FAQ
When is Hobsons U?
Where is Hobsons University?
When can I make my hotel reservation?
Is there transportation from the airport?
What restaurants are nearby?
When is the Call for Proposal for presentations?
How do I volunteer to be a speaker?
Who attends Hobsons U?
Should Common Application member schools attend?
Do you need to register in advance?
How do I register?
How do I change or cancel my registration later?
What is the cost of attending?
Payment
Meals Offered
Do you have to attend all days of the conference?
Can I bring a guest or my family?
How do I sign up for a consultation meeting?
How long are the sessions?
How many people attended last year?
What is the conference agenda?
What awards are there this year?
What is there to do in Nashville?
What is the benefit of the conference?
What is the dress code?
What presentations should I go see?
When do I need to check in?
Will I be able to learn about Hobsons products I don't use?
Workshop information
Should Intelliworks clients attend?
Will Intelliworks staff be at the conference?
Do you have other questions?
When is Hobsons U?
July 16 to 19, 2011 in Nashville, TN at the Gaylord Opryland.
Where is Hobsons University?
At the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, TN.
When can I make my hotel reservation?
Hotel reservations can be made now. Book your room as soon as possible as space is limited. We have secured a discounted rate of $164 + tax per night at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN. More information about the hotel can be found here.
Is there transportation from the airport?
The Gaylord Opryland is a 15 minute drive from the Nashville airport. There are several transportation options available and these can be found at the hotel’s website here.
What restaurants are nearby?
There are many restaurants located within the hotel. Visit here to see a listing.
When is the Call for Proposal for presentations?
The main conference consists primarily of client presentations. A Call for Proposals (from clients) is now closed. Please check the Speakers tab for information on our selected speakers.
How do I volunteer to be a speaker?
The Call for Proposals is now closed. Please contact us at HU@hobsons.com with any questions.
Who attends Hobsons U?
Whether you work in recruitment, admissions, enrollment, retention, student success or IT, Hobsons University is a valuable and affordable conference for any college, university or institution using Hobsons technology or marketing solutions. It is also highly recommended for Common App Online members.
We also welcome Intelliworks clients to the conference and will have content relevant for you.
Should Common Application member schools attend?
Yes. There are specific sessions for the Common App Online at Hobsons U, including sessions led by Common App management.
Do you need to register in advance?
Yes. In order to attend Hobsons University you need to register in advance. The registration link can be found here.
How do I register?
The registration link can be found at here.
How do I change or cancel my registration later?
If someone needs to cancel their registration, add/drop/change workshops or change their registration information, they can do so easily by logging into the registration system (they will create a login upon registration) and updating the information themselves. With your initial registration, you will create an account; so remember your login information. You may also call and we can update the information manually for you.
What is the cost of attending?
The conference is free for the first two attendees from your institution. Additional attendees cost just $300 per person. Pre-conference workshops are $200 per person, per workshop. Pre-conference workshops are conducted by Hobsons staff and are hands-on training opportunities on selected products. Hobsons provides some meals; attendees are responsible for the rest of their meals, and travel costs.
Payment
Payment may be made via credit card on the website when registering. You may also choose to pay by check. We strongly recommend credit card payments.
Meals Offered
Breakfast will be provided on all three days of the main conference (July 17-19). Drinks and reception-style food will be provided at the opening reception (July 16) and the awards reception (July 18). Dinner and lunches will NOT be provided, however, there are many dining options in the hotel.
Do you have to attend all days of the conference?
No. You can attend for as little as one day or as much as all four days. By staying all four days you will see that the event provides new ideas, opportunities to network and share best practices with other clients, and a chance to build stronger relationships with Hobsons. However, if you can only stay for a short amount of time, you will still benefit.
Can I bring a guest or my family?
Some attendees do choose to bring their families with them to Hobsons University. However, all conference sessions are reserved for registered clients only. If you wish to bring guests to the opening reception, the awards reception, and/or area tours, an additional charge will apply. Please register any family members or guests during the registration process.
