Professor Tricia Rose, University of California at Santa Cruz, delivers a keynote address to students at the BSA Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government on February 18 at the UMC. (Photo/Larry Harwood)

CU Conference Services, a self-funded unit within the Department of Housing & Dining Services, has coordinated CU-Boulder's conference planning needs since 1953. Conference Services' seven staff members plan and execute over 110 conferences annually, accommodating the needs of 25,000 guests who visit our campus each year.

"We work hard, but when it all comes together and the conference goes well, it's very gratifying," said Debbie Cook, assistant director of Conference Services.

Each conference held at CU-Boulder is assigned a conference coordinator who handles all of the group's needs from beginning to end, providing ongoing assistance throughout each conference program. Their special knowledge of conference planning and university system operations enables them to coordinate with other university departments to provide a full range of service through one office.

"We refer to Conference Services as a 'one stop shop' where people can come to receive assistance with every aspect of a conference," said Cook. "Not many universities supply that service and that makes us unique and able to provide high quality services from start to finish."

Coordinators regularly assist with conference pre-planning, on-site management and post-conference reconciliation. Negotiating hotel accommodations and contracts,arranging for audio-visual equipment and catering, creating fun experiences for guests of the university, shuttling guests and registering attendees are among their regular duties.

Recently, Conference Services provided service for more than 1,000 students attending this year's Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government, Feb. 17-19. Odyssey of the Mind is the next big event coming up in May, which 7,000 people are expected to attend.

Conference Services assists the many groups that come to campus in the summer for sports camps, scientific conferences, youth groups and more. They're busy during the academic year as well, with orientation, Family Weekend, youth and adult groups and many other conference events that are a regular part of university life.

For more information about Conference Services visit the web site at conferences.colorado.edu/.