About NACA
Founded in 1960, the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) is a non-profit organization that empowers members to amplify the campus experience through inclusive learning, meaningful connections, and engaging entertainment that transforms college communities. NACA serves as the central hub for campus professionals, student leaders, entertainers, agents, vendors and other entities involved in the planning and execution of campus events and activities. The Association provides educational workshops and conferences, offers a range of professional development resources, networking opportunities, and maintains a database of vendors and performers.
History of NACA
A two-day conference is held February 4-5 at NC State. The conference fee of $6 includes registration, two lunches and coffee hours. Simon and Garfunkel showcase, but are not received with enthusiasm.
The Block Booking Conference is held in Columbia, SC. Students hold a closed session to discuss unfair pricing and other problems, which results in a decision to form a national organization to share information and continue to cooperatively buy talent. The leadership reconvenes, voting to formally organize as the National Entertainment Conference (NEC). The first executive director (a volunteer position) Dave Phillips is appointed. A national office is established at USC-Columbia. The first NEC Newsletter is published. The organization has an annual budget of $10,000 with member dues set at $50 per year. In the fall, the first Eastern Regional Conference is held in Hamburg, NY.
The organization is renamed National Entertainment and Campus Activities Association (NECAA). The regions are established. The Board votes to include one member of the Associate Member Advisory Board to the Board of Directors as an ex officio, non-voting representative.
NACA marks its 50th anniversary. A Foundation Development Steering Committee is formed to assist in examining issues and strategies related to the NACA® Foundation and assist with increasing its donations and stature. The NACA® Your Best Campus Tradition™ Video Competition is created to encourage student organizations to submit videos highlighting outstanding traditional programs from their campuses. NACA began the process to create a new strategic plan. A team of volunteers is charged by the Board of Directors to complete a comprehensive Self Study.
The Association celebrates its 60th anniversary with the launch of NACA® Live, the reimagined national convention experience, in Denver, CO, and the adoption of a new brand for the Association. The board of directors evolves the regional volunteer structure into the Regional Leadership Team (RLT) focusing more on year-round membership engagement opportunities.
Land Acknowledgment
We want to acknowledge that we, as an Association, work and live on the traditional and Native land of the Congaree Tribes. The Congaree people were a small tribe who suffered heavy losses via tribal feuds and smallpox. After fighting against the colony of South Carolina in the Yamasee War of 1715, over half of the Congaree were killed or enslaved. Those remaining moved further north to join the Catawba. Today, the Catawba Nation is the only federally recognized tribe in the state of South Carolina. The Congaree National Park and the Congaree River are vital parts of Columbia.