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Where is the conference?
The 2026 WGSC Conference will convene at the Memorial Union on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus; all sessions and conference events will be hosted on-site.
Memorial Union, University of Wisconsin-Madison
800 Langdon St, Madison, WI 53706
Where should I park?
The closest hourly parking lot is Helen C. White (Lot 6) at 600 N. Park St. with visitor parking on the upper level only. This garage is directly across the street from Memorial Union. The next closest public parking is the Lake and Johnson St. Ramp (Lot 46) at 301 N. Lake St., as well as the City of Madison State St. Campus parking garage at 430 N. Frances. Please see this interactive map for parking spot availability and directions for these and all surrounding university lots, or click to learn more about UW-Madison visitor parking.
On Thursday and Friday, they cost $1 per 30 minutes for the first 3 hours, then $1 per hour after, with a $15 per day maximum. On Saturday, they are just $1 per hour (still with a $15/day max).
Drivers with State of Wisconsin disabled permits or DIS and VET plates may park in the City of Madison’s parking stalls.
Do presenters need to register for the conference?
Yes, we ask all presenters to register for the conference.
What type of technology is available in each meeting room?
Each concurrent session meeting room is equipped with a projector, audio connection, and a laptop HDMI connection. Presenters using slides and audio can connect their device directly to the HDMI cable.
Is there lodging available and nearby hotels?
There are blocks of rooms available at two lodging locations near the Memorial Union. You can find more information on the lodging conference page.
Please note that most of the hotel blocks will be released to the general public in the first half of March 2026.
When does the general conference start/end?
Registration and check-in open at 8:30am on Thursday, April 9, 2026; the first Concurrent Session is at 9:00am. The conference concludes on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 5:45pm. An overview of the schedule is on our schedule conference page.
Will there be any COVID guidelines in place for the conference?
Yes, we are taking steps and making recommendations to protect the health of all attendees. The Memorial Union has open-air access available on a balcony behind the registration area on the fourth floor. Open-air dining is available on Tripp Deck off of Tripp Commons dining hall and off the Profile Room that contains the buffet lunches. We will also have free N95 masks available for all attendees, and we encourage mask wearing for the general health and safety of the community. Additionally, some sessions may be “masks required,” depending on the needs of presenters.
Anyone with COVID symptoms or a recent COVID exposure should not attend the conference.
When is the last day to register?
Please note that early bird registration ends on Friday, March 20, 2026. Registration that includes lunch ends on Thursday, March 26, 2026. Registering early allows us to plan for space, food, and other conference logistics. Walk-in registrations are welcome.
Will some conference events be virtual?
Our pre-recorded presentations will be available beginning April 1, 2026. The passcode will be shared with all registered attendees and UW System instructors for classroom use.
All keynotes and plenaries will be recorded and available on the conference website one week after the event.
Are meals provided during the conference?
A morning snack and coffee will be provided from 8:30am-10:30am each day for all conference attendees on the fourth floor of Memorial Union’s Great Hall. For guests who included lunch in their registration, lunch will be provided from 12:00pm-1:15pm on Thursday, April 9th, and 12:30pm-1:30pm on Friday, April 10th. Lunch will be onsite in the second floor of the Memorial Union in Tripp Commons, and there will be outdoor dining spaces overlooking Lake Mendota and the Terrace, as well (weather permitting).
How do I make an accommodations request to ensure my full engagement at the WGSC Conference?
Please see our accessibility conference page for a full list of access considerations. To request ASL, CART, captioning, or other access supports, please contact tlemaster@wisc.edu.
Can children attend the conference?
Children, under the supervision of a caregiver, are welcome to attend the conference.