Frequently Asked Questions:
Who is the conference for?
The Conference is intended for administrative and academic faculty, as well as classified staff in permanent positions. Temporary employees providing critical program or administrative support—such as hourly staff or those serving under letters of appointment—are invited to attend with area director review and approval. Please direct requests for temporary employee attendance to your area director.
Is attendance mandatory? What if I have a conflict?
Individuals within the roles described above are expected to attend the Conference unless a pre-excused absence has been approved by the Area Director. We know significant conflicts may arise that will prevent attendance in some cases; however, we expect Extension employees to do their best to attend.
I will need to close my county office for full attendance; is that okay?
Yes, if you are able to close your county office to participate in the Conference, please do.
Do I need to complete a spend authorization?
Spend authorizations are only required for those requesting cash advances. If you are requesting a cash advance to support travel, please submit the Spend Authorization via Workday by October 15, 2026 to ensure it reaches the Travel Office on time. For support in completing a Spend Authorization, please contact your area fiscal office.
Do I have to pay out of pocket to attend?
All University-allowable travel expenses will be covered by Extension funds rather than by program-specific operating budgets. Following university reimbursement guidelines, lodging, per diem, and any personal vehicle mileage will be reimbursed after the Conference through Workday. Extension funds will also support Extension vehicle usage (i.e., fuel and depreciation costs). If needed, a cash advance is available through the Spend Authorization process.
Is there a hotel room block?
A hotel block has been reserved at the Eldorado Resort Casino. The personalized registration link will be sent out to all registered attendees requiring accommodation to book your room within the block after registration closes (Sept. 11). Please do not reserve your room prior to receiving this information.
Will I have to share a hotel room?
Attendees will not need to share a hotel room. The lodging has been reserved as single rooms for each attendee. If you would like to share a hotel room with a colleague, please coordinate this individually while making your reservation via the hotel block.
What are the travel options for those who will be driving into Reno?
Travel can be determined by county with supervisor input as needed based on what is reasonable for your workstation location. Carpooling is also encouraged out of county offices that have Extension vehicles.
Lodging is available on Tuesday, Nov. 3 for those who require significant driving time. On Friday, Nov. 6 the conference ends at noon with the intention that those driving can still return home on the same day.
What transportation options will be available for those without vehicles?
For those flying into Reno, airfare purchases will be centralized through Southwest Group Booking. Please do not individually purchase tickets. Information will be sent out once registration closes on Sept. 11.
There will be coordinated transportation options to/from Reno Airport to Eldorado. Coordinated transportation options will also be available to/from campus on Thursday and Friday. Staff should not book individual rental cars. As we near the event, an email with transportation details will be sent to registered attendees.
What parking options will be available for those with vehicles?
For those with vehicles (personal or Extension), parking is free at Eldorado and reserved parking spots will be available on campus.
Carpooling within available vehicles can be coordinated individually.
Campus is ~1.5 miles from the Eldorado for those who are interested in walking.
What meals will be provided?
On Nov. 4, lunch will be provided for those who attend the Lake Tahoe field trip. On Nov. 4, hors d'oeuvres will be provided for all registered attendees. On Nov. 5th, breakfast and lunch will be provided for registered attendees. On Nov. 6, breakfast will be provided for registered attendees.
What is the dress code?
Business casual is recommended with comfortable shoes. Wearing your UNR Extension gear is encouraged!
What if I’m in a classified position and the days extend eight hours?
Please work with your supervisor and area HR team to determine how additional working time accumulated will be accommodated.
What are the different session types within the Conference agenda?
- Program Area Priority Meetings are intended to strategize our Extension efforts across eight identified statewide priorities. Individuals engaged in these meetings will discuss strategic direction, critical audiences and programming, contributions to public value and lasting community impact, and evaluation strategies for long-term outcomes.
- Breakout Sessions are concurrent sessions that offer information on a wide range of topics relevant to Extension professionals (administrative and programmatic). These sessions are designed for anyone as professional development.
- Office Hours provide time with administrative teams to ask questions related to fiscal, human resources, information technology, marketing and communications, sponsored projects, and PEARS reporting.
- Time for Team Meetings is available on Friday morning, self-facilitated by each group (selection made during registration). Extension employees work in a variety of teams and groups. We want to provide space for any team that would like to meet together. There is also an opportunity for pre- and post-conference meetings. If you need support in identifying a meeting location for a pre- or post- engagement, please contact Macy Helm (mhelm@unr.edu).
Should I attend the Program Area Priority Meeting?
At minimum, the faculty leads and program decision makers who make strategic decisions about program implementation and evaluation are requested to attend the Priority Meeting(s) that align with their portfolio of work. In some instances, faculty will attend multiple Priority Meetings due to the cross-cutting nature of their programming. County coordinators are invited to attend the Priority Meeting(s) that align with their program foci within their county operations. Classified staff are also invited to attend these sessions if contributing to the program’s strategic decision-making and/or if participating in the strategic discussions is valuable to their professional development as an Extension team member.
Will additional information about Breakout Sessions and Program Area Priority Meetings be available?
As we near the conference, session descriptions will be added to the conference webpage to provide more information about each session’s content. Speakers for each session will also be included at that time. For high level information, refer to the current FAQ “What are the different session types within the Conference agenda?” and “Should I attend the Program Area Priority Meeting?”.
Will central offices be included during Office Hour sessions?
Yes, the intention is to include central offices in these sessions to provide opportunities to ask questions. Additional session details will become available as we near the conference.
Can we attend both field trips?
Due to distance to Lake Tahoe and travel arrangements, attendees can only select one field trip on Nov. 4.
Is there an opportunity to meet with the Lake Tahoe camp team?
Those interested in learning more about Lake Tahoe Camp are encouraged to attend the field trip on Nov. 4.
Will there be an opportunity to showcase our program and/or our classes?
Throughout the conference there will be opportunities to connect with colleagues and share work being done across the state. This will take place during the opening sessions on Nov. 4, Program Area Priority Meetings, and Team Meetings on Nov. 5.
If I’m attending the Health Rocks! training, when do I have to arrive to Reno?
Please work with Jill Baker-Tingey and Cali Larrison-Ortiz for travel needs related to the Health Rocks! training to ensure an on-time arrival to Reno.
If I’m attending the Explore Lake Tahoe field trip, when do I have to arrive to Reno?
You have the option to arrive before the field trip begins (8:30 a.m.) or the day before (Nov. 3) depending on where you are located. Extension funds are available to those who require travel into Reno on Nov. 3 to accommodate University approved travel expenses.
Can I drive to the Explore Lake Tahoe field trip myself?
This field trip includes a tour of the University’s Lake Tahoe Campus and the 4-H Camp Lake Tahoe. Provided transportation will be available as 34-passenger vehicles. Taking the provided transportation is not required for those who have alternative options available to them (e.g., personal vehicles, Extension vehicles, carpooling). Mileage reimbursement is available for personal vehicles and Extension funds are available for costs associated with Extension vehicles.
How do I confirm I am registered for the Conference?
You should have received a confirmation email from Formstack. It may have originally went to your junk folder but should have moved to your main inbox.
