By Elizabeth Morgan, Chief of External Relations and Zenia Henderson, Chief Program Officer
Read time: Three minutes
If you joined us in Atlanta, GA for our return to in-person National Conference last fall, you may know that we are headed to Dallas, TX this October 16-18 for our 2023 National Conference (don't forget to register here). Some members have expressed objections to state government actions concerning reproductive rights, migrant rights, transgender student rights, or gun safety, and have asked whether the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) can relocate our conference
outside of Texas.
We respect and understand these concerns and share the commitment to systems that support and protect all people, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender, or immigration status. We are guided by a commitment to transform policy and practice that will
positively impact students, and we acknowledge that change comes in the long-term, challenging, and brave work of transforming the status quo. For several reasons, NCAN has chosen to keep the 2023 conference in Dallas. There are a few things we want
to share about our decision and hope that you see the positive impact and potential influence of our decision.
Changing locations won’t change the fact that we have many NCAN members and member-served students there. We are committed to lifting up the dozens of member organizations in that region that work relentlessly to achieve greater postsecondary
equity for students of color and students from low-income backgrounds in spite of the inequities they face. Part of our work involves bringing conversations to where they are needed most, in addition to focusing on local achievements and solutions.
Learning with and supporting colleagues from around the country is one of the greatest benefits NCAN members experience in our network.
Texas is a vital part of the postsecondary equity community. It presents both successes and challenges that the greater NCAN community can learn from and help address, in solidarity. With more than 575,000 Pell Grant recipients annually,
Texas is second only to California in the number of postsecondary students from families with limited financial means. No matter their views on controversial state policies, NCAN’s Texas members work within their state context to serve students
and advance policies and practices that support them.
There’s a significant economic impact. Cancelling a conference primarily falls on low-wage travel and hospitality workers with limited effects on state policymakers or corporations. Secondly, it falls on our network, given that NCAN
contracts with a conference hotel five or more years in advance. Cancelling the event would incur a financial penalty of more than $300,000, which would severely impact NCAN’s ability to produce a quality conference in another location.
Dallas is in fact a welcoming community with the highest possible score from the Human Rights Campaign Metropolitan Equality Index (MEI). The MEI examines
how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are of LGBTQ+ people who live and work there. Cities are rated based on non-discrimination laws, the municipality as an employer, municipal services, law enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ+
equality.
Our conference location is safe. The Hyatt Regency Dallas premises is private property with a gun safety policy that permits
only on-duty law enforcement and military personnel to carry firearms.
We spread the love all over the country. NCAN hosts the conference in a different region each year in order to ease the travel burden on our cross-country membership. Dallas serves as a central location for folx from all corners of
the country.
NCAN respects that some members may choose not to attend the 2023 conference because of Texas state policies that conflict with their values.* As always, we will do our utmost to share learning from the conference with those not in attendance. Upcoming
national conferences will be held in Anaheim, CA (2024) and New Orleans, LA (2025).
*Caution: pregnant persons concerned about the need for emergency health services related to pregnancy should carefully consider their choice to attend Conference due to Texas' restrictive laws around the subject.
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