Division of Student Affairs Annual Report 2018-19
Conference and Event Services
Highlights
16,500
campus events supported
37
conferences hosted
$5,767,745
in budget
$5,532,481
in expenses
The Conference and Event Services (CES) team comprises 16 full-time staff, 4 graduate students and 146 student employees. In 2018-19 this team clocked 85,000 hours and provided event support for 16,500 campus events and over 400 community, wedding and external events.
CES leads the effort for the annual fall and spring commencement ceremonies. This year, over 4,100 individuals participated in graduation, adding to the University's 232,000-strong alumni base. Additionally, CES supported the Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s commencement and white coat ceremonies. Both events served over 350 medical students and 9,000 friends and family members.
In partnership with the Office of the President, CES revamped the look and feel of the President’s First Year Convocation, which welcomes 4,000 first-year students to campus each fall.
Conference Services is a new avenue within the department. During its inaugural year, staff planned 37 conferences, which hosted 2,879 registrants with one-stop-shop conference operations and services.
CES hosts both the Kennedy Lecture Series and the Frontiers in Science Lecture Series. During the academic year, the programs welcomed over 4,000 attendees to hear women’s rights icon Anita Hill, Harry Potter Art Director Molly Hughes and Science Podcasting phenoms, Gastropod, among others.
New updates to CES equipment and venues include Convocation Center scoreboard upgrades, technology and lighting upgrades and an auditorium curtain installation. These updates will increase efficiencies and offer flexibility with event customization.