Following Christ 2008: Frequently Asked Questions
| We've tried to think about some of the questions you might be asking about Following Christ 2008. Here's what we've come up with — and our answers. |
The Big Picture
Previous Audio
Registration Costs and Scholarships
Family Policies
Hotel and Reservations
Travel Arrangements
Day Ahead Events
Tracks
Preparing for the Conference
Cancellation Policy
Other Questions and Comments
The Big Picture
When is Following Christ 2008?
Following Christ 2008 (FC08) will begin on December 27, 2008, with several optional Day Ahead events. The main conference itself will begin on December 28 and end the morning of December 31. For more detail, you can look at the conference schedule.
Where is Following Christ 2008?
Following Christ 2008 will be held at the Marriott Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago, Illinois. Our location in the heart of this bustling city will provide all sorts of opportunities for immersion experiences around topics of faith and culture. Plus, the options for visiting museums, doing a little shopping, or taking in some family-friendly activities are endless. (See below for answers to questions you might have about the hotel itself.)
Who sponsors this event?
Following Christ 2008 is co-sponsored by InterVarsity’s Graduate & Faculty Ministries and InterVarsity Press.
How big will this conference be?
We’re planning for 1,500 delegates, so we’re in the ballpark of your average national professional society meeting. The fifteen tracks will average about a hundred delegates each.
Who should attend?
We think that anyone should come to Following Christ who holds a graduate degree in any academic or professional field — or who is pursuing one — and who wants to think about what it means to follow Jesus as a working professional or academic.
Hasn’t Following Christ been held before? And is there audio available from those conferences?
Yes, indeed, on both counts. The first event by this name was held in 1998, also in Chicago, and in 2002 we hosted the second Following Christ conference in Atlanta — events we now refer to as “FC98” and “FC02.” If you’re interested in catching some of the flavor of the plenary sessions, audio from FC98 and from FC02 is available here online.
Do you know that this overlaps with the Modern Language Association’s annual meeting?
Yes, alas, we do. We regret the inconvenience that this coincidence presents to our friends in this segment of the academy. It has proven unavoidable to create one scheduling problem or another when planning a major event like FC08.
Registration Costs and Scholarships
What’s the cost?
The early-bird rate for students is $285 — but see the Conference Fees page for complete details, including information about deposits, deadlines, and meals-only options.
The early-bird rate for the optional Day Ahead events is $90 —but once again, see the Conference Fees page for complete details.
Read below for information about lodging costs.
Are scholarships available?
Yes, there is a limited amount of funding available for need-based scholarships to FC08 delegates.
How do I get a scholarship?
All the details are laid out in our Scholarship Program. Please read it and, if you’re interested in applying, follow the instructions carefully. Naturally, everything goes more smoothly if you follow the required procedure.
How do I register?
All delegates register for FC08 using our secure online registration system. Conference registration is open now.
What’s included in the registration fee?
Registration includes access to Following Christ 2008 sessions (including plenary sessions, the track of your choice, seminars and workshops, plus after-hours music and arts events); special services; program materials; and breakfasts, dinners, and some snacks, starting with dinner on December 28 through breakfast on December 31.
Do I need to pay in full when I register?
No, you do not need to pay in full when you register, but you must pay at least the $75 non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot. Payment in full is required before the conference begins.
*>What’s the registration deadline?*
On November 1, 2008, the early-bird discount expires, so you probably want to register before then. But we expect registration to remain open right up until the conference starts (though we must reserve the right to close registration, overall or for any given track, at any time).
Family Policies
Can my family come with me? What’s your policy regarding children in the sessions?
Of course! Their participation in the conference itself, however, is subject to a number of qualifications.
Obviously, your spouse may register as a delegate for the conference, as may your college-aged or adult children. Due to the professional nature of the conference, younger children are not permitted to register as delegates and so may not attend conference sessions.
But if your family simply would like to be in Chicago with you without participating in the conference program, we encourage them to come along. We offer meals-only registration options for them to eat meals with you at the conference — or of course they can eat on their own around town. There are lots of museums and other family-friendly activities near the hotel to keep everyone busy.
(Check the Fees page for details about the cost of meals-only options.)
Hotel and Reservations
How do I make my hotel reservations?
You are able to make your reservations for the hotel using a special link provided after you register for the conference.
