SWCA CONFERENCE

Check out the Call for Proposals

Registration is now open!

Register Today!

The on-time registration period has passed. Conference registrations canceled after Feb 14 will not be refundable. See below for current registration prices.

Registration Notes

• The "Member" registration options are only available if you are logged in to this site. The button to login is near the upper right of every page on this site.
  
  
• Scholarships are available from the SWCA for students and professionals presenting at the conference.
  
  
• If your center has an institutional SWCA membership, your director can provide you with a code that allows you to register at the member price. If your director is unsure whether they have a current institutional membership, or does not have the code, they can contact the SWCA at swca.dcd@gmail.com.
  
  
• Discounted early conference registration will end after Jan. 22 and will incur additional fees.
  
  

• Registration is submitted and paid for by each individual attending the conference. If a director needs a way to pay for multiple people under one receipt, please contact the SWCA at swca.dcd@gmail.com. (Each individual will register separately but will NOT pay anything online, but will instead choose "Invoice Me" on the review and confirm page after entering all their registration information. The director will then pay for the combined total and these invoices will then be marked as paid.

Late Registration Costs

Note: The hotel is also serving as the main conference site.

Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory

130 Clairemont Avenue, Decatur, Georgia 30030

404-371-0204

Book your room at the conference hotel, starting at $174/night

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1690388729805&key=GRP&app=resvlink

If you choose to call and make reservations through central reservations, please reference the Southeastern Writing Center Association Conference.

Last Day to Book: Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Please view the hotel website for information about accessible features: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/atldc-courtyard-atlanta-decatur-downtown-emory/overview/.

Alternate Hotels

While we recommend booking through our conference hotel, there are a few nearby hotel options (without a specific conference rate), including: 

• Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Decatur/Emory
• Super 8 by Wyndham Decatur
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Atlanta-Emory University Area
• The University Inn at Emory

Air travel

The Courtyard Decatur is 16 miles northeast of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is one of the world’s busiest airports and offers flights to 200+ domestic and international destinations. The airport can be overwhelming for the first-time visitor, but signage is generally helpful. For your return flight from Atlanta, you are advised to arrive well ahead of time as lines at check-in and security can be very long. Most major rental car companies have a location at the airport.

MARTA (see below) has a rail station directly accessed from the baggage claim area, and rail/bus fare is $2.50 for a one-way trip to downtown Decatur (plus $1 for a ticket or $2 for a reloadable card). Taxis and ride shares from the airport to downtown Decatur typically cost around $40 per person, although cost may vary.

The conference hotel does not provide an airport shuttle.

Public Transportation

MARTA is Atlanta’s bus and rail service. The Courtyard Decatur is 0.2 miles from the Decatur MARTA Station, from where you can take the subway to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (and other destinations). To take the MARTA train to the Decatur Station from the airport, you can board either the red or gold line heading north to Five Points Station, then transfer to the blue line heading east to Decatur Station.

Please check the website for the schedule, but note that trains may not always arrive on time: https://www.itsmarta.com/train-stations-and-schedules.aspx.

The Number 36 Bus operates between Midtown and Decatur: https://www.itsmarta.com/36.aspx.

Car Travel

The hotel has a parking garage. Car traffic in downtown Decatur is generally not heavy, but please remember that driving here from the airport, for example, will involve driving on busy interstates. I-75/I-85, I-20, and I-285 can all get clogged up, even outside of rush hour.

While free parking is usually available at shopping centers and other places, you will have to pay for parking in parts of Decatur (https://www.decaturga.com/cd/page/parking) and in popular locations in Atlanta. At Emory University, you can park for free in several parking garages in the evening and on weekends; fees apply Monday-Friday 7am-5pm: https://transportation.emory.edu/visitor-parking.

Getting Around

There is a free Emory-run shuttle from the Decatur MARTA Station to Emory University: https://transportation.emory.edu/shuttles (select the CCTMA shuttle).

Downtown Decatur is very walkable and features many sidewalks. There are bike lanes on some major streets in Decatur, and PATH trails can take you to Stone Mountain and other attractions. Visit the website for trails and maps: https://www.pathfoundation.org/metro-atlanta-path-trails. For runners, we recommend the PATH trails, the Beltline, and Decatur’s Legacy Park (a cross-country route): https://decaturlegacypark.com/.

The conference schedule is filled with great sessions and some special events where the SWCA gathers together to reflect on our the work we do. Here are just a few highlights of things not to miss:

• Plenary Panel - “Writing Across Borders: Disrupting Segregation of Undocumented Youth in Higher Education" by Dr. Emiko Soltis (Executive Director of Freedom University), on Thursday, February 22 at 11AM.
  
  
• Special Session - “Developing an Actionable Land Acknowledgment” by Beth Michel and Dr. Malinda Lowery (leaders of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative at Emory University) on Thursday, February 22 at 1PM.
  
  
• Keynote Address - “Writing Outside the Center: Engaging Community, Facilitating Change,” by Dr. Michelle Bachelor Robinson (Writing Center Director & Comprehensive Writing Program Director, Spelman College) during a luncheon event on Friday, February 23 at 11am. 
  
  
• SWCA Awards Ceremony - Following the keynote address on Friday, February 23.

Technology Information

Breakout rooms (except ones used for SIGs) are equipped with projection monitors and have HDMI connections. If you are a Mac user, be sure to bring an HDMI adapter. Individual speakers presenting on slides may want to bring a flash drive to access material so you and your fellow presenters have the option of using a single laptop for your session.