FAQ
Get all your OCON questions answered here
The following guidelines are accurate as of March 6, 2022, and are subject to change in accordance with government-enforced, local and federal restrictions.
OCON will comply with COVID-19 protocols and restrictions as enforced by the District of Columbia government at the time of the event.
Effective February 15, 2022, people entering indoor public venues are no longer being required to show proof of vaccination.
Effective March 1, 2022, people entering indoor public venues are no longer being required to wear masks. However, the District of Columbia continues to recommend masking in indoor public spaces when community transmission levels are “substantial or high.”
We ask that you please stay home if:
- You are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms
- You have tested positive for COVID-19
- You are awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test
Your safety is important to us, and we are working with the conference hotel to ensure that we follow District of Columbia mandates when it comes to Covid safety. All attendees, speakers, vendors and members of staff must comply.
Our event team will continue to monitor local requirements and will update you by email if there are changes to the entry requirements or safety initiatives prior to the conference.
For additional details on the guidelines above, please visit the following links:
District of Columbia coronavirus page
Washington Post coronavirus page (free without subscription)
Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown hotel COVID-19 property details
Please note that federally controlled sites such as the Metro subway system or the Smithsonian museums may have more restrictive COVID-19 policies than those imposed by the District of Columbia.
Getting the Most Out of OCON
One of the best ways to interact with other attendees before the conference is to join the OCON Facebook group. Here you can chat with other attendees about their plans for the conference. You can also follow ARI on Twitter @aynrandinst for general conference updates.
We have a YouTube playlist of videos recorded at recent OCONs here. Also, many of our past conference talks and courses are available in MP3 format at the Ayn Rand Institute eStore.
Attendance Options
Scholarships for OCON 2022 are sponsored by the Objectivist Academic Center, ARI’s premier training program for those in or aspiring to intellectual careers. If you are a current OAC graded student or an OAC graduate who is still in university, or you hope to join the OAC as a student in 2021-22 or the near future, you are invited to apply for a scholarship.
Scholarships are only available for students attending the full conference. Applications for student scholarships will be available later.
The week pass includes opening and closing receptions. No meals are included in a day pass, but you can register separately for any meals you’d like to attend. The Opening Reception will be on July 1 and the Closing Reception on July 7.
We will be livestreaming most (not all) conference events. Register for a virtual week pass to access them.
Conference and Hotel Registration
There is a discount for young adults, age 25 and under, as of June 15, 2022 and for full-time students of any age with a valid student ID. Contact us if you have a question about your student eligibility.
Additional in-person passes can be purchased online at any time until June 18. After that, you can call ARI at 800.365.6552 or register onsite in Washington, D.C.
If you cannot attend, you should cancel your in-person passes as soon as possible to obtain the largest refund. Passes can be canceled at any time before or during the conference, but you will not receive a refund after May 31, 2022.
Our system currently accepts only one registration at a time for Week and Virtual Passes. (You may choose as many day passes as you like.) Head to the pricing page and choose your OCON pass type at the bottom of the page. You’ll then be given the opportunity to add lunches and other options. Proceed through your registration; once you finish registration for the first individual, you’ll have the opportunity to add another.
Our host hotel for OCON 2022 is the Renaissance Washington, D.C. Downtown Hotel. Since all the conference events will be held there, it would be most convenient for you to stay there too, but there is no obligation to do so. Guest room reservations are available starting at $154 plus tax per night for June 30 to July 8 (OCON opening reception is on July 1 and closing on July 7). Reservations can be made online at https://book.passkey.com/go/OCON2022 or by phone at 1.800.228.9290 (from abroad: +1.202.962.4436). Mention OCON 2022 to receive the group rate if you call. Reservations can be canceled without a fee until 72 hours prior to the date of arrival. The room block closes at 6 p.m. ET on June 10, 2022.
Navigating the Conference
Miscellaneous Questions
- Cancellation requests postmarked, emailed or made online by May 31, 2022 will receive a full refund.
- After June 1, there will be no refunds, except for students, who will receive a refund until June 20.
- Virtual week passes can be canceled until July 1, 2022.
We are happy to help you find a roommate. Please call 800.365.6552 or email [email protected] to inquire how we can help you. You can also inquire about roommates on the OCON Facebook group.
Visit the Ayn Rand Institute’s main website, AynRand.org, and explore a wealth of resources related to Ayn Rand and her philosophy, Objectivism. A selection of past conference talks and courses is available at the Ayn Rand Institute eStore, and ARI Campus has a large selection of free online courses. These courses are also available on the Ayn Rand University app, available at Apple and Android stores.