AccessU Volunteer FAQs
Thank you for your interest in supporting AccessU 2026 as a volunteer! This FAQ provides all the essential details on perks, logistics, and scheduling to help you get started.
Conference Access and Meals
How the “Conference Access” volunteer verk works
- You can trade service hours for session passes (e.g. 4 hours worked equals 4 hours of learning.)
- Pre-approval is required for this trade.
- You must complete your agreed-upon service hours before attending sessions.
- When building the schedule, we do our best to avoid conflicts with specific sessions you wish to attend. However, because we must ensure all roles are covered to keep the conference running smoothly, we cannot guarantee every request.
- You can view the online schedule of classes before the event.
- Once your schedule is confirmed, we are unable to make adjustments based on session timing alone.
Volunteer Meal Eligibility
To support our team during their service, meals are provided on the days you are actively working a volunteer shift. Please note that if you are using your “Conference Access” perk to attend sessions on a day you are not scheduled to work, meals are not included.
Shift Requirements for Meals
Meal eligibility is based on the start time and duration of your scheduled shift:
- Breakfast: Provided for Monday shifts starting at 8:00 AM and Tuesday–Thursday shifts starting at 7:30 AM.
- Lunch: Provided for volunteers working 5+ hours (Monday–Wednesday) or those working both morning and afternoon shifts on Thursday.
Off-Duty Dining Options
If you would like a meal on a day you are attending but not working (or if your shift doesn't meet the criteria above), you have two options:
- Purchase a meal ticket: You can buy a daily meal ticket for $25.00 to cover your breakfast, lunch, and daily refreshments.
- Explore Austin: You are welcome to find lunch on your own at one of the many local spots nearby.
Dress Code & Volunteer Attire
Most attendees dress casually, but we ask that volunteers wear their official Knowbility t-shirt and badge while on duty to stay visible to our guests.
- Official T-Shirt: You will receive your shirt at check-in, and it’s yours to keep.
- Volunteer Badge: Pick up your badge at the registration desk on your first day. You will keep this badge for the duration of the conference.
Volunteer Arrival & Check-In
Onsite Parking
Free electronic parking passes are required for all vehicles on campus. These are linked to your license plate number and must be set up online before the event.
Please refer to the Hotels, Transportation and Parking page for the registration code and step-by-step instructions to register your vehicle.
Check-In Procedures
Please arrive at the registration desk at least 20 minutes before your shift begins each day to check in. (Locations vary by day).
- Monday: Trustee Hall Lobby
- Tuesday – Thursday: Ragsdale Hall Lobby
- Reminder: Don't forget to pick up your badge and t-shirt during your first check-in!
To find Trustee Hall and Ragsdale Center, please use the Campus Map | St. Edward's University in Austin, TX.
Communications & Technology
We primarily communicate with our volunteer team through Slack and email. To ensure you stay informed and have the access you need for your role, please follow the guidelines below regarding your contact information and platform setup.
Email Consistency
To ensure you receive all updates and can access necessary tools, please use the same personal email address you provided in your volunteer application for all conference-related tasks.
- Avoid Corporate Emails: Many corporate firewalls block Google Suite or Zoom messages, which are essential for our team.
- Stay Consistent: Using a single email address for all communications helps us avoid confusion and ensures your access permissions remain active.
Joining the Slack Workspace
Our Slack space is the hub for real-time updates. When joining, please follow these steps to get connected:
- Use Your Registered Email: Join the [Join AccessU 2026 Slack Link] using the same personal email address from your volunteer application.
- Message the Coordinators: As soon as you have joined the workspace, send a DM to Teenya Franklin and Lourdes Morales.
- Get Channel Access: Once you've sent your DM, we will add you to the specific volunteer channels you need for your assignment.
Getting updates
Because you will be on the move during the event, please ensure you can receive real-time updates regarding schedule changes, logistics, and conference announcements:
- Install the Slack App: Download the Slack app on your mobile device and enable notifications so you receive urgent alerts instantly while you are on duty.
- Monitor Your Email: Check your registered personal email account regularly leading up to and during the event.
- Consider enabling Email Notifications: We recommend enabling push notifications for your email app on your mobile device to ensure you don't miss any critical schedule updates.
Please refer to the AccessU FAQ for additional questions.
Thanks to our AccessU 2026 Sponsors
