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39th Conference FAQ and Announcements


We recommend keeping this map open in your browser (or printed and at hand) while reviewing the Announcements and FAQ below:

Files available for download  »
  • Map of KU Leuven
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    Conference Announcements


    1. Focal Session Selection Please log into your criticalthinking.org account at your earliest convenience, check that your Focal Sessions are selected, and make sure you have selected the Focal Sessions you would like to attend. It is essential to pre-select these sessions so we have an accurate count of participants for room assignments. While at the conference, please attend only the sessions you have registered for.

    2. Checking in at the Conference - Tuesday Morning The conference check-in period will be from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. in the in the reception hall of the AP Auditoria (Parkstraat 51), where your materials will be ready for you. Simply provide your name, and you will be given everything you need.

    If you are not able to make it to the check-in area before 8:30 a.m., you can proceed to the Opening Ceremony and Keynote, which will be in the Jean Monnet Room (AP 01.30) inside the AP Auditoria. Then, during the first break, you can obtain your materials from the FCT Help Area in the reception hall. 


    3. Materials You Will Receive at Check-In     When checking in at the conference, you will receive a packet of all relevant information, the publications you'll be using during your sessions, a physical copy of the Conference Program and Proceedings , a pen and notepad, and a tote bag to carry everything in. In your packet, you will find a campus map (similar to the one linked at the top of this page), information about the conference, the Focal Sessions for which you are registered and the rooms in which they take place, and general information about the Foundation for Critical Thinking. Please take time to review the packet when you receive it, as it will contain much valuable information.

    4. Payment 

    All registration fees should be received by us prior to the conference. Anyone attempting to pay on-site will need special permission to do this from us in advance. A signed purchase order from qualifying institutions (e.g. accredited schools, military or government offices, etc.) is an acceptable substitute for pre-payment, as long as we receive the P.O. before the conference. 

    5. Refreshments Coffee, tea, and fresh water will be available during breaks in the reception hall of the AP Auditoria.
    6. If You Get Lost     If you need directions, please visit SBIB in the SW Faculty of Social Sciences building (Parkstraat 45).

    7. Lunch

    Attendees will be on their own for lunch.

    Frequently Asked Questions


    1. What airport should I fly into?

    The nearest Airport to KU Leuven is Brussels Airport in Zaventem, Belgium. You can book your flight directly through the Brussels Airport website .

    2. How can I get to the campus from the airport?

    Please review our Travel and Lodging Page .


    3. What should I wear?

    Attendees generally dress casually – everything from jeans and t-shirts to 'business casual.' We recommend dressing to be as comfortable