Can you help me find a roommate for the conference?
If you need help finding a roommate, please contact housing@followingchrist.org.
What is the hotel rate for delegates?
We’re pleased to have a special hotel rate for the conference: $69 per room per night plus tax, which comes to about $80. Note that this is a room rate, so sharing a room can make this even cheaper.
Can I arrive early or stay late at the hotel?
Yes. The conference rate at the hotel is available from December 24, 2008, through January 2, 2008. You will be able to make your reservations via the conference hotel reservations link that arrives with your registration confirmation email.
What amenities does the hotel have?
Guest rooms include amenities such as an iron and ironing board, hair dryer, and a coffee maker and tea service. Unlimited wired high-speed Internet access and unlimited phone calls within the United States are available in guest rooms for $14.95 per day. Wireless Internet access is also available in some public areas. If you’d like to get in your regular workout during the conference, visit the hotel’s fitness center.
Travel Arrangements
How do I get to the Marriott Magnificent Mile?
Visit our Travel section for information about Chicago’s airports, the Chicago Transit Authority, and the airport shuttle and for driving directions and parking information.
Day Ahead Events
What are the “Day Ahead” events?
Several ministries within InterVarsity’s Graduate & Faculty Ministries are offering events the day before the main Following Christ 2008 conference begins. Gatherings are hosted by:
See the Day Aheads page for further details about these special programs.
What if I want to change Day Aheads after I register?
We hope you’ll select your Day Ahead carefully, but it is possible to change your Day Ahead selection (by making a special request to the registrar) through Oct. 31, 2008. As of November 1, 2008, you will no longer be able to change your Day Ahead selection.
Tracks
What are the tracks about?
There are twelve disciplinary and three interdisciplinary tracks at Following Christ 2008. Because all Christians active in the academy or marketplace have much in common, we rightly gather all together for a conference like this. But because the various disciplines encompass different problems, methods, tools, languages, aims, and measures of success, it is no less appropriate for us to caucus with our colleagues by discipline. That is what the thirteen disciplinary tracks are for.
By the same token, the three non-disciplinary tracks offer top-notch teaching on serious topics that will be of interest to academics, professionals, spouses, or other delegates who would rather zero in on a particular issue than work within a particular discipline.
We refer you to the Tracks section to find out more about each of the fifteen tracks offered.
Do I have to choose a track?
Yes, you must choose a track in order to register for the main conference. (If you’re attending only a Day Ahead event or choosing a meals-only option, then naturally you don’t need to choose a track.)
What if I want to change tracks?
We hope you’ll select your track carefully, but it is possible to change your track selection (by making a special request to the registrar) through Oct. 31, 2008. As of Nov. 1, you will no longer be able to change your track selection.
Didn’t there used to be a disciplinary track for Environmental Studies & Natural Resources?
Yes, originally we planned to offer a thirteenth disciplinary track for students and faculty working in these departments — but we have replaced it with the new interdisciplinary track, God’s Green Kingdom, which we hope you agree is an exciting opportunity to collaborate with others across all the disciplines.
Preparing for the Conference
What will the weather be like?
No one knows! But we’re meeting in December in the Midwest, so it’s likely to be cold (with Chicago’s mean winter temperature of 25°F) and snow is always possible, if not likely. Bring warm clothing so you can dress in layers, a good coat, and sturdy shoes.
What is the dress code?
You’ll find that most delegates will be dressed in business-casual or casual attire.
How can I pray for the conference?
We encourage you to pray that God would prepare you for the ways he wants to meet with you and others at Following Christ 2008. If you would like to pray more specifically for the conference in the months leading up to December 2008, contact our intercessor coordinator, Sue Valentine, and ask to be added to the intercessors’ email list.
Cancellation Policy
What is the cancellation policy?
You will receive a refund minus your non-refundable registration deposit(s) if you cancel by October 31, 2008. The registration deposits are $75.00 for the main conference and $30.00 for the Day Aheads. If you cancel after this date, we are unable to make any refund.
Any Other Questions?
Email Katherine Sager, Following Christ Operations Director, if you have any additional questions about the conference. You may also reach her at 608-443-3761.
Or if you have a question you think we’ve missed that others would be interested in, you may post it right here, in the comments section below.
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