More About ODC

How did the Organizational Development Consortium get started?

After attending a large national conference in 2010, several colleagues found the experience to be overwhelming and less than helpful as they struggled to connect with professionals doing similar work within Higher Education.  In 2011, eight individuals from across the United States gathered at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC to discuss their professional, leadership, and organizational development programs, compare and contrast challenges, and brainstorm solutions.  The elements of this initial meeting remain key tenants of the ODC.

The first 5 conferences were held at Wake Forest University, organized by WFU’s Professional Development Center, and saw steady growth year after year. In order to begin attracting new attendees and to spread the learning opportunity to colleagues across the nation, the event adopted a rotational model with Wake Forest University hosting one year a new institution the next. Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO hosted ODC colleagues in 2016 and Baylor University in Waco, TX served as host in 2018. The conference took an in-person hiatus due to COVID-19, but included a virtual conference in 2021. In 2024, Wake Forest University hosted the first in-person conference since COVID 19.

Who typically attends?

Institutionally, we welcome attendees from any institute of higher education.  In the past, ODC participants have hailed from public and private, 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities ranging from 50,000 students to 1,800 students.

Attendee roles have varied over the years.  If you believe that the content being presented will benefit you in your work, join us!  Often we have HR professionals (coordinators to Vice Presidents), Learning and OD experts, Professional coaches, and more.  Rarely are our attendees solely from the HR field.  While the majority of our content is focused on staff, we do have plenty of attendees that work with faculty as well.

What topics are typically covered?

Presentation topics are selected in a way to try to guarantee that everyone in the audience has the opportunity to walk away from the conference with beneficial information.  Sessions in the past have covered leadership programs, succession planning, onboarding, launching professional development programs, diversity and inclusion, managing organizational development interventions, and much more.  Professional development, leadership development, and organizational development will be discussed.  The conference is structured to provide ample networking time as well as roundtable/speed rounds to answer many diverse questions.  

Do you allow vendors to attend?

Generally we do not allow vendors to attend.  This is a decision that’s been made for many reasons.  Primarily, we strive to focus the conference on session content and networking with attendees.  There is no exhibition time for vendors.  Secondly, there is rarely exhibition space for vendors.  Our events aren’t held in conference and convention centers.  They are held on campuses where space is often limited.  Additionally, we strive to allow open dialogue and that often may involve recommendations and/or critiques of various tools.  To have a representative vendor in the room could inhibit that conversation.

Should vendors wish to expose our group to their product, they can provide giveaway items for attendees and/or purchase advertisement space in the conference notebook.

Will there be celebrity keynotes?

While we would love to have Lin Manuel-Miranda rap to us about the value of professional development for faculty and staff, the ODC budget typically does not allow for celebrity keynotes.  An important principle of the ODC is the great value of the experience and accessibility of the conference.  That means we’re unlikely to have Oprah or Sheryl Sandberg addressing our group.  However, we will have subject-matter experts who can speak directly to their success and challenges, encouraging you to tackle new initiatives at your institution.

Who are your presenters?

Presentations at ODC events are made by our peers, professionals from within Higher Education who know our work and can speak to it in language clearly understood by all in attendance.  Occasionally guests are invited to speak to the group based on their knowledge, practice, and expertise.

What can I expect when I attend an ODC conference?

• Sessions from colleagues demonstrating best practices and lessons learned
• Ample time for networking and informal idea-sharing
• Event size that allows for connection and dialogue between participants
• Price that encourages all interested parties to attend
• Ongoing support through a LinkedIn group and broader communication
• Attendees feel welcome and their work appreciated

Are there discounted rates for presenters and/or scholarships available for attendees who have a financial need?

Typically, no.  Our organization operates differently from other larger groups that require membership fees like CUPA-HR and SHRM.  We don’t require membership to participate in ODC events.  Additionally, we strive to price the conference registration to ensure that the host institution is able to break-even on conference costs.  Thus, our events are typically inexpensive compared to other large conferences.  However, this means we have very little (if any) carry-over funds to offer in terms of scholarships or additional discounts.  Should the conference produce a profit, money is shared between the host institution and the ODC to improve the experience of future conference goers.

If you believe cost of attendance may be a deterrent for you, please contact an event organizer and we can put you in contact with individuals that can give you information on how to “sell” the event.

Where are ODC events held?

Since 2016, the ODC has utilized a rotational method for choosing conference host locations, going back-and-forth between holding the conference at Wake Forest University on one year and the other year rotating to various member institutions. We are thrilled to announce that the 2024 conference will be held in-person in Winston-Salem, NC at Wake Forest University on June 11-13.

Please use the link below to register!

2024 ODC Conference REGISTER NOW

2011 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2012 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2013 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2014 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2015 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2016 – Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2017 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2018 – Baylor University, Waco, TX
2019 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC
2020 – Virtually hosted by University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
2021 – Virtual sessions hosted by Wake Forest University
2024 – Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC