Membership Information for Colleges & Universities

Membership Information

The Canadian Organization of Campus Activities, better known by its acronym COCA, repre-sents more than 60 post-secondary institutions from Vancouver to St. John’s. COCA also boasts more than 75 associate members. Typically, school members are student associations or college departments that are involved with campus activities programming of all kinds (social issues, awareness programs, entertainment, campus clubs and societies, film, orientation, win-ter week, guest speakers, pub programming, non-credit courses, leadership & professional de-velopment, marketing campus activities, etc.). Associate members are entertainers, booking agencies, artist management companies, and other suppliers to the campus activities sector.

Founded in 1982 as the successor organization to the Canadian Entertainment Conference (first CEC in 1967), COCA has now completed more than twenty-five years of successful opera-tion. The highlight of every year is the National Conference in June when campus representa-tives gather to learn from more than 30 education sessions in various formats including lectures, seminars, round table discussions, participatory workshops, leadership & professional devel-opment sessions, panel discussions, and educational keynote speakers. All of these are offered on a variety of topics related to campus activities.

All members are encouraged to find out what’s new in entertainment by watching the many showcases featuring music, comedy and variety artists. The Conference also features guest speakers on the lecture circuit as well as film showcases and a trade show (known as the Cam-pus Activities Biz Hall) for campus buyers to shop and meet with suppliers one on one.

COCA members also host regional conferences and meetings (East, West, and Central) from time to time during the academic year. These provide more opportunities for members to assess new entertainers and do some block booking with other schools. COCA Notes, the organiza-tion's official newsletter is published on-line three or four times each year and the COCA Mem-bership Directory is available to members only, online at any time.

In September 1996, COCA established a national head office in London Ontario in order to im-prove services for its members and to have a central communication point for the general pub-lic.

You will find more information about COCA on the COCA web site and you are always welcome to contact members of the Board of Directors or the Executive Director for further information. Please go to the COCA Website and click on “Contact”.

Mission Statement

The Canadian Organization of Campus Activities is committed to developing quality campus programming through education, information sharing, and resources. COCA is further dedicated to enhancing skill development by providing educational and business opportunities, resources, and services for professional staff, college and university students, and associate members of COCA.

COCA Checklist of Services & Benefits for School Members

  • Invitation to the National Conference held annually in June.
  • Free copy of the Conference Manual if unable to attend the National Conference.
  • Invitation to regional conferences or meetings, usually held during the academic year.
  • Excellent networking opportunities with other campus buyers and associate members.
  • Access to the COCA Job Network - monthly listings.
  • Free subscription to COCA Notes - COCA's Newsletter - published on-line 3 times per year.
  • Email address added to the Regional & National School List Serves.
  • Member schools are invited to participate in two COCA-sponsored regional events: Campus Music Explosion & Campus Idol.
  • Leadership opportunities for members interested in participating (Board of Directors, Committees, etc.).
  • Educational & Professional Development seminars at conferences.
  • Member Schools may nominate & vote in the Canadian Campus Entertainment Awards.
  • Block booking opportunities at all conferences, regional meetings, and in-between.
  • Access to educational resources in the on-line COCA Library.
  • Benefit from being part of a peer network - got a problem, call a colleague.
  • Strategic alliance with NACA in the United States, allows COCA school members to attend NACA conferences & educational workshops at NACA member prices and without paying the NACA membership fee.
  • Access to NACA educational materials at NACA member prices.
  • Discount of 30% for COCA member schools to register for Canadian Music Week. Similar discounts available to COCA members for the ECMA and WCMA.

    Membership Fees

    School Membership fees cover a 12-month period from the time of joining. The membership is held in the name of the student association or school department that pays the fee.
  • The 1st Voting Membership per Institution is $300 + GST.
  • A 2nd Voting Membership from the same Institution (e.g. secondary campus, association, or department) is $300 + GST.
  • A Non-Voting membership from an Institution with at least one voting membership already (e.g. secondary campus, association, or department) is $175 + GST.