About the Volunteer Program
Volunteers perform much of the work at the convention, providing an excellent opportunity for students to attend and engage with professionals in the field.
View Volunteer Manual View Volunteer Training
Volunteer Benefits
In exchange for completing one volunteer shift (ranging from three to six hours), volunteers will receive:
- Complimentary convention registration*
- The chance to network with professionals in the field
- The opportunity to learn about the communication discipline
- Access to convention sessions
- Access to the Graduate School Open House
- Access to the NCA Career Center
Note: Volunteer positions require direct contact with convention attendees, and social distancing may not be feasible. Please consider your personal health before registering.
Registration Guidelines
- Please do NOT register as a volunteer before checking your presentation schedule in the online program.
- You must complete your volunteer shift on time and in full. Your volunteer registration counts as your convention registration. You will be invoiced post-convention if you fail to fulfill your volunteer responsibilities.
- Select only ONE (1) volunteer position. If you register for multiple positions, your registrations will be cancelled/voided.
- *Student volunteers are offered complimentary convention registration, but this does not include membership with NCA. All volunteers must be NCA student members and must join or renew their membership if it expires before December 1. Please join or renew several days before registering as a volunteer to allow your membership to process.
- You must register and attend the volunteer training/orienation. Click here to sign up for the session being held on November 14, 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET.
Registration Instructions
The NCA Annual Convention is an in-person event. To register as a student volunteer, please follow these instructions:
- Login to your NCA account to verify that your student membership is current through December 1, 2024. This is necessary to register as a volunteer. If your membership is not current, please join or renew it before registering for the convention.
- If your student membership is current through December 1, 2024, please proceed with registration.
- If your membership is not current through December 1, 2024, please renew your membership before registering as a student volunteer. Failure to join or renew your student membership first will result in your inability to register as a volunteer.
- Once your student membership is renewed, you may register for the convention.
Waitlist Information
Once volunteer registration has reached its maximum capacity, complete the form below to be added to the waitlist.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact us at convention@natcom.org.
Access assistants are available to attendees who require assistance to navigate the convention. Convention attendees may require a range of assistance from a sighted guide to mobility assistance.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Provide directions, or assistance as needed, to attendees traveling between the two properties.
- Assist attendees with finding specific session rooms.
Ushering provides a great opportunity for students to attend programs and observe the convention. Ushers are also very important because they capture session attendance, which helps the National Office and Officers identify opportunities for change and improvement in the program. Ushers will generally be assigned to several rooms on one floor.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Count and record attendance at each program.
- Direct presenters on how to request assistance if needed.
- Provide directions to those attending the convention.
These volunteers make the exhibit hall friendly, fun, and easy-to-navigate. This role is great for someone who enjoys meeting new people and getting involved. In this position, you will answer a lot of questions and certainly make plenty of new friends!
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Greet NCA Hub visitors with enthusiasm and positivity
- Engage with as many exhibitors as possible (if requested by NCA staff)
- Answer exhibit hall related questions
- Inform and direct attendees to exhibit hall activities
- Monitor the texts in the Combined Book Exhibit (if available at the Convention)
- Provide order forms for attendees interested in purchasing a book. Volunteers will not be processing purchases.
Exhibitor Check-in is where all exhibitors pick up their badge and other materials. The Exhibitor desk will be located in the NCA Convention Registration area. The Award Pick Up Area is where NCA leadership picks up their award plaques for distribution.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Distribute badges and materials.
- Exchange badges.
- Provide assistance to exhibiting organizations.
- Distribute award plaques.
- Strong attention to detail is required.
Can’t decide on a role? Serve as a Floater and help the Volunteer Office with special tasks, break relief, or filling any open volunteer positions. Prepare to be flexible and hit the road running wherever you are needed. Due to the flexibility of this position, it’s good to be familiar with the other volunteer roles.
The Graduate School Open House offers universities and colleges the opportunity to highlight their programs while allowing prospective students to access a large number of programs at one time. The Career Center offers departments with job openings the opportunity to distribute information about their listings and gives job-seekers the chance to meet with potential applicants. The Center also provides valuable job search and professional development information. Volunteers are there to assist, not attend/participate in the session. If you would like to attend either of these sessions, please select a different role.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Check-in the participating departments and help department representatives find and set up their areas.
- Help attendees/applicants find specific booths and answer questions.
- Welcome attendees to the session.
- Ensure all attendees have NCA badges before entering the session.
Greeters will be welcoming all attendees to the Annual Convention and directing them to their next session, convention registration, or the exhibit hall. We are looking for especially energetic, outgoing, and friendly volunteers who have the ability to provide accurate and concise directions. This position may require a standing for long periods of time.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Provide directions, or assistance as needed, to attendees navigating the convention site.
- Assist attendees with finding specific session rooms, NCA registration, and exhibit hall.
Not your first NCA Convention? Then this is the job for you! You will help newcomers get their bearings, point people in the right direction and help other volunteers sign in for their shift. Volunteers for this job should have attended at least one other NCA Convention and be able to assist attendees and answer their questions. Also help the volunteer coordinator recruit additional volunteers for unfilled positions.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Answer general conference questions, give directions, etc.
- Sign in volunteers for their shift and recruit and sign up new volunteers for unfilled positions
- Serve as a Floater and be available to fill in volunteer shifts as needed throughout the conference.
Pre-conferences are half- or full-day sessions held on Wednesday that provide an in-depth exploration of specific topics or issues. Short Course sessions last two hours and forty-five minutes and take place from Thursday to Saturday. These courses are educational in nature, designed to equip attendees with skills and knowledge they can implement at their institutions.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Count and record attendance for each session, then report this information to your supervisor.
- Provide directions to early attendees and answer any questions they may have.
- Act as ‘teaching assistants’ for the instructors during the sessions.
This is the hub of activity and where you will see everyone in attendance pass through. We are looking for especially energetic and friendly volunteers.
Volunteer responsibilities:
- Assist attendees with directions and information.
- Collate/stuff convention materials.
- Assist attendees with the check-in process in registration or other events.
- Registration Area volunteers must be able to lift 25 lbs.
Special Event Assistants play a vital role in ensuring that various events during the convention run smoothly. These volunteers will help manage logistics and provide support for special events, creating a memorable experience for all attendees.
Volunteer Responsibilities:
- Assist in the setup and breakdown of special events, including seating arrangements and audiovisual equipment.
- Help coordinate the flow of attendees during events, ensuring they have the necessary materials.
- Provide materials, information, and assistance to attendees during special events.
- Assist presenters as needed.
- Report any issues or concerns to NCA staff promptly.