Join colleagues from across the Big Ten for three days of learning, collaboration, and connection. Through cohort discussions and shared experiences, you'll exchange ideas, explore challenges, and discover new approaches to strengthening housing and dining programs. Along the way, you'll have the chance to experience the best of Iowa City and the University of Iowa community.
About the conference, schedule, lodging and parking
Join us for the Big 10 Housing Officers Conference, taking place October 19-21, 2026. The registration fee is $300 per person if you register by September 21, 2026. Registrations received after September 21 will be $350 per person.
Registration includes the following meals and events:
- Monday: Reception
- Tuesday: Breakfast, Keynote Luncheon, and Evening Dinner & Social Event
- Wednesday: Breakfast and a Grab-and-Go Lunch
This year's fall conference marks the beginning of the rotating cohort model for in-person attendance. The cohorts participating in the 2026 conference are Assessment, Assignments, Budget/Finance, Conferences, Dining, Facilities, Human Resources, Learning Communities, and Residence Life.
Contact Us
Have questions or want to know more about the 2026 Big 10 Housing Officers Conference? Contact us via phone at the number listed below or email at uhd-bigtenhoc2026@uiowa.edu.
Conference schedule
Please note that this schedule is tentative and adjustments will continue to be made.
Monday, October 19 | ||
| 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Optional: Residence Hall facilities tour (transportation provided) | Depart from Graduate Iowa City |
| 12:30 p.m.-2 p.m. | Optional: Lunch on the Town (transportation provided) | Depart from Graduate Iowa City |
| 1 p.m.-2 p.m. | Optional: Campus Tour (walking tour) | Depart from Graduate Iowa City |
| 2-4 p.m. | Cohort time – meet, make agenda for the day, etc. | Graduate Iowa City Iowa City Public Library |
| 4 p.m. | Hotel check-in | Graduate Iowa City |
| 5 p.m.-6 p.m. | Optional: Back of house tour at Hancher Auditorium (transportation provided) | Depart from Graduate Iowa City |
| 6-10 p.m. | Welcome reception | Hancher Auditorium |
Tuesday, October 20 | ||
| 7:30-9 a.m. | Breakfast | Burge Market Place or Hillcrest Market Place |
| 8 a.m.-9 a.m. | Optional: Campus Tour (walking tour) | Depart from Burge Hall Lobby |
| 9-11:30 a.m. | Cohort time | University of Iowa campus |
| 12-1:30 p.m. | Lunch and keynote | IMU Richey Ballroom |
| 2-5 p.m. | Cohort time | University of Iowa campus |
| 6-10 p.m. | Dinner and social | Walker Homestead |
Wednesday, October 21 | ||
| 7:30-9 a.m. | Breakfast | Catlett Market Place |
| 9:15-11:30 a.m. | Cohort time | Graduate Iowa City |
| 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | To-go lunch pick up | Graduate Iowa City |
Accommodations and lodging
The Graduate by Hilton Iowa City, located at 210 S. Dubuque Street, will serve as the conference hotel. A special conference rate of $109 per night is available for both King and Two Queen guest rooms.
The discounted rate is available for stays from Sunday, October 18 through Tuesday, October 20. To receive the conference rate, reservations must be made by September 21. Guests can reserve a room by calling the hotel directly at 319-337-4058. A credit card is required at the time of booking.
Parking is available in the nearby parking garage for a discounted rate of $20 per day. When entering the garage, please take a ticket and bring it to the hotel front desk for validation.
Transportation and parking
Complimentary shuttle service will be available throughout the conference, providing transportation between the Graduate by Hilton Iowa City and conference locations across campus.
For the Welcome Reception at Hancher Auditorium on Monday evening, attendees are welcome to drive themselves if they prefer. Free parking is available in the Hancher parking lot after 4:30 p.m.
During campus and cohort sessions, parking is available in several campus parking garages. If you plan to drive, you can view current parking rates on the University of Iowa Parking & Transportation website.
Attendees who prefer to drive to the Tuesday dinner and social at Walker Homestead will find parking available on-site.
The University of Iowa campus is also within walking distance of the Graduate Hotel. Conference staff and volunteers will be happy to provide directions for anyone who would rather walk between locations.
Keynote speaker: Mike Draper
Mike Draper is the founder and owner of RAYGUN, which has been called "the greatest store in the universe" by RAYGUN. Born and raised in Van Meter, Iowa, Mike left to study history at the University of Pennsylvania. Like most Ivy Leaguers, Mike found himself selling t-shirts on the street after graduation (long story) and then moved back to Des Moines to open RAYGUN. The company has grown from a staff of 1 to a staff of about 120 (even longer story!) with 12 locations and $15 million in annual sales. As Mike says, "it is sickening how lucky I am."
Getting to Iowa and exploring Iowa City
Flights to Iowa City
The recommended way to travel to Iowa City is by flying into the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is just 25 miles from campus. While other airports, such as Des Moines and Moline, are nearby, they do not offer direct ground transportation to Iowa City. CID offers direct flights from a number of major cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis, Detroit, Denver, and Cincinnati, making it a convenient option for many travelers. Once you arrive, you can explore ground transportation options from the airport to Iowa City.
Driving
Iowa City is conveniently located off of I-80. If driving to Iowa City, navigate to 210 S. Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA for the hotel. There is a parking garage at the hotel.
About Iowa City, Iowa
Our campus seamlessly blends into downtown Iowa City, which makes it easy to get wherever you need to go. In fact, most first-year classes are located within the same three-block radius. And the center of it all is just across the street from a lively downtown with all the restaurants, entertainment, and amenities you'd find in a big city.
Thank you to our sponsors
Thank you to our corporate sponsors for helping make the 2026 Big 10 Housing Conference possible. Visit their booths during the Sponsorship Fair to learn more about their organizations.
Gold Level: Brill Company (Monday Night Kickoff Sponsor), MicroFridge by Danby (Tuesday Keynote Lunch Sponsor), Ecologic Furniture (Tuesday Night Dinner Sponsor), Sysco (Meal Cards Sponsor: Breakfasts and Dining Dollars), Interface (Transportation Sponsor).
Black Level: Mannington Commercial Flooring (Wednesday To-Go Lunch Sponsor), StarRez (Tote Bag Sponsor).
Herky's Club+: Bedloft.com (Cohort Rooms Beverages Sponsor), CORT Furniture (Swag Bag Item Sponsor).
Herky's Club: Foliot Furniture, GradGuard, JMI Sales Group / Perfect Aire, IMEG Corp., Invision Architecture, Magellan Promotions, Nutrislice, University Loft Company.