It is with much disappointment that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 Region II Conference, scheduled to be held in Covington, KY this coming November.

How did we come to this decision?
This decision did not come easy. Several individuals were consulted at a variety of levels to provide insight and information which ultimately led us to this unprecedented conclusion. Individuals involved in this decision-making process included the 2020 Conference Host and Program Chairs, the Finance and Sponsorship Committee Chair, the Communication Committee Chair, the Student Development Committee Chair, the Lifeguard Games Chair, NIRSA HQ Staff, the former RII Regional Representative and Student Leader, Emily, and myself. The main factors which led to this decision included the health and safety of our members, anticipated reductions in professional development and travel budgets, potential impact to our sponsors and vendors, financial impact to NIRSA, and the overall uncertainty of how COVID-19 will impact our institutions as well as the conference site this fall.

Region II Conference 2021
As a result of this year’s cancellation, we have made the decision to push back our annual rotation of hosts for the regional conference one year. Keep Covington, KY in mind, as I am happy to announce we will be hosting the 2021 Regional Conference there November 10-12 next year. We will then continue as planned to host in Charlotte during the fall of 2022.

What does this mean for this fall?
Our plan moving forward is to continue advocating for professional development opportunities which support our members. Though we have a strong plan, there are still details which will be finalized over the coming months.

  • As State Workshops scheduled for the summer and early fall will most likely be affected by COVID-19, they will have an opportunity to reschedule later in the semester without overlapping with the RII Conference. Shifting to a virtual format for State Workshops is another option that a few states are taking advantage of.
  • We will work to launch virtual opportunities. This will include a virtual format of the Student Lead On in some capacity. Details will be announced in the coming months.

Once again, I would like to thank all of those who were involved in reaching what is not an easy decision. While I know it is not the outcome we would prefer, I feel it is the one in the best interest of our members. Best wishes to you, your families, and your institutions during this time.