How do I sign up for a consultation meeting?
Visit the consultation room to have a one-on-one session with Hobsons staff. The consultation room will be open for walk-ins as well as pre-scheduled meetings with your Hobsons (including Intelliworks) or Common App Online point of contact. A sign-up sheet will be available onsite, and we will be launching an online advance sign-up in June.
How long are the sessions?
The main conference sessions last for 1 hour. Workshops are for 90 minutes.
How many people attended last year?
We had over 800 attendees in 2011 and we expect nearly 1,000 attendees in 2012.
What is the conference agenda?
The conference starts on July 16 with a day of pre-conference workshops (9am to 5pm), the new attendee orientation (5-6pm) and the opening reception (6pm). The main conference runs 2 and 1/2 days from July 17 through 19. The detailed agenda can be found here.
What awards are there this year?
We expect to have similar awards to those presented last year. The 2011 categories were: Circle of Excellence, Hobsons Choice Award, Product Expertise-Marketing, Product Expertise-Technology, Service & Commitment Award, Visionary Award, Peer Excellence Award. Awards will be avilable to Intelliworks clients, as well.
What is there to do in Nashville?
Your visit to Nashville wouldn't be complete without visiting the main landmarks, such as the historic Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame. Click here for additional information.
What is the benefit of the conference?
Hobsons U is a great opportunity for attendees to connect with Hobsons staff (including Intelliworks staff) and other product users to learn how to get the most out of their investment. Whether you work in recruitment, admissions, enrollment, retention, student success or IT, Hobsons University is a valuable and affordable conference for any college, university or institution using Hobsons technology or marketing solutions. One great thing about Hobsons University is the content. Our clients – other product users like you who are interested in best practices – give the presentations. Based on your feedback from last year, we will also be incorporating more sessions on Hobsons processes and products directly, as well as ‘how to’ sessions.
What is the dress code?
There is no official dress code at Hobsons University. You are encouraged to wear whatever is comfortable to you. We have had attendees come dressed in shorts and t-shirts and some in full business attire. Most attendees, however, tend to wear business casual during the day. Two events have specific dress suggestions, so make sure you pack appropriately. For the opening reception, wear your school colors, jersey or other university branded clothing. For the awards reception, dress in your western saloon gear – cowboy boots a must.
What presentations should I go see?
You can attend any presentation you like, but most clients choose sessions that apply to the product(s) they use or may be interested in. The agenda provides descriptions of the sessions so you can assess the best options for you. If you are new to Hobsons U, attend our first time attendee orientation to get some help tips.
When do I need to check in?
For those of you attending a workshop on July 16th, the registration desk will open at 8am that morning. Registration will be open all day on the 16th and open early on the morning of the 17th.
Will I be able to learn about Hobsons products I don't use?
Sessions at Hobsons University are client-driven and focused on all types of products, from CRM and online applications to social media and recruitment/marketing solutions. Clients may choose to attend any sessions they wish. Many clients have found Hobsons University extremely beneficial in learning about products and services they don’t currently use. There will also be a number of Hobsons-presented sessions on our solutions. Additionally, Hobsons representatives are available throughout the event should you wish to gain more in-depth knowledge about a particular product or service.
Workshop information
Workshops cost $200 per person per workshop. Pre-conference workshops are conducted by Hobsons staff and are a great opportunity (for a reasonable cost) to get hands on training on products, as well as interact with other product users. A laptop is required.
Should Intelliworks clients attend?
Yes. There will be specific sessions for Intelliworks clients. These sessions will be led by Intelliworks clients and Intelliworks staff. You may also attend any other session at Hobsons U.
Will Intelliworks staff be at the conference?
Yes. We will have service and product staff for the Intelliworks product at the conference for you to interact with. They are looking forward to seeing you.
Do you have other questions?
Simply e-mail HU@hobsons.com with any questions.
