Why Should I Attend the CACSD Conference?
Recently Adrian Warkentin, Vice President of CACSD, spent time reflecting on his experiences at CACSD Annual Conferences and realized why it’s such a valuable time for Student Life professionals. If you’ve never been, or maybe you haven’t been in a while, read on to see why Adrian thinks you should join us this year!
Why Should I Go to the CACSD Conference?
There are many reasons to attend the CACSD annual conference, but if I had to sum it up in one word, it would be this: Connection.
Sure, it's a wonderful bonus to explore a new corner of Canada — I'm excited to see the East Coast for the first time — but the most consistently valuable thing I've taken away from every conference I've attended has been the connections with the people at the conference.
Think about it: you walk in, meet someone new, tell them what you do… and you don't have to explain it. They get it. For most of us, that almost never happens anywhere else — and somehow, them understanding you helps you relax. There's a deep comfort and encouragement in being surrounded by people who truly understand your role…and you get to rest in that space for a few days. It's a beautiful picture of the body of Christ building one another up.
And once you realize these people understand your world, you start to realize they might also have insight into some of the problems you've been wrestling with. How do other schools structure their residences? Is their food services model working? How do they navigate discipline or handle orientation? You can just ask. I’ve found that some of the most valuable exchanges happen not in the sessions themselves, but over a meal, on a group outing, or in the evenings— those organic conversations where relationships are built and ideas are freely exchanged.
The connection doesn't end when the conference does, either. Now that you know someone — have shared a meal, laughed together, talked shop face to face — you're far more likely to reach out to them when a question comes up throughout the year. You'll also have a better sense of who to reach out to.
Beyond the relational, the student development focused content itself consistently sends me home with at least one or two fresh ideas to bring back to my role or my team. And the campus visits are a bonus: last year at Burman, for example, we picked up a practical idea for how they display emergency information in their residence rooms — simple, but something we could actually use.
I've been so grateful for the three CACSD conferences I've been able to attend, and I can't wait to see you all in New Brunswick for the next one in just a few weeks!
Adrian Warkentin
Dean of Students at Columbia Bible College
