How to get the most out of SPC

[Brad Judy <brad.judy () CU EDU>]

Someone suggested I revisit a post I made a couple of years ago with tips for getting the most out of conferences in 
general, and SPC specifically. Here are my tips:

How do you find the most useful sessions for you?  Consider these points:

·         What do you want to change? Do you have a new initiative on the horizon?  Feel stuck in a rut with something 
and need a new perspective? Think about what things about your program, technology, process, policy, etc. you want to 
change, then focus on those sessions. While there is nothing wrong with attending a session that you simply find 
interesting, the greatest value comes from learning about things we actively want to change.

·         What is a topic you’ve been wanting to learn about, but haven’t had the time? One of the traps attendees fall 
into is attending a session on a topic they already know well. In 60 minutes, a speaker probably isn’t going to reach 
enough depth to add to existing expertise. However, it can be a great way to jumpstart your investigation into a new 
topic. Don’t walk out of a session thinking “I already knew all of that.”

·         Look for speakers who have posted messages to the list that were useful for you.  If you found their emails 
useful, you’re likely to find their talk useful.  Introduce yourself afterwards and make a new in-person connection.

·         Look for speakers from schools you know are similar to your school in how they handle IT.  Their solutions to 
problems might be more applicable to your own institution.

Other tips:

·         Ask questions. Engage the speakers during the session and/or afterwards.

·         Did you see a very useful reply on the list sometime recently? Ask the author if they will be at SPC and meet 
up to talk more or to just say thanks in person. The break time and hall conversations are a big part of SPC.

·         Don’t skip the meals. I’ve been attending SPC for years and each year I meet new people at breakfast and 
lunch. Find a table with new faces and open seats, or (as I often do) grab an empty table early (something near the 
food, don’t hide in the corner) and let yourself be surprised with who shows up.

·         Have fun. Don’t forget to check out game night (Tues night), the fun run or the photo walk (both Wed morning).


Brad Judy

Information Security Officer
Office of Information Security
University of Colorado
1800 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO  80203
Office: (303) 860-4293
Fax: (303) 860-4302
www.cu.edu<http://www.cu.edu/>

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