We hope the information will assist you in understanding some of the “behind the scenes” considerations associated with the planning and execution of this event. If your question is not addressed below, please reach out to Nathan Victoria at nvictoria@spaonline.org.
If you are in need of testing when you are on-site at SPA, we have identified the following locations:
- City COVID Testing
- 900 N. Michigan Surgical Center
- Nova Testing Facilities
- 205 E. Ohio Street
- Walgreens
- 641 N. Clark Street
During registration, participants will affirm agreement to the SPA COVID-19 Member Meeting Policy. Please visit this webpage to learn more information about SPA’s policy.
You are our first line of defense! Please observe the following:
- Wear your mask at all times in event spaces, except for when you are consuming food or drinks.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water. Hand sanitizer is a great second option.
- Avoid crowding into elevators; there’s always the next one!
If you are experiencing symptoms consistent with those listed for COVID-19, please avoid the event area altogether. Please notify Monica Tune at mtune@spaonline.org. Here is a resource from the City of Chicago listing different COVID-19 testing sites in the area.
The Westin Michigan Avenue Chicago is committed to hosting you safely and responsibly. For more information about Marriott International’s Commitment to Clean and the steps they are taking, click here. The hotel’s safety protocol highlights can also be found here.
We plan to allow for spacing between attendees when seated during sessions so they can enjoy SPA safely. More details to come about navigating and accessing the physical space.
Yes. SPA is requiring all participants to show documentation that your vaccinations are up to date per the recommendations of the CDC or your local health ministry. For U.S. attendees to the convention, the CDC clarifies that up to date vaccinations includes additional doses for individuals who are immunocompromised or booster doses at regular time points. If you are eligible for a booster, please ensure that you have one before you attend the SPA convention.
We will share more details on how to provide proof of vaccination and other logistics to implement this safety measure. If you have a religious or medical reason that prevents you from obtaining a vaccination, we invite you to consider the virtual-only experience or reach out to us at info@spaonline.org to discuss arrangements.
To ensure the safest experience possible, for attendees not presenting, masks will be required at all times unless you are actively eating or drinking or posing for a photo. For presenters in workshops or concurrent sessions, if social distancing may be maintained, you may choose to remove your mask when you are actively presenting. Poster session presenters must wear their masks during their presentations.
Your mask must completely cover your nose and mouth and fit snugly against the sides of your face without gaps. Bandanas, gaiters, and masks with exhalation valves are not permitted.
To be clear, all participants will be required to wear procedure (a.k.a. surgical) masks with at least 3 layers of fabric, KN95, KF94s, or N95 masks during the event. The CDC updated their face coverings website on January 14, 2022. Cloth masks and Gaiters will not be accepted as facial coverings at the SPA Convention. Individuals may choose to wear cloth masks over a procedure mask, KN95, KF94, or N95, but a cloth mask alone will not be permitted.
To help evaluate your mask purchase, please use the CDC website on evaluating purchases of KN95, N95, and other masks.
Individuals who have a documented disability which precludes the wearing of a mask may request a modification to mask policies. Please contact Nathan Victoria, Executive Director, at nvictoria@spaonline.org to discuss modification(s) to mask policies.
Yes, the SPA Board of Trustees approved an updated Code of Conduct for all SPA events. Our code of conduct can be found under home in the menu.
SPA is an approved provider of continuing education through the American Psychological Association. Please see the schedule of events to identify if the program you are attending is worth of CEs. Individuals requesting CEs must complete the required steps, including watching the entire presentation and answering a quiz and survey questions. All CE certificates will be made available after the convention.
To request a refund, please email your request to refunds@spaonline.org. A full refund, minus a 50% administrative fee, will be granted prior to February 9, 2022. An 80% administrative fee will be assessed between February 10 and March 1. No refunds will be granted after March 2, 2022.
Although housed within one registration page, registration for the Workshops and the Virtual Convention are separate. So yes, you can register for just one or the other.
The SPA Board of Trustees explored many options regarding registration rates for the Virtual Convention. The Board recognizes that institutional and personal funds are limited at this time, so the final prices for the convention balance the need to cover a portion of SPA’s expenses while still creating an affordable yet well-produced convention that you have come to expect. These expenses include online conference software, development of software and apps, video editing, staff salaries, and contract staff to help produce this event. We hope that since the registration fee is only a small portion of the cost of the typical in-person meeting, attendees will still see a significant overall cost reduction to attend and participate. For those newer to the SPA Convention, we have also created a free opportunity to experience some of the key highlights of the convention, including the SPA President Address, the Bruno Klopfer Seminar, all Master Lectures, the Awards Ceremony, Poster Sessions, and any networking events. More information about this opportunity will be available in a few weeks.