Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can attend SWANA CON?

  This conference will center the experiences of undergraduate students who identify as part of the Southwest Asian/Middle Eastern, and North African diaspora. All are welcome to apply! Due to room capacity we can only accept 200 applicants. Participants will be selected based on answers/responses to application questions.

• Who are the conference organizers?

  Campus departments serving Southwest Asian North African (SWANA) students across the University of California system: Berkeley, Davis, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Diego have collectively come together as the “UC SSWANA” group to organize the event.  You can learn more about each office below:

  UC Berkeley

  UC Davis

  UC Riverside

  UC Santa Barbara

  UC Santa Cruz

  UC San Diego

• How does the UC system define “SWANA”?

  The conference According to the UC Office of the President, SWANA encompasses people from 34 different ethnic identities including Afghan., Algerian, Armenian, Assyrian/Chaldean, Azerbaijani, Bahraini, Berber*, Circassian, Djiboutian, Egyptian, Emerati, Georgian, Iranian, Iraqi, Jordanian, Kurdish, Kuwaiti, Lebanese, Libyan, Mauritanian, Moroccan, Omani, Palestinian, Qatari, Saudi Arabian, Somali, Sudanese, Syrian, Tunisian, Turkish, White/Middle Eastern, White/North African, Yemeni, Other North African, Other Southwest Asian.

  *The UC system uses "Berber" instead of Amazigh/Tamazight/Imazighen. People of this ethnic background typically refer to themselves as Amazigh or Imazighen due to "Berber" having been derived from the Greek roots connoting "barbarism".

  For more information, visit: https://www.dailycal.org/2013/05/27/uc-to-introduce-new-category-for-southwest-asian-and-north-african-students-in-2013-2014-undergraduate-application 

• What is a “cohort” for the conference?

  To encourage participants to engage with others and reflect on their takeaways from the conference, all participants will be grouped into cohorts for group discussion between sessions. These discussions aim to have participants share their insights and share about the different sessions in which they have participated.

• What is the date and location of the conference?

  The conference begins around 4pm January 13 and ends around 10pm January 14, 2024 at the UC Riverside Highlander Union Building. Please note, the schedule is subject to change.

• How much does it cost?

  The conference is free to attend! However, participants will have to coordinate their own travel and lodging. We encourage you to work with your local campuses to get funding and support to cover these expenses. 

• How can I reach out to the organizers?

  Please email UC.SSWANA@gmail.com to contact the conference organizers. 

• Will food be provided?

  Yes. Meals will be provided throughout the conference. Check in to the conference schedule for more details and updates as we get closer to the conference date. 

• Why do I need to apply? Will I be accepted?

  In order to make the most of our limited capacity, we want to encourage potential attendees to demonstrate a passion for the SWANA community,  think critically about difficult issues impacting our diasporas, and be willing to engage in respectful dialogue. We are looking for effort, thoughtfulness, passion, and creativity in your application and they will be reviewed by members of our organizing committee. 

   

• What is the theme of SWANA CON 2024?

  ​​The University of California Southwest Asian North African Student Conference, SWANA CON, will be a gathering that centers the experiences of Southwest Asian/Middle Eastern and North African undergraduate students across California and the nation. The purpose of this program is to connect students from across the SWANA diaspora. This year’s theme is Collective Liberation. The organizers chose this theme to highlight the ways in which our communities’ struggles are connected, but more importantly how our liberation is even further connected. Although it has been over 50 years since the Third World Liberation Front, the themes of this movement still ring true today. The University of California has always been at the forefront of representation for SWANA/MENA students, and in that spirit we hope to once again bring students to experience a conference that will be dedicated to supporting the needs and identities of these communities. The conference will consist of keynote speeches, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, performances, and much more.