The AAUW Leadership Programs and NASPA's Center for Scholarship, Research, and Professional Development for Women are excited to present the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders 
Leadership for Today and Tomorrow, a conference focused on important and contemporary leadership issues. With sessions designed to address the needs of both current and aspiring leaders, NCCWSL is a perfect offering to enhance the leadership opportunities already available to students on your campus.
Preparing the Next Generation of Women Leaders
The next generation of women leaders must have access to the information, skills, networks, and resources necessary to lead change on campus and take on various leadership roles in their communities. For 25 years this conference has offered women students the opportunity to build leadership, advocacy, networking, financial management, and other skills during a fast-paced, two-and-a-half day experience focused on enhancing student leadership.
NCCWSL features
- Nationally recognized keynote speakers
- Inspirational and accomplished Women of Distinction
- Dynamic workshops and panel presentations by national experts and student leaders
- Networking opportunities
- Community service opportunities
NCCWSL aims to
- Enhance skills in leadership, advocacy, civic engagement, networking, career planning, financial planning, and more.
- Promote interaction with successful women leaders in a variety of career fields.
- Foster relationships among peers and with professionals who can support professional and personal growth.
- Generate practical solutions to challenges on campus and in local communities.
Download the conference flyer and share with others!
Frequently Asked Questions: Sending a Student Leader
What is the attendance at NCCWSL?
Each year, approximately 500 students attend the conference.
How do students pay for the conference?
Most students are supported by their college/university and/or AAUW members, branches and states. To assist students with registration fees, some scholarships are available.
Can I send more than one student leader from my campus?
Yes, please do! Many institutions send several student leaders to the conference each year. We encourage campuses to identify a central administrator to coordinate student participation and registration and act as a clearinghouse for conference information. Additional discounts are available for AAUW College/University (C/U) Partner Members or NASPA members who register delegations of four or more students.
I am the point of contact for my campus. What has helped administrators in the past?
Here are tips from several administrators who have coordinated groups to attend the student leader’s conference:
- Write or call the deans on your campus and ask each one to fund one student to represent the school. Provide a copy of the conference program. Follow up with each one.
- Make sure your institution's president knows of the conference. Stress the importance of women's leadership and ask for full funding for at least one student.
- Make sure your institution's vice president for student affairs knows of the conference. Ask for funding there, too.
- In March, gather all the students on campus who are interested in attending the conference. Hold a strategy meeting with them about where they plan to find funding. Give them guidance about how to approach other administrators on your campus. If more than one student intends to ask the same student organization or administrator, discuss a strategy that will be effective in getting funding for all.
- Hold additional strategy meetings so that you can keep tabs on how your students are doing in getting funding.
- Many schools have had so many women attend the conference over the years that they have developed an extensive database of conference alumnae. One dean of students contacted these alumnae each year and asked them for small contributions to help fund students. Even conference alumnae who were still in school wrote checks for small amounts ($5 or $10) to help out. The funds grew until at least five women were totally funded by the NCCWSL alumnae fund each year.
- Contact your local AAUW branch. The branch may be willing to contribute financially or may be aware of local funding sources you can tap.
- Talk with your colleagues on nearby campuses. Joint car rental or rental of a bus could save on airfare and might be more efficient than flying if your campuses are reasonably close to the Washington, D.C. area.
- Help students with online airfare purchases, train or bus tickets, and other cost savers. Make sure they make reservations early to take advantage of advance purchase airfares.
- Attend the conference yourself. If your institution is sending several students, it may be useful for you to go along. Many sessions are relevant to the work of the women's center, student affairs, and academic administrators.
