Frequently Asked Questions

ACCESSING THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

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What equipment do I need to attend Metaverse?

The main sessions on Friday night and Satruday night will be hosted on Zoom. To access the sessions, you will need to download the Zoom app onto your computer, tablet or phone. Then you can simply click the link that you receive in your registration confirmation to join the conference session. 

"Explore the Metaverse" on Friday and Saturday nights following the main sessions will be available in Gather.Town. Gather.Town is an online platform that allows you to play games, have conversations, and join ethnic-specific hang-out spaces all while exploring a video game-like virtual world.  Gather.Town will work from mobile devices and tablets, but is best accessed from a computer. 

How do I access the Metaverse conference?

Check the email that you used for registration. The confirmation email that you received should have a link for you to access the conference content.

What is Gather.Town?

Gather.Town is an online platform that allows you to play games, have conversations, and join ethnic-specific hang-out spaces all while exploring a video game-like virtual world.  Gather.Town will work from mobile devices and tablets, but is best accessed from a computer. The "Metaverse" space will be open in Gather.Town immediately following the sessions on Friday and Saturday nights (at approximately 9pm) until 11pm. We are also hoping to open up Gather.Town for a sneak peek on Thursday evening, so stay tuned for more information about that! 

Check back the week before the conference for more information about how to use Gather.Town. In the meantime,​ watch a demo here! 

What else do I need for the conference?

A few things that might make the experience better:
  • Bible
  • a notepad or journal
  • pen/pencil
  • computer or laptop
  • ​headphones
  • thin jacket/sweat shirt in case it's cold wherever you are
  • (optional) a little extra money to give towards the IFES offering and to buy books from InterVarsity Press.

REGISTRATION

If this is a virtual conference, why do I need to register ahead of time?

You will only be able to access the link for the conference AFTER you register. Also, while we would like to be able to offer this conference for free, there is cost associated with offering this space. You will be able to access the conference spaces once you pay your registration fee. 

Am I allowed to attend Metaverse Conference if I didn't register ahead of time?

Yes! You can register up to the start of the session at 7pm on Friday, October 16th.

Am I allowed to cancel my registration?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund by October 15, 2020 at 11:59pm ET.
Cancellations later than October 15 at 11:59pm ET will be offered no refunds but will be issued a coupon for use at future InterVarsity Florida conferences.
​If you would like to cancel your registration at any time, contact the Registrar.  

I have questions about the registration process, who can I talk to?

Your local staff or small group leader will be the best person to contact first; but if they do not have the answers, you can email the, Meta Student Conference Registrar by clicking here. 

COST, SCHOLARSHIPS & PAYMENT

If Metaverse is a virtual conference, why does it cost $$ to attend?

Because it still costs money to run a virtual conference! Even though the conference is hosted online, there are still expenses associated with it to make it a valuable experience for you. Some of those expenses include speaker honorariums, a usage fee for Gather.Town, and postage to send you a gift! In fact, your $15 contribution will not fully cover all of those expenses but we wanted to keep the conference cheap for you. 

I have a remaining balance for registration, what do I do?

You will have to pay the remaining balance in order to participate in the conference. You can log into your account and pay the remaining balance before you arrive by clicking here or from the link you received in your confirmation email when you initially registered. You will need to pay your balance in order to receive an access link for the conference.

Are there scholarships available for this conference? How do I get one?

Yes, there are scholarships available. Talk to your local InterVarsity staff or small group leader. 

I used a scholarship code to register but I just received an email saying I owe a balance, what happened?

The code given to you by your staff is a temporary code to bypass the registration deposit. If you are getting a scholarship from your school or InterVarsity chapter (make sure you check in with your staff about this), the code will be taken out and the scholarship will be applied to your balance. You will be responsible for paying any remaining balance after scholarship is applied. If there is a discrepancy or incorrect balance listed, please contact the registrar. In this process, you may receive two separate emails - one saying that you owe the total amount, then a later email that reflects the scholarship you are receiving. 

Are there any other expenses for Metaverse?

Yes, maybe! You will have an opportunity to give towards the IFES offering and to buy books at a discounted rate from InterVarsity Press.

FOR ADVISORS & SGA FUNDING REQUESTS

What does the cost include?

The $15 covers access to all virtual sessions, access to "Explore the Metaverse" in Gather.Town, and a small gift mailed to each attendee. ​​

I'm a faculty advisor helping to get scholarship money from SGA for this conference:

Who should the school make the check out to?
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship

Where should we send a check from the school?
You can  email the conference registrar to request an address for mailing a check ahead of time. 

Can I pay for students with a school credit card or purchasing card?
Yes, please email the Conference Registrar to make us aware that the school will be covering the conference cost for the students. We will then create a special coupon that the student can use to register for the conference without paying. Once they are registered, the student will receive a confirmation email that they can forward to the appropriate person. That email will contain a link that allows a representative from the school to access their account to pay for the conference with a credit card. 

I am writing a proposal for SGA funding, what information will I need?
We understand that many proposals will be made in order for students to get money from their schools. Here is some information that may make your job a little easier as you turn in your requests to SGA.
  • What the $15 covers: The $15 covers access to all virtual sessions, access to "Explore the Metaverse" in Gather.Town, and a small gift mailed to each attendee. ​
  • What is Needed: Students need to bring a Bible, a notepad, pen or pencil, and access to Zoom and an internet browser While the sessions are accessible via phone, it will be optimized for computer viewing. We will collect an offering towards the IFES offering on Saturday night.
  • Benefit to Students:  InterVarsity’s Metaverse Student Conference will give students faith-based development that will enlighten and enrich their spiritual and cultural development. Metaverse 2020 will also expose students to successful college graduates and undergraduates. In this atmosphere, students are empowered and inspired to utilize leadership skills and practically apply their faith on campus in a way that promotes growth, student unity and a need for continued education in both spiritual and academic matters.

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