GCC First Timers Guide
Is this your first Graduate Career Consortium Annual Conference?
We are glad to have you as part of our community of professionals!
To help you navigate your first GCC Annual Conference, your Grad Career Consortium community has created a "first-timer's guide" with frequently asked questions. We'll continue to update this page as we get closer to the conference date, so stay tuned!
Conference Logistics | What to bring to the Conference? | GCC LingoConference Logistics
Dates/time: June 22- Thursday, June 25, 2026
Pre-Conference Workshop: June 22
Post-Conference: June 25
Annual Conference programming begins on June 23
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Sacramento
Registration is coming soon!
What should I bring to the conference?
- Business cards
- Business casual clothing (wear comfortable shoes!)
- A notebook
- Writing utensils
GCC Lingo
What is pre-con?
The Preconference (affectionately known as "pre-con") for New Professionals seeks to connect individuals new to the field of graduate-level career and professional development to each other and the many resources the GCC provides. What to expect at Pre-con from 2024 attendee, Alla Mirzoyan
Why I would recommend Pre-con from conference committee member, Rowena Winkler
How pre-con helped me as a new professional, from 2024 attendees Jennifer Oscasio Adorno
What are dine-arounds?
Dine-arounds are a chance to connect with other GCCers in a small group setting over dinner at a local restaurant! This offers the chance for meeting other GCC members and getting to explore a fun restaurant together. Are you interested in a dine-around? See the conference social events page, and when our Whova event app launches, you can see announcements and sign-ups for dine-arounds there!What are communities of practices?
Communities of practice allow GCC members to gather together around a shared topic or affinity group in a smaller setting. Communities of practice range from employer engagement, to international GCCers, mentoring, or serving master’s students, and more! Communities of practice often post when they are meeting on our announcement board, many of the communities of practice also present their work at the Presentation Showcase during the conference and host dine-arounds. See a full list of communities of practice so you know what presentations to stop by at the showcase!What are member generated sessions (MGS)?
Member generated sessions are the forum for GCC members to present about their work, new or existing initiatives, strategies for success, etc! This is a great opportunity to hear from colleagues about the things they are doing and gain actionable takeaways of things that good be good for the populations you serve. Once you register for the annual conference, the conference committee will start updating the Whova event app with member generated sessions!What are regional meetings?
GCC is divided into 7 different geographic regions. These regions provide the opportunity for building community across fellow GCCers in closer geographic proximity. Regional meetings will happen at the annual conference and are a great way to meet and network with others in your region.What is the presentation showcase?
The presentation showcase is a space for learning more about getting involved in GCC as well as hearing from GCC members at their work. At the presentation showcase, you will have the opportunity to learn more about the various committees and communities of practice. Talking to GCC colleagues at the presentation showcase is a great way to learn about how you can get more involved!Return to the annual conference main page