Fort Worth, Texas
Host: Tarleton State University
Date: August 3-5, 2026
Theme: Rethinking the Learning Enterprise: From Institutions to Ecosystems
About Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas is a vibrant, rapidly growing city in North Texas that blends rich Western heritage with modern culture, arts, and hospitality. Known as the “City of Cowboys and Culture,” it offers a warm Texan welcome with something for every conference traveler. Ft. Worth is known for world-class museums (Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum, and Amon Carter Museum), dining and nightlife featuring Texan BBQ, Mexican-inspired cuisine, and contemporary dining, and of course the Stockyards National Historic District where you can experience twice-daily cattle drives, rodeo shows, cowboy history, Western shops, and plenty of live music venues.
Tarleton State University Ft. Worth, an OLC Institutional member, part of the Texas A&M University System, is a forward-focused campus designed to meet the needs of today’s learners. With more than 60 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, Tarleton prepares students for success in high-demand fields such as business, healthcare, education, and the applied sciences.
It is our pleasure to welcome you to Ft. Worth!
Nearby Hotels
Under 10 miles – City View Centre:
- Home2Suites by Hilton Fort Worth Southwest Cityview
- Courtyard by Marriott Fort Worth West at Cityview
- There are other hotel options of varying prices in the Cityview area.
Under 20 miles – Historic Fort Worth Stockyards:
- Spring Hill Suites Fort Worth Historic Stockyards
- Hyatt Place Fort Worth Stockyards
- There are other hotel options of varying prices in the Ft. Worth Stockyards area.
Getting There & Transportation
By air:
- Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is a 45 minute drive to Tarleton State Ft. Worth campus
- Dallas Love Field (DAL) is 50 minute drive to Tarleton State Ft. Worth campus
Recommended transportation from the airport is Uber/Lyft, car rental, or TEXRail – Terminal B (TEXRail goes to downtown Ft. Worth (and then Uber/Lyft from there to your hotel)
If you are driving:
- Please use a map guidance system for the best directions from your location. The OLC Elevate event will be held at 10850 Texan Rider Drive, Ft. Worth, TX 76036.
- Once you are on campus, please park in the Parking Lot near the Campus Administration Building (CAB). Follow the signs from there to the event in the Interprofessional Education Building. There will be a Dash Pass voucher provided to you for daily complimentary parking.
Local transportation:
For attendees staying overnight, we recommend Uber/Lyft or driving your rental car from your hotel to the campus parking lot near Campus Administration Building (CAB) as noted. Please follow the signs to the Interprofessional Education Building (IPE).
- The OLC Elevate event will be held at 10850 Texan Rider Drive, Ft. Worth, TX, 76036.
- OLC Elevate event check-in will be in the IPE Building Main Lobby. Please proceed to the last door as noted on the map to enter the registration area in the building.
Parking information:
Parking is available, free of cost (via a provided Dash Pass), in the parking lot near the Campus Administration Building (CAB). Please follow the signs and proceed from the parking lot to the far door of the Interprofessional Education Building (IPE) to enter the registration area.
All out-of-town attendees will be responsible for their own parking charges that may be incurred if staying at a local hotel.
Dining
Dining Options in Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District
Top Dining Options Near Fort Worth Southwest Cityview area:
- West Side Cafe: Known for its highly-rated, classic comfort food and chicken fried steak.
- Charleston’s Restaurant: A popular choice for traditional American dining.
- Fred’s Texas Cafe: Known for its iconic, casual Texas-style atmosphere and burgers.
- Riscky’s Barbeque: A well-known local option for authentic Texas barbecue.
- Aventino’s Italian Restaurant: A highly-rated spot for classic Italian dishes in the area
Rockford, Illinois
Host: Rockford University
Date: August 6-7, 2026
Theme: Bridging Innovation: Transforming Education through Digital Learning and AI Integration
About Rockford, Illinois
Located 75 miles northwest of Chicago on the Rock Fiver, Rockford is the fifth largest city in Illinois. Known as “City of Gardens” and “Forest City”, with over 40,000 acres of parks and key attractions such as Anderson Japanese Gardens, Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, and Rock Cut State Park. Founded in 1834, the city is home to the Rockford Peaches, a team from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II and featured in the movie “A League of Their Own”.
Rockford University, an OLC Institutional member, serves 1,250 students through undergraduate and graduate programs. It has been recognized as “Best Midwest Regional University” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best Midwestern College” by The Princeton Review, and holds the prestigious Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement.
We welcome you to Rockford!
Nearby Hotels
Getting There & Transportation
By air:
- Rockford is roughly about an hour away from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Madison (MSN), and Milwaukee (MKE) airports. There is a very convenient coach transportation bus service between ORD and Rockford. The coach bus terminal at Rockford is within easy walking distance of the hotels suggested for the conference. The bus runs at a predictable frequency from very early morning to late night.
- American Airlines has also started a shuttle service from the Rockford airport (RFD) to ORD. Allegiant Air operates flights between RFD and select destinations such as Daytona Beach/Sanford, Las Vegas, Nashville, Phoenix/Mesa, Ft. Myers, Sarasota/Bradenton, and St. Pete/Clearwater/Tampa.
If you are driving:
- The OLC Elevate event will be held at 5050 East State Street, Rockford, IL, 61108.
- Once you are on campus, please park in Parking Lot A (free of charge). Follow the signs from there to the event in the Starr Science Building.
Local transportation:
For attendees staying overnight, the Rockford University VanTerras van will be available to transport you from your hotel to the Starr Science Center on campus. Please indicate during registration if you will need transportation from your hotel to the Elevate event. The OLC Conference team will contact you closer to the event regarding that transportation.
- The OLC Elevate event will be held at 5050 East State Street, Rockford, IL 61108.
- OLC Elevate event check-in will be at the Starr Science Center Main Lobby.
Parking information:
Parking is available, free of cost, in Parking Lot A. Proceed from Parking Lot A on the walkway on left. Pass the Peace Garden and Fisher Memorial Chapel (on your right), and continue ahead on the pathway towards the Starr Science Center.
All out-of-town attendees will be responsible for their own parking charges that may be incurred if staying at a local hotel.
