November 18, 2025
Regular Registration Closes
November 18, 2025
Hotel Group Rate Cut-off
2025 Civic Learning and Social Change Conference
Student Success Civic Engagement Career and Workforce Development Policy and Advocacy Supporting the Profession Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement
December 8 - December 10, 2025 Long Beach, CA
NASPA is thrilled to announce the launch of this new conference. Two conference tracks, Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement and Leadership, Belonging, and Social Change, will showcase the expertise of student affairs professionals as catalysts for enhancing civic learning and social change through community, curiosity, advocacy, pedagogy, and strategic thinking.
Presented By
Keynote Speakers
Closing Plenary: Leadership Perspectives: How to Enhance Access and Civic Learning to Empower the Next Generation
This plenary brings together distinguished leaders to share strategies for addressing changing social conditions and institutional contexts, enhancing access and sense of belonging, and catalyzing civic learning and social change.
Register for the Civic Learning and Social Change Conference!
Registration as a member is based on individual membership status at the time of the event. If your current membership will expire prior to the event, you will have the option to renew at the time of registration to receive the member rate.
If you are not a current member and are employed by a college or university that is an institutional member, you can join as a professional affiliate member for $80. If your institution is NOT a member, you can join as an associate affiliate member for $250. Both membership types provide access to the individual member rate for the event. Please visit the membership section of the NASPA website to learn more about membership types and benefits. We hope you’ll consider joining today!
The last day to apply for a registration refund is November 8, 2025. An administrative fee of $50 will be deducted from your refund. For a comprehensive listing of NASPA registration policies, please visit this page.
REGISTRATION FEES |
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| Early Registration 02/03/2025 to 10/10/2025 |
Regular Registration 10/11/2025 to 11/18/2025 |
Late Registration 11/19/2025 to 12/08/2025 |
NASPA Member |
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| $595 | $645 | $725 |
Non Member |
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| $795 | $845 | $925 |
Student Registration |
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| $360 | $360 | $360 |
HALF-DAY PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP REGISTRATION |
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NASPA Member and Student |
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| $75 | $95 | $125 |
Non Member |
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| $175 | $195 | $225 |
Pre-Conference Workshops
These 3-hour pre-conference workshops will all take place from 9am - 12pm Pacific Time on Monday, December 8. Registration is required.
Leading for Belonging in a Political Divisive Contexts
Presenter: Michael Gavin, President, Delta College
Through this session, participants will identify what they and/or their institutions can control in their political contexts, and what they cannot. They will leave with action plans for their campuses, which will include policies and procedures to revise, cultural leadership within and institution, and anticipation of legal and/or cultural changes because of academia being a focus of legislators locally, regionally, at the state and federal level.
Navigating Triggering and Hot Button Events: Critical Competencies for Facilitating Difficult Dialogues
Presenters:
- Alejandro Covarrubias, Consultant, Social Justice Training Institute
- Kathy Obear, President, Alliance for Change
Facilitating constructive dialogue and navigating triggering situations are core competencies for creating socially just campus communities. Dialogue can become “difficult” when participants feel “triggered” and experience intense, unexpected emotional reactions to the comments and actions of others. Effectively managing difficult triggering situations can result in greater understanding and communication. During this interactive session, participants will identify their common triggers and less effective reactions, practice tools to effectively navigate triggered reactions, and explore strategies to use triggering events as teachable moments.
Crossing Power Lines Without Getting Shocked: Effective Supervision in High-Voltage Times
Presenter: Nikkia Young, Consultant, Nikkia Young Consulting
Healthy cross-racial supervisory relationships in high-voltage times requires acknowledging that we’re racialized differently and hold different levels of power. Power lines create charge that stress and disorganize our nervous systems and relationships when not anticipated and grounded. Come open-hearted—leave equipped to think systemically/ act relationally to foster supervision that encourages critical self-reflection, accountability, authenticity, vulnerability and solidarity. With down-to-earth relatable examples, storytelling, visuals and reflect-connect time, we’ll address: reactive/ effective coping, neurobiology-informed relationship, negotiating conflict gracefully and YOUR next step.
#LetsTalkClass: Understanding Class Beyond Money and Navigating Class Related Dynamics on Campus and Beyond
Presenters:
- Becky Martinez, Consultant, Infinity Martinez Consulting
- James Washington, President, Washington Consulting Group
Class comes with obscure definitions, fluidity, and a sense of taboo and while we never talk about class we are always talking about it. This session provides concepts related to class beyond money while also engaging the lived reality of class that shapes how students, staff, and faculty navigate campus and beyond. Participants will explore how class is embedded in the academy and leave with language, tools and strategies to create greater inclusion with a class framework.
When Caring Goes Too Far: The Art of Helpful Limits
Presenters:
- Courtney Gutierrez, Associate Director, Northeastern University
- Grace Freeburg, Program Coordinator, Northeastern University Oakland
This interactive workshop enhances skills in care-centered boundary-setting, benefiting both students and staff while safeguarding against dual relationships. Participants engage in activities and role-play to learn trauma-informed boundary techniques, strength-based referral discussions, and build professional confidence. By the end, attendees receive practical scripts, referral guides, and tailored boundary plans to foster caring connections while adhering to professional boundaries.
Anchoring Free Expression Education in Campus Civic Engagement
Presenters:
- Jill Dunlap, Assistant Vice President for Research and Policy, NASPA
- Aileen Favilla, Program Manager for Campus Free Speech, PEN America
PEN America facilitators will share strategies for teaching free expression developed over hundreds of workshops delivered to campus communities, empowering participants to return to their campuses with newfound comfort and confidence to be leaders in a "Campus for All." Participants will be encouraged to share their own experiences integrating free expression education on their own campus and will collaborate with one another to generate new ideas for anchoring free expression education within campus Civic Engagement offices and programs.
Log-in and Register for 2025 Civic Learning and Social Change Conference
Request a Meeting at CLSC
Is your NASPA Constituent Group interested in hosting a meeting during the 2025 Civic Learning and Social Change Conference? We have set aside time in the schedule that does not overlap with educational sessions or plenaries for groups to host a meeting: Tuesday, December 9, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Pacific Time
The assigned meeting space will be free of charge to NASPA Constituent Groups and affiliated organizations. Corporate, non-profit, and other companies will be charged a fee if the request is not part of a sponsorship.
All requests are subject to NASPA approval. Meeting space is limited, so submit your request early!
Detailed Schedule
Sponsors
The 2025 NASPA Civic Learning and Social Change Conference is your opportunity to advance civic learning and democratic engagement efforts in higher education, and showcase your organization as a catalyst for enhancing social change when it has never been more important.
The application for 2025 is now live! Click here to explore exhibit and sponsorship opportunities, and click the button below to submit your application.
Questions? Connect with Juan Pelaez-Barboza, Assistant Director of Corporate Fulfillment & Advertising, at 202-903-0657 or [email protected] with any inquiries regarding exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities.
Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!
Location and Lodging
All conference activities will take place at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.
Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Address: 200 South Pine Avenue, Long Beach CA 90802
Phone: 562-491-1234
Group Room Rate: $189/night
Explore the Area
Planning Your Travel
Planning Your Travel
There are five airports in close proximity to the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.
- Long Beach Airport, Daugherty Field (LGB) - 10 miles (18-minute drive) from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- Los Angeles Airport (LAX) - 21 miles (36-minute drive) from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- John Wayne Airport (SNA) - 23 miles (37-minute drive) from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- Burbank Airport (BUR) - 43 miles (54-minute drive) from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- Ontario Airport (ONT) - 53 miles (1 hour, 13-minute drive) from the Hyatt Regency Long Beach
Hotel Parking
The Hyatt Regency Long Beach has on-site parking. Fee: $44 daily for self-park.
Dining Options
Nearby to Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- The Social List - (Comfort Food, $$, 9 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- moonbowls (Healthy Korean Bowls, $, 10 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- BO-beau kitchen + roof tap (French restaurant, $$$, 4 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Donburi Cafe (Japanese, $, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Dog Haus (American, $, 6 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- The Ordinarie Tavern (American, $$, 6 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Thai District (Thai, $$, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Zuzu's Petals (American, $$, 6 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Ellie's (Italian, $$$, 6 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Alder & Sage ($$, 8 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- AMMATOLI (Mediterranean, $$$, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
Vegan and Vegetarian
- The Grain Café - Long Beach Mexican vegan (Mexican, $, 13 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Higher Taste, Plant-Based (Plant based comfort food, $, 4 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Vegan Castle (Sushi, $, 9 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Plant Power Fast Food ($, 16 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach
- The Wild Chive (Comfort food, $$, 7 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- PlanTita's Kitchen (Mexican, $$, 9 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Vegan Pizza Long Beach (Pizza, $, 7 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
Coffee Shops
- Alder & Sage ($$, 8 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- La Sala ($$, 2 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- G.T.A Coffee shop ($, 4 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Bluestone Lane Long Beach Coffee Shop ($$, 4 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Rose Park Roasters ($, 3 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- DoLy's Delectables ($, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Recreational Coffee ($, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Loose Leaf & Coffee Company ($, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- East Village Cafe ($$, 4 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
- Steadfast Cafe on Broadway ($$, 5 minutes from Hyatt Regency Long Beach)
Additional Options
Downtown Long Beach Member Restaurants
Museums and Attractions
Museum of Latin American Art (628 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 - 7-minute drive)
- Experience the nation’s leading museum of modern and contemporary Latin American art and culture.
Pacific Island Ethnic Art Museum (695 Alamitos Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90802 - 7-minute drive)
- Enjoy and amplify the collective wisdom of the Pacific Islands people of Oceania (Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia) through rotating installations and lived experiences.
Long Beach Museum of Art (2300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90803 - 7-minute drive)
- Enjoy both the permanent and rotating art installations in this historic Long Beach museum.
Rancho Los Cerritos (4600 Virginia Road, Long Beach, CA 90807 - 18-minute drive)
- Rancho Los Cerritos is a historic home, gardens, and a nonprofit museum that provides educational programming, engaging exhibitions, community events, and historic interpretation.
Disneyland (Disneyland Park, Anaheim, CA 92802 - 33-minute drive)
Nearby Colleges and Universities
- California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) (1250 Bellflower Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90840 - 18 minute drive)
- Long Beach City College (LBCC) (4901 E Carson St, Long Beach, CA 90808 - 20 minute drive)
- University of Southern California (USC) (3607 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90089 - 32 minute drive)
Walking Tours
Downtown Long Beach Alliance provides various walking tours of downtown Long Beach: https://downtownlongbeach.org/dtlb/walk-dtlb/
Take these self-guided tours of Long Beach and its murals detailed on GPS My City:
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https://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/long-beach-introduction-walking-tour-5793.html
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https://www.gpsmycity.com/tours/long-beach-murals-walking-tour-5794.html
DTLB Safety Escorts
Seven days a week, you can call one of the Downtown Long Beach Alliance’s Safety Ambassadors to escort you free of charge to and from a place in the central business district.
Safety Escorts are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Call 562-244-1365 during these hours of operation to request a Safety Escort. Response time is typically about 5 minutes, and the Ambassador can escort you to your car, building, hotel, or workplace.
Public Transportation
Metro Bus
An extensive network of over 165 bus routes serves the county. Fare can be paid using cash (exact change) or a TAP card. Regular fare is $1.75 and is good for 2 hours of unlimited transfers in one direction.
Metro Rail
Metro rail refers to the A Line, B Line, C Line, D Line, E Line and K Line. There are 109 stations in the system, each offering connections to Metro bus. Payment of fare requires a TAP card. Regular fare is $1.75 and is good for 2 hours of unlimited transfers in one direction.
Where to get a TAP Card
- Ticket Vending Machines: TAP cards can be purchased at TAP vending machines (TVMs) located at all Metro rail, J and G Line stations. Locate a TVM.
- TAP is sold at retail partners Ralph’s, Northgate Market, Continental Currency and many more stores across L.A. Find a store near you.
- Buy your TAP card online by creating a TAP account on TapToGo.net
- Download the TAP App and add funds to your virtual card.
Conference Tracks
The Leadership, Belonging, and Social Change Conference Track emphasizes the expertise of student affairs professionals as catalysts for enhancing social change through curiosity, innovation, and strategic thinking.
Establishing and Strengthening Pathways for Success and Belonging
- Thinking outside the box to respond to changing social conditions impacting student enrollment, persistence, and belonging
- Applying data frameworks and assessment mechanisms to understand the impact of changes in practice
- Preparing all students with the skills and capacities to improve quality of life in their communities
Building Systems for Sustainable, Healing-Centered Leadership
- Recognizing and supporting the needs of staff who are navigating uncertainty, fatigue, career discernment, and institutional change
- Cultivating sustainable, adaptive leadership that supports shifting student needs and institutional contexts
- Implementing practices that build empathy, trust, collaboration, and growth to enable healthy excellence for practitioners
Advancing Student Affairs through Innovative Research and Practice
- Fostering, applying, and propagating research that spans boundaries, builds curiosity, and advances innovation in practice
- Building and opening pathways into research for those who contribute new perspectives and methods
- Cultivating effective student affairs and academic affairs collaboration to support student success and institutional missions
The Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement Conference Track brings together higher education professionals from both student affairs and academic affairs, along with students, to advance civic learning and democratic engagement efforts in higher education, ensuring that students who graduate from colleges and universities, both public and private, are prepared to be the informed, engaged citizens our communities and democracy need.
Conference Track Focus Areas
- Ensuring continuity of civic engagement work outside of election years
- Incorporating experiential learning opportunities
- Ensuring sustainable campus-wide civic education and engagement
- Assessing and implementing curricular and pedagogical strategies
- Assessing and implementing co-curricular and student-led programmatic strategies
- Expanding civic engagement beyond the institution
Continuing Education
NASPA is able to provide continuing education credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd) at this event. NASPA is also able to offer a general certificate of attendance.
The due date to submit a continuing education or certificate request for this event is January 30, 2026. You will receive the certificate via email a few weeks after the event. For questions regarding continuing education, please email [email protected].
Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd)
NASPA has been approved by the Higher Education Consortium for Student Affairs Certification to provide CE credit for Certified Student Affairs Educators (CSAEd). Programs that qualify for CE credit in this program will be clearly identified. NASPA is solely responsible for all aspects of this program.
CSAEd Credit Instructions
Use the NASPA Events app to obtain CSAEd credit for the 2025 NASPA Civic Learning and Social Change Conference. Review the About CE Credits section in the app for more details.
NASPA Guiding Principles and Code of Ethics
To read more about NASPA's Guiding Principles and Code of Ethics, please visit here.