NASCC: The Steel Conference is AISC's annual premier event for engineers, fabricators, detailers, general contractors, erectors, educators and students to learn about structural steel design and construction, to interact with their peers, and to see the latest products for steel buildings and bridges.

Students are encouraged to attend panels, sessions, and explore the exhibit hall! Plus, we offer a great networking event and session specifically for students, called Students Connecting with Industry Sessions (SCIS).

Students Connecting with Industry Sessions (SCIS) is exclusively for students, where you can learn about the structural steel industry, explore potential career paths, and network with design professionals.

The first session (Career Insights) features two distinguished design professionals who will provide their unique perspectives on the professional world. Then, following the complimentary lunch, join the conversation and build your network in a relaxed setting during Direct Connect. You will have the opportunity to connect and interact with top designers of the leading architecture, engineering, and construction firms around North America.

The 2026 NASCC: The Steel Conference is being held April 22-24 in Atlanta at the Georgia World Congress Center. SCIS will take place on Thursday, April 23, from 11 a.m. to 2:45 pm. in the Thomas Murphy Ballroom 2-3.

AISC Student Members can attend The Steel Conference and SCIS for free. This includes all conference sessions and access to the exhibit hall. If you have purchased your Manual through your professor, you may already be an AISC member! If you are not yet an AISC student member, apply for free today!

AISC Student Members who attend the SCIS program will receive a $175 reimbursement and are not required to submit receipts. You must either attend the Career Insights session or Direct Connect session to be eligible.

It is each student's responsibility to submit their information for reimbursement using the form provided at the end of SCIS. Approximately 4-6 weeks following the conference, upon approval by AISC, you will receive a check.

Note: You must be an AISC Student Member to receive any travel assistance.

As a student member of AISC, you can attend The Steel Conference and SCIS for free. Register for The Steel Conference and you’ll be able to sign up for SCIS during that process.

If you are not yet an AISC student member, apply for free today! Once your membership is confirmed, you can register for The Steel Conference and receive the complimentary registration. Please note: you'll need to submit a copy of your class schedule and your student ID with your completed application.

1. If you or any other students wishing to attend are not already AISC Student Members, apply here.

2. Register for The Steel Conference and SCIS

3. Make your travel plans.

4. Book your hotel.

Information about conference hotels will be available on the housing page. If hotel rooms are not available through our block(s), you may be asked to sign up for a waitlist. We recommend that you pair up with other student attendees and share the cost of the room.

Conference hotels fill up quickly. We recommend that you reserve your room as soon as possible after registering. If you are having trouble finding rooms through the conference website, you can try contacting MCI directly by phone (800.830.5812). You can also check back on the website; additional blocks of rooms are sometimes released, and if other people cancel their rooms, they can become available online immediately.

The Steel Conference is a professional atmosphere; however, you will see all levels of attire, from jeans and polos, to suits and ties, and a few t-shirts.

We like to go by the saying: "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." We recommend that you wear professional dress for all SCIS events, and at least business casual (no jeans or t-shirts) to all other The Steel Conference events. You'll be networking with professionals that could make hiring decisions someday, so dress to impress!

A couple other things to note:

• Closed-toe shoes are required to enter the exhibit hall.

• The Thursday night conference dinner is casual attire, so jeans may be worn.

If you have any questions about what is appropriate, check out photos from the 2018 conference or email Dita Frank at frank@aisc.org for additional assistance.

Direct Connect features engineering, architecture, and construction firms from around the country, from a variety of industries. The people you will meet at Direct Connect are almost exclusively design professionals, and many are leaders at their respective firms. The engineers that participate in Direct Connect may also be some of the speakers that you'll see as part of The Steel Conference.

We recommend the following steps to prepare for Direct Connect:

1. Research companies attending Direct Connect.

2. Create a LinkedIn profile.

3. Make business cards.

4. Review the conference program.

5. Prep your resume.
   

1. Research companies attending Direct Connect.

We recommend that you come prepared to talk to the companies. Research the companies in advance and create specific questions for each one. We do not recommend approaching companies and asking questions such as... "tell me more about your company", or "what does your company do?" Asking these types of questions can imply that you were unprepared and did not invest any time in researching them. A better approach is to research the companies in advance and create notes and specific questions for each one (it's fine to have them written in a notebook that you refer to at the event). Download the Direct Connect Research Template as you start looking into different companies that will be participating.

Direct Connect’s primary purpose is to help you expand your professional network and learn more about the industry. Since this is structured as a networking event rather than a job fair, we recommend you bring business cards in addition to resumes, as attendees of professional networking events typically exchange business cards.

2. Create a LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for sharing information about your professional background, and can serve as a real-time resume. You can connect with representatives from companies you meet at the conference via LinkedIn. If you do not have a profile, please go to LinkedIn.com to sign up for a free account and build your profile.

3. Make business cards.

People may not always be able to take a hard copy of a resume, but they can always take a business card. Business cards will be more appropriate for other networking opportunities such as the Welcome Reception on Wednesday, Conference Dinner on Thursday evening, and technical sessions throughout the conference.

Free templates for business cards are available on the Microsoft Office templates site, and we recommend that you use business card paper (search "Avery business cards" at Staples for pre-cut/perforated options). You can also choose to have business cards printed through an office supply store, or an online service such as UPrinting at a fairly reasonable cost. Please be aware of the necessary lead times, as the conference is quickly approaching. Please note: The cost of supplies for printing resumes and/or business cards will not be reimbursed by AISC as part of the travel reimbursement benefit for students. For more information on this benefit for SCIS attendees, see the Student Reimbursement Policy.

4. Review the conference program.

Along with the student sessions, your registration includes access to the conference, including the full program of technical sessions, the Welcome Reception on Wednesday, and access to the exhibit hall. Check out the schedule to find sessions outside of SCIS to attend. You can also download our mobile app to access the full schedule, session details, and create a personalized schedule for the conference.

5. Prep your resume.

In general, having a resume ready to go can help make sure you are prepared for connecting with companies. You may be asked to send a resume by email after the conference, and you want to have it ready to send. You may also want to bring some copies of your resume to the conference. You can ask companies during Direct Connect, "Would it be ok if I email you a copy of my resume? I can also leave a paper copy with you now if you would like."

Keep in mind that Direct Connect is a networking opportunity to learn more from professionals in the industry, rather than a career fair. Many of the top engineers from each company will be at their table, and they look forward to sharing about their professional experiences and answering your questions.

Some of the Direct Connect companies may be actively hiring while others may not be. While it is fine at some point in a conversation to express an interest in employment opportunities at their company, please do not use this as your initial / primary question.

Any of the people listed below can help you with your questions!

• Dita Frank (frank@aisc.org)

• Brian Quinn (Brian.Quinn@findyourengineer.com)

• Lisa Willard (Lisa.Willard@learnwithseu.com)