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SWCA CONFERENCE


2026 Conference Info

Theme: Leading from the Center (download the CFP)
Dates: February 26-28, 2026 
Location: University of North Alabama, Florence, Alabama
Hosts:
University of North Alabama and Athens State University

Conference questions or concerns?
Email the conference co-hosts:

Kat Richards: karichards@una.edu 

Kem Roper: kem.roper@athens.edu

2026 Conference Details

Check out the Call for Proposals

The proposal deadline has now passed. Please register for the conference today!

Registration is now open!

Register Today!

Registration Notes

  • The "Member" registration options are only available if you are logged in to this site. The button to login is near the upper right of every page on this site.

  • Scholarships are available from the SWCA for students and professionals presenting at the conference.

  • Members with Institutional SWCA Membership or an Institutional Partnership Membership may register and pay for professional conference participants (i.e., admins, writing consultants or fellows who are not in a degree program) using the “guest” registration option provided on your registration form.

    • Please provide registration details (first/last name and email address) for every professional “guest” included on your list.
    • If you wish to include a student member on your invoice, please contact the current SWCA Treasurer for assistance.


  • If you are registering for #SWCA2026 and need a group invoice, please reach out to the current SWCA Treasurer for assistance.

  • Early registration is available until 18 January 2026. Late registration is available until 21 February 2026. No refunds will be issued after February 9, 2026.

Late Registration Costs

Registration will remain open until and during the conference.

  • Institutional Member or Partner - $140
  • Professional Member - $140
  • Professional Non-member - $170
  • Student Member - $90
  • Student Non Member - $105


This year, SWCA is not setting aside a block of rooms at a specific hotel. Instead, we are curating a list of local hotels with reasonable prices that you can use to book. The conference hosts plan to arrange shuttle service between the conference site and these hotels:

Air Travel

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL) is located in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Conveniently located by US Hwy 20 (alternate Hwy 72), the airport offers quick and easy access to surrounding communities, and provides daily, non-stop service to Nashville and Atlanta. The airport is serviced by Contour Airlines. The airport is a 10-to-15-minute drive to the conference hotel (Hampton Inn Florence – Midtown) in Florence, Alabama.

Huntsville International Airport (HSV) is the largest commercial airport in North Alabama that serves five airlines: American Airlines, Delta, United Airlines, Silver Airways, and Breeze Airways. HSV has nonstop service to 13 destinations, including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Las Vegas, Miami (seasonal), Orlando, Tampa and two airports in Washington D.C. The airport is a 1 hour 12-minute drive to the conference hotel in Florence.

Rental Cars

Huntsville International Airport (HSV) and the North Alabama Regional Airport in Muscle Shoals (MSL) have rental car companies on the properties.

HSV Airport has the following rental companies:

  • Avis
  • Budget
  • National/Alamo
  • Dollar/Thrifty
  • Enterprise
  • Hertz

MSL Regional Airport has the following rental companies:

  • McCurry Van & Car Rental (on site)
    • Business Hours Phone: 256-978-5906
    • After Hours Phone: 256-278-9147
  • Enterprise (rentals available online; not located at airport)

Other transportation options at MSL:

  • Taxi/Limo services: Quad Cities Taxi - 256-767-0220
  • Uber & Lyft

Getting around Florence

Car travel around Florence is necessary, unless staying in one of the downtown hotels (The Stricklin or Gunrunner).

Shuttle Service

There will be a shuttle service available Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for transportation to and from the hotels to the conference site (the University of North Alabama). This service will be available from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and again from 7:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. The shuttle service will run to both the conference hotel and the alternate hotels listed on this site.

Shuttle service is not available for airport transportation.

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