First-Time Attendee FAQ

Q. What is the first thing I should do?
A. As soon as you get approval from your supervisor to attend, register for the conference online.

• Be sure to identify yourself as a first-time attendee in the field provided on the registration form.
•  The deadline for early-bird registration/payment is January 8, 2010.
• After that date, fees increase. For more details, please see the Conference Fees & Deadlines page.

Q. Okay, I registered. Now what?
A. Make your hotel and airline reservations early.

• The more popular hotels fill up fast, so if you have a favorite place to stay, you will want to book your room immediately after completing your conference registration.
•  If hotel reservation is made at the time of your registration, using the online housing link, you will receive a $50.00 deduction in your registration fee.
• See the Hotel & Travel section for more information.

Q. When should I arrive in San Francisco?
A. If you are attending pre-conference training, you’ll want to arrive Thursday, April 8, for Friday’s training sessions. SunGard Summit attendees should arrive Saturday, April 10, or in the morning on Sunday, April 11. Arriving the night before the event gives you time to settle in and become familiar with the location of activities.

Q. Where do I go when I get there?
A. Go to the registration area in the Moscone Convention Center- North lobby and pick up your registration materials.

• Registration will be open from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10.
• While you are there, get to know your way around and try to familiarize yourself with the meeting room locations as well as the Collaborative Hall.

Q. What if I’m not able to register on Saturday?
A. You will need your name badge to attend all conference activities, so if you can’t get to registration on Saturday, go first thing Sunday morning.

• Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 11.

Q. When does the conference begin?
A. The conference officially begins Sunday, April 11; sessions begin at 9:00 a.m.

Q. When does the conference end?
A. The conference ends after sessions conclude on Wednesday, April 14, around 1:00 p.m. You will definitely want to stay for the duration so you don’t miss any valuable sessions, as the schedule will be full each day. As well, we have a wonderful endnote speaker scheduled.

Q. Where will sessions be held?
A.  Conference activities and sessions will be held at the Moscone Convention Center.

Q. How do I know what sessions to attend?
A. We highly recommend you peruse the agenda offerings and decide which sessions you want to attend before you get to San Francisco. If there are multiple people from your organization attending the conference, you may want to coordinate with them to allow the best coverage of sessions.

• All attendees should build their conference itinerary using the Session Scheduler feature on the website (available in mid-December). Your selections will help us ensure that each session is held in a room that accommodates the size of its audience. Note: you may attend any session  you wish, regardless of those you select using the Session Scheduler. Look at all of the sessions being offered, not just the ones directly related to your area.

Q. What are some good ways to network at the conference?
A.  The contacts you make at the conference are a wonderful source of information.

• Bring a lot of business cards to exchange with the people you meet. Write on the back of each business card you collect that person’s area of expertise. The contacts you make at SunGard Summit can come in handy later if you have questions or need assistance with a problem outside your area of expertise.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions, especially of those who have attended the conference before.
• Review the list of attendees to find institutions that are similar to yours or are located in your geographical area. Try to meet those people at the conference.
• Check out the Collaborative Hall to get a glimpse of the latest and greatest solutions SunGard Higher Education partners have to offer.
• Visit the ActionLine Center and meet your ActionLine representatives in person even if you don’t have a current problem requiring their attention. It’s always good to “put a face with a name” for more open and effective communication in the future.

Q. What if I have a question during a session?
A. Don’t be shy about asking questions during or after your session!

• If you have a question, but the presenter runs out of time, write the question on the back of your business card and give it to the presenter who will follow up with you via email after the conference.

Q. Anything else I should know?
A. The temperature in the session rooms varies so if you are prone to getting cold, carry a light sweater with you. Conference attire is business casual, but don’t forget to bring and wear your most comfortable pair of shoes.

Q. Who can help me if I still have questions?
A. To contact a SunGard Summit staff member, email summit@sungardhe.com. You may also contact one of the SunGard Summit Program Committee members if you are interested in a colleague’s perspective. Don’t forget to look for your program representative at the conference!   They are experienced participants who can help you in many ways.

We look forward to seeing you in San Francisco, California for your first SunGard Summit!