NIGP Forum 2024 - FAQs
FAQs

NIGP Forum 2024

Forum 2024 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We heard you loud and clear. That’s why we’ve organized your common questions on a single page. Here are solutions, answers, contact details and vital information that can help you make more informed decisions and choices about attending NIGP Forum 2024.

GENERAL IN PERSON

Where will the in-person Forum take place? 
All Forum activities will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, located at 501 S. College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202. The exception is the Social Event, which will take place on Monday, August 26 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, located at 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord, NC 28027. 

Which airport do I fly into? 
The nearest airport to the Charlotte Convention Center is Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), which is approximately 7 miles from the venue.  

Where should I stay?
There are six hotels with room blocks available exclusively to NIGP Forum participants: The Westin Charlotte, Hilton Uptown Charlotte, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Inn, Marriott Charlotte City Center, and Omni Charlotte. Some hotels now have limited availability so check our website and reserve your room via our reservation links.  

How do I get to the hotels from the airport?

Taxi or Rideshare: Taxis and rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are readily available at the airport. The ride to any of these hotels typically takes around 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. 

Airport Shuttle: Some hotels offer complimentary shuttle services to and from the airport. Please check with your specific hotel in advance to confirm availability and schedule. 

Public Transportation: The Charolotte Area Transit System (CATS) provides public bus services from the airport. The Sprinter bus (Route 5) runs between the airport and Uptown Charlotte, where all six hotels are located. This is an economical option, though travel time may be longer. 

Car Rental: Car rental services are available at the airport. If you prefer to drive, follow signs for car rentals at the airport, and use GPS for directions to your specific hotel. 

What is included in my registration?
Each of the 2024 Forum experiences are unique, and there are several registration packages available, particularly for the in-person experience. If you register for the full registration, all forum sessions, access to the products expo, lunch and reception in Expo Hall, Awards dinner on Sunday and Monday evening social event are included in your fee. Daily tickets allow access to functions scheduled only for that day. Both in-person and virtual registrants receive will have access to the virtual platform and recordings for 60 days post event.  

Is there a mobile app available and when can I access it?
Yes, there will be a mobile app available this year. The app should be released approximately two weeks prior to the start of Forum. We highly recommend that you download the app in advance using a high-speed internet connection and start using the app immediately to plan your schedule. We will announce the release of the app on the Forum NSITE Community. 

Where can I find out what companies are exhibiting in Charlotte?
You can find a current list of exhibiting companies here: Exhibitors

First Timer FAQs

READ

NIGP Forum 2024 Preview Webinar

NIGP staff walk you through this year's program and highlight our lineup of keynote speakers, learning sessions and workshops, networking opportunities, and exhibitor activities.

Watch Webinar

START PLANNING YOUR FORUM 2024 EXPERIENCE

View In Person Session Schedule

Read about your Forum 2024 Experience

Which sessions will be offered virtually? 

All sessions, except the entity networking sessions, will be live streamed, recorded, and available on demand for 60 days post forum. 

When can I register for specific sessions? 

Forum Learning sessions (Cornerstone and Leadership), Workshops, Learning Paths (RFP, Construction, and Technology) to not require pre-registration. They are on a first come, first serve basis. The session rooms accommodate approximately 250 attendees, virtual attendance is unlimited.  

If I’m attending in-person and a session is closed due to capacity, what alternatives are available? 

If the session is closed due to capacity, you can attend virtually through the virtual platform, or directly within the mobile app. Additionally, you can also access the recorded sessions for 60 days post Forum. 

In what time zone do live sessions take place? 

All sessions will take place live in Eastern Daylight Time.  

 If I’m participating virtually, how can I actively participate in sessions?  

For most sessions, the virtual platform includes a text chat where you can interact with others, make comments and ask questions. There will be a “producer” in each live streamed session that will speak on behalf of the virtual audience during activities or Q&A periods.  

Some sessions will allow for active, live participation from the virtual audience, who may be seen on camera and be heard during discussions.   

How do I earn contact hours? 

You can earn a maximum of 24 contact hours for participating live during the Forum, both virtually and in-person, which will be reflected on your NIGP transcript.   If you choose to watch sessions on demand, additional contact hours can be earned.  We recommend adding all sessions you attend, live and on demand, to your schedule, or keep track using spreadsheet.   

For NIGP-CPPs, a tracking form will be provided, and will be required as proof of participation at the time you recertify.  If you have questions about this, please contact our certification team. 

NIGP does provide a generic session tracking form for use for other certification or to share with your employer.  It is at the discretion of the certifying body what sessions count towards recertification based on their specific certification. 

If attending in person, use the “check in” feature on the mobile app for each session you attend.   

How do the learning paths work?  

There are 3 learning paths, each containing 4 sessions (75 minutes each). Learners build their knowledge, skills, and abilities as they progress through the sessions in a path. An attendee can attend individual session in a path OR attend all the sessions in a path and earn a badge (upon successfully passing an assessment).   

  • Path 1: Request for Proposals
  • Path 2: Construction
  • Path 3: Technology

The learning paths are available in person, live streamed, or on demand for 60 days after Forum. The Forum 2024 Learning Paths are only available to Forum 2024 attendees.  

Do the learning path sessions overlap on the Forum schedule?  

The Technology and Construction learning paths take place at the same time. However, the Request for Proposals learning path will take place at a different time. Therefore, you will be able to attend two learning paths live, either Technology or Construction and then Request for Proposals. Keep in mind, all the Learning Path sessions are being live streamed and recorded for on demand access for 60 days after Forum.   

Can an individual take a mix of sessions in different learning paths?  

Yes, the sessions in each Forum 2024 Learning Paths is designed to be standalone learning opportunities that can be taken individually or taken together (stacked) to earn a badge (upon successfully passing an assessment).    

Is there a limit of attendees for the learning paths?  

No, there is no limit on the number attendees that may attend learning path sessions. Note that all session rooms will be set to accommodate the maximum number of participants that safely fit in the room and as approved by the Fire Marshall. For sessions that close due to capacity, participants can watch the live stream in one of our overflow rooms (located near the meeting rooms) or view the recording of the session on demand up to 60 days after Forum. There are no capacity limits for virtual participation.   

Is the badge earned for a learning path equivalent to a Specialization badge?  

The Forum 2024 Learning Paths badges progress the learner through various aspects of the topic and range from foundation to some advanced content. All of the Forum 2024 Learning Paths are a total of 5 hours. The Specialization badges primarily focus on advanced content with an intensive exploration of the topic. They are longer in duration – ranging anywhere from 8 hours to 20+ hours depending on the specific topic.    

How exactly do the assessments work following successful attendance of all the sessions in a learning path?  

All Forum 2024 registrants will be enrolled into the learning path recordings in Aspire. This allows you to view the learning path sessions you missed. Once all the recordings have been viewed, an assessment will become available in Aspire. If you view all the sessions live and do not wish to rewatch a recording, you can simply click through the recordings to access the path assessment. Upon completion of the path assessment, you will be awarded a badge in Aspire. The Learning Paths will be available in your Aspire for 60 days post conference. 

Are all Forum 2024 Learning Paths sessions included in the registration cost of Forum?  

Yes, all Forum 2024 Learning Path sessions are included in the registration cost of Forum.