Sometimes attending a new conference can feel intimidating. We’ve assembled this guide to make your experience at the annual meeting of the Sociology of Education Association a bit easier:
Registration
How do I register for the conference?
Register for the conference through the Sociology of Education Association Conference Eventbrite page (located on the tab of this website for the current year of the conference). Registration fees vary by year and are approximately $90 for graduate students and $160 for faculty, researchers, and other attendees. There are no membership fees for the Sociology of Education Association.
Do I need to bring my printed ticket to the conference?
No, you do not need a paper ticket. When you arrive in the conference room, a volunteer will check you into the conference and provide you with a name tag.
Can I update my registration information?
Yes, you can update your registration information at any time by going to your Eventbrite account.
Transportation
What are my transportation and parking options for the conference?
Attendees have several airport options: Monterey (MRY), San Jose (SJC) and San Francisco (SFO) are the most popular. From MRY, you can take a cab/Uber to Asilomar. From SJC or SFO, you can take the Monterey Airbus Shuttle. Many SEA attendees elect to rent a car, particularly when traveling in groups. Parking is available free of charge at Asilomar for those who drive. (They have parking lot maps at the registration desk.)
Accommodations
What housing and meal accommodations are available for the conference?
A dedicated website is now available for attendees to book their hotel rooms online. Single- and double-occupancy rooms are available. SEA attendees may also use the online reservation system to request a roommate.
The per-person totals below are based on a 2-night stay and include meals (dinner on arrival day, breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and breakfast and lunch on departure day) and ALL applicable fees & taxes.
1. Single Occupancy – $604.68 per person
2. Double Occupancy – $407.16 per person
Here is more information about the lodging and meals at Asilomar.
Where can I stay if Asilomar sells out, or if I prefer to stay offsite?
If Asilomar sells out for the weekend, please make reservations at either Rosedale Inn or Deer Haven. Both establishments offer lodging close to Asilomar. If you stay offsite, consider purchasing meal tickets at Asilomar. Meal tickets are available for purchase onsite and cost $20 for breakfast, $26 for lunch, and $41 for dinner. Please contact Asilomar about specific dietary needs you have to ensure they have options available.
Conference Attendance
What is the structure of the conference?
The conference starts on Friday, February 21st at 3pm afternoon and concludes at 1pm on Sunday, February 23rd. During that time there are a series of panel presentations (typically with 4-5 papers per panel) and a dedicated time slot for attendees to visit with poster presenters to discuss their research projects. There are also evening presentations by keynote speakers following the group dinners on Friday and Saturday. There are no concurrent sessions, which means everyone attends all of the sessions, which are held in the same room.
I’m giving a presentation. How should I prepare?
Be sure to note the time constraints for the talks in advance. There are typically five papers per session and 12 minutes for each presentation. Bring your own computer and a flashdrive with a copy of your presentation. Panelists typically load their presentation onto one presenter’s computer before the panel begins. With the shorter presentation format, consider skipping the literature review to get to the meat of your presentation.
What should I wear?
The general conference attire is business casual. We recommend also checking the weather before leaving as temperatures can fluctuate this time of year. Generally speaking, bring a windbreaker/jacket! The ocean is beautiful but it can bring some chilly wind from time to time.
Who can I contact if I have questions about the conference?
Contact the Contact the SEA Conference Registrar, Michael Gaddis at mgaddis AT soc DOT ucla DOT edu.
Sociology of Education Association 