time you spend in the office researching and meeting with vendors. Plan to meet with particular vendors to discuss specific issues on your campus.
• Make a plan to look for specific solutions to particular problems. If your institution is struggling in a particular area, come with a well thought out plan to seek out step-by-step solutions to bring back to your campus. The ABACC Office will help you with your plan, helping you select the best workshops, connect with the right people, and develop a strategy to take back to your institution.
• Review the conference schedule. Prepare a list for your president of the topics that would most benefit your institution. For detailed descriptions of the sessions, email the ABACC office. We are happy to provide you with the necessary ammunition.
• ABACC is the ONLY association specifically serving business officers in Christian Higher Education. There is no place else to get high quality education for the business officer with a Christian worldview perspective. No one else provides these resources!
• The ABACC Annual Conference is the best deal in town. A good share of your registration fee is underwritten by ABACC's Corporate Partners, so your fees are significantly less than the actual cost of your attendance. Your registration fee covers the entire conference AND all of your meals. How much would you have to pay our high-end speakers to come to your campus - $1,000 each? $5,000 each? Plus expenses! Also, ABACC has chosen a conference center that is reasonably priced, with economical transportation options, and negotiated hotel rates that are far below what you can get on your own at similar hotels. ABACC has worked very hard to keep your costs very low!
• When you meet with your president to make the ask, prepare a detailed list of what you will bring back to the campus and be ready with a plan to show who will cover for you while you are away.
  
• Plan to bring back handouts and materials to share with colleagues who couldn't attend the conference.

What Are People Saying About ABACC Annual Conferences?

• ABACC Annual Conference attendees gave the February 2011 Annual Conference a rating of 1.67 on a scale of one to five, with one being high. 60% of conference attendees stated the conference exceeded their expectations.
• 60% of 2011 conference attendees rated the cost of the conference to be "acceptable" (the highest rating).
• Actual quotes:
  • "Best conference I've ever attended."
  • "I was blown away by the entire experience.  Way to go!"
  • "So good to be back with friends!"