2025 ACCCCS Conference FAQs

If this is your first in-person conference or you just want a refresher on how our in-person conferences go, this is for you!

Where will the conference be?

This year’s conference will be held at the Chicago Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile.  We have block of rooms reserved at the conference rate of $229 per night plus applicable fees and taxes. You are welcome to stay at one of the many other hotels in the area but staying onsite maximizes opportunities for informal connection with other members. If there is no availability in the ACCCCS room block when you book, please contact us at [email protected] so we can see if it possible to expand our block.

What meals are included in my registration fee?

Your registration fee includes breakfast on three mornings: Wednesday (May 7), Thursday (May 8), and Friday (May 9). It also includes dinner at the banquet on Thursday (May 8).  All other meals are on your own and are not covered by your registration fee.

Will there be an opportunity to arrange for affinity group meetings?

Yes!  We will have a Google doc sign up to allow folks to create specific affinity group meals or meetings together. Please feel free to look at the conference schedule and organize times on the Google doc. Send announcements to the membership via email if you arrange a meeting well in advance of the conference and/or via the app when the conference app when it becomes available.

I hear there are fun outings planned for members on Wednesday afternoon.  What are the outings and when can I sign up?

On Wednesday, May 7, we have conference programming until about 3pm.  The rest of the afternoon is free for members to connect and explore Chicago together.  We have made special arrangements for a few outings that members can choose from. It’s a great way to meet and connect with other members in an informal and fun setting, especially if you’re new to ACCCCS or to our in-person conferences. Go to the Organized Outings page for more information about the specific options. Timing permits for attendance at one afternoon outing plus the evening outing if you choose to do both. However, the afternoon outings have conflicting times, so you may only choose one of those. If you want to participate in 1-2 outings, I encourage you to sign up early. Spots are limited and have tended to go quickly in the past. If none of the outings speak to you, you can certainly explore the city on your own or gather a group together to see some other sights.

What should I wear to this conference?  

You will see a range of attire from casual to business casual. Wear whatever makes you comfortable! One of the great things about this conference is that it allows us to step away from our roles in our centers and be ourselves among peers. Once here, you will quickly realize we are a relaxed bunch. You will rarely see suits, ties, or fancy formal clothing, but feel free to be formal if that is your jam.  You may see lots of jeans, polos, t-shirts, sneakers, and sandals.  Some of our members might be in business casual when presenting and/or for the dinner banquet on Thursday May 8, but others will remain casual. Some local area attractions have dress codes (like no shorts or sneakers), so just be aware of requirements if there is somewhere special you want to go. On Wednesday, we encourage you to wear a t-shirt with your school’s logo as a way of connecting people to their institutions.

I have heard long time members talk about the “hospitality room.” What is that? 

It was a place to meet other clinical directors, connect, and unwind. Back in the day, we were able to have hospitality rooms in one of the hotel rooms. Hotel security standards have made this venue virtually impossible in 2025. While we initially reserved a formal “hospitality room” for gathering, it would have been cost-prohibitive for us to have that room catered and the space would feel like a conference room.

The reality is that the Hyatt Centric Magnificent Mile has a much more comfortable lobby seating area that seems like a great place for members to gather. The hotel restaurant and bar are adjacent to the space. My hope is that we will be able to use our conference app and Google docs to coordinate gathering places in and around the property. There are sooooo many great places to gather that can accommodate your preferred social environment (loud with crowd, relax and chill, cozy nooks, quiet corners). Whatever your vibe is, you can find it!

When does the conference officially start and end? 

The official conference programming kicks off with a welcome address by our president and our first program at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, May 6. There will also be a welcome reception for everyone that evening. We end programming around 12:30 pm on Friday May 9. If you are an incoming Board member, please plan to attend Board meetings on Tuesday May 6th from 8am-11:30 and on Friday May 9th from 8am-9am.

While there are no official programs on the morning of Tuesday, May 6, or the afternoon of Friday, May 9, we encourage members to gather for consultation spaces, affinity groups, or social gatherings if they are available during these times. Feedback from last year’s conference attendees indicated that informal consultation and gathering spaces were so valuable, more were needed to continue meaningful discussions, and that attendees wished we had used the morning of the first day or afternoon of the last to extend the conference. If your schedules and budgets permit, Tuesday morning and Friday afternoon provide opportunities for additional consultation groups and informal roundtables, all of which would be organized at members’ discretion though the conference app and Google docs. If you know you would like to offer a consultation space or gathering during one of those times, please create an event on our Making Connections Sign-Up Sheet. If other members see these offerings, they may even arrive early for the conference or stay late to attend a specific focus gathering. It is even possible that these listings could help some members justify the need for getting to the conference earlier or staying later than the formal programming time when requesting leave/funding for the conference. So please post ideas as they come to you!

Do you get CE’s for the conference sessions? 

ACCCCS is approved to offer CE’s through the American Psychological Association. Members will have the opportunity to obtain approximately 12 CE’s during this conference. We recognize that some members may not be able to utilize APA credits, so please check with your state licensing board to see if our credits are accepted.