AASRO 2026 Annual Meeting

This Year’s Theme

The Cost of Survey Research — sustaining academic centers under financial pressure.

Welcome to the Garden State. We can’t wait to bring AASRO to Rutgers and show you a little Jersey hospitality.

Our Wednesday evening keynote at the historic Eagleton mansion sets the stage, and every discussion session builds directly on it. As always, there’s plenty of room for the candid, center-to-center conversation that makes this meeting so worthwhile. This year’s sessions cover revenue and pricing, managing centers in lean times, retaining great staff, AI as a cost-saving tool, navigating politically sensitive research, and making the case for your center to your institution.

New This Year: A Vendor Exhibition Over Meals

A handful of carefully selected partners — tools many of us already use — will exhibit during coffee and lunch. It’s a low-key way to see what’s new and connect directly, and their sponsorship lets us hold registration well below what a meeting like this usually costs. We’re finalizing the exact fee now; we’ll confirm it soon, and we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Lodging

Book early — there’s no room block this year.

We don’t have a room block or discounted rate for 2026, so you’ll reserve your own hotel directly. Availability in the area fills up fast, so booking soon gives you the best choice of location and price. Note that none of the area hotels — including the Inn — are within walking distance of the meeting spaces, so plan for a car or ride share.

Stay on-site: Rutgers University Inn & Conference Center
The meeting venue itself has a limited number of guest rooms — not enough for the full conference, so book immediately if you’d like to stay on-site. Easily reached by car or ride share, with a large parking lot.

Closest alternatives — about 5 minutes’ drive:

• Heldrich Hotel — 10 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick — 732-729-4670
• Hyatt Regency — 2 Albany Street, New Brunswick — 732-873-1234

Additional area hotels — a short drive:

• Comfort Suites — 555 Old Bridge Turnpike, East Brunswick — 732-967-1505
• Days Hotel — 195 Route 18 South, East Brunswick — 732-828-6900
• Doubletree Hotel — 200 Atrium Drive, Somerset — 732-469-2600
• Embassy Suites — 121 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway — 732-980-0500
• Hampton Inn — 841 Georges Road, North Brunswick — 732-246-3555
• Hilton East Brunswick — 3 Tower Center Boulevard, East Brunswick — 732-828-2000
• Holiday Inn Express — 4 Tower Center Boulevard, East Brunswick — 732-247-6800

Exploring New Brunswick & Beyond

A little guide to the Garden State while you’re here. Everything below is an easy walk, ride, or train from the conference hotels. Dates and showtimes were accurate when we compiled this, so double-check with the venue before you head out.

In New Brunswick

Right around the conference, a block or two from the hotels:

• State Theatre NJ — The Moth Mainstage on Thursday, Oct 8, and comedian Akaash Singh on Friday, Oct 9. Both a block from the hotels.
• New Brunswick Jazz Project — live jazz at Tavern on George every Thursday.
• Rutgers Gardens — 180 acres of display gardens and trails.
• Zimmerli Art Museum — one of the largest university art collections in the country, on the Rutgers campus.
• Kirkpatrick Chapel — a historic 19th-century chapel worth a quick look.

Where to Eat & Drink

Special occasion: Stage Left Steak and The Frog & The Peach are the two showpieces — both AAA Four Diamond, with deep wine lists.

Italian: Casa Ragazzi (378 George St) is the newer upscale spot that NJ Monthly credits with reshaping the local dining scene; the higher price reflects a real step up. Catherine Lombardi is a longtime favorite and a great middle option. Victoria’s Tratta Italiano (94 Church St) is the more affordable counterpart when the occasion calls for something easier than a splurge.

Sushi: Sakana (338 George St) is one of the more established sushi spots downtown — a solid, low-risk go-to.

Mediterranean & Turkish: Sahara is the more polished, photogenic option (halal, NJ Monthly–covered); Efes, a couple blocks away, is the more casual, grill-forward version (also halal) — between them you’ve got a real choice.

American & gastropub: Old Man Rafferty’s (106 Albany St) is a dependable modern American menu that’s been downtown for years. Tavern on George, Cuzin’s, and Roosterspin round out the reliable casual mix.

Quick between sessions: Destination Dogs and Ramen Nagomi are both fast and satisfying.

Drinks: Harvest Moon Brewery and Salt Seafood & Oyster Bar.

Nearby Towns

• Princeton (about 25 minutes) — McCarter Theatre’s new musical A Beat of Our Own opens Oct 7. Also worth the trip: the university campus, the art museum, and the shops along Nassau Street and Palmer Square.
• Highland Park (about 10 minutes, walkable) — Donaldson Park along the river for a stroll.
• Red Bank (about 40 minutes) — the Count Basie Center has Airplane! Live with original film stars, plus a Jake Shimabukuro ukulele show, both on Friday, Oct 9.
• Asbury Park (about 45 minutes, or anywhere down the shore) — early October is the tail end of “local summer,” so the crowds are gone but the boardwalk, Convention Hall, indie shops, and food-and-music scene are still going. A great low-key escape if you get a mild afternoon.

Day Trip: New York City

NJ Transit runs direct from New Brunswick to Penn Station in about 65 minutes ($10–22), roughly every 30 minutes. Once you’re there:

• Broadway — check TKTS for same-day discount tickets
• Top of the Rock at golden hour
• Central Park
• The High Line and Chelsea Market
• Grand Central Terminal
• The 9/11 Memorial
• The Staten Island Ferry — free views of the Statue of Liberty

Day Trip: Philadelphia

Direct Amtrak gets you there in about 51 minutes ($18–40), or take the cheaper NJ Transit-to-Trenton-then-SEPTA route (about 1.5–2 hours, $6–17). Highlights:

• Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell
• Reading Terminal Market
• The Philadelphia Museum of Art steps
• Elfreth’s Alley
• Rittenhouse Square
• Eastern State Penitentiary