The MAASU Spring Conference is MAASU’s largest annual gathering, bringing together APIDA students, alumni, educators, and community partners from across the Midwest for a weekend of learning, connection, and celebration.

Spring Conference

What Is Spring Conference?

The MAASU Spring Conference is MAASU’s largest annual gathering, bringing together APIDA students, alumni, educators, and community partners from across the Midwest for a weekend of learning, connection, and celebration.

The conference serves as a capstone experience within MAASU’s programming cycle, offering participants opportunities to engage in educational workshops, keynote sessions, advocacy conversations, and community-building spaces while strengthening regional APIDA networks.

What Happens at the Spring Conference?

Programming at the MAASU Spring Conference typically includes:

Educational workshops and facilitated discussions

Keynote speakers and featured sessions

Identity- and issue-based programming

Advocacy and civic engagement conversations

Community spaces, socials, and cultural programming

Leadership councils and organizational meetings

Awards and recognition ceremonies

Sessions are designed to be accessible, student-centered, and responsive to current issues affecting APIDA communities.

The Spring Conference exists to:

Build and strengthen regional APIDA community

Provide educational and leadership development opportunities

Elevate APIDA student voices, experiences, and advocacy

Recognize outstanding student leaders, alumni, and community partners

Create spaces for reflection, healing, and collective growth

The conference intentionally brings together undergraduate students, graduate students, alumni, and professionals, fostering cross-generational learning and mentorship.

Why SC Matters

Brief history of Spring Conference

The MAASU Spring Conference has long served as MAASU’s flagship event, evolving alongside the needs of APIDA students and campuses across the Midwest. Each year, the conference features a guiding theme that reflects timely issues, collective priorities, and opportunities for growth within APIDA communities.

Hosting Spring Conference

The Spring Conference is hosted in partnership with a selected host institution and student planning committee, working closely with MAASU leadership to bring the conference to life.

Hosting offers opportunities to:

Develop large-scale conference planning experience

Collaborate with MAASU on programming and logistics

Elevate campus visibility within the regional APIDA network

Build institutional memory and leadership capacity

Interested in hosting?

Learn more

If your school is interested in hosting a Spring Conference event, contact the MAASU Executive Director at: execdirector@maasu.org

Applications are open now to host an Spring Conference within the 2026 - 2028 years: 

Learn more

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The MAASU Spring Conference is open to:

    • APIDA undergraduate and graduate students

    • APIDA student organization leaders and members

    • MAASU alumni and past student leaders

    • Educators, advisors, and community partners

    Students from both Member Schools and non-member schools are welcome to attend, with additional benefits available for Member Schools.

  • The Spring Conference anchors MAASU’s annual programming and works in tandem with:

    • MAASUx regional programs (community-building and identity-focused engagement)

    • The Leadership Summit (role-specific leadership development)

    • Membership School programming and leadership councils

    • Alumni engagement and recognition initiatives

    Together, these efforts create a holistic leadership and community development pipeline for APIDA students across the Midwest.

  • Conference dates, location, and registration details are announced annually on the MAASU website and social media platforms. Linktree here!

  • No. The Spring Conference is MAASU’s largest annual event with broad programming, while the Leadership Summit focuses specifically on leadership development.

  • No, but Member Schools receive discounted registration and additional benefits. Find more here!

  • Yes. The Spring Conference intentionally includes advisors. Alumni are welcome to attend if they are workshop hosts, speakers, or performers. MAASU does not currently have capacity to host a conference that extends beyond the university student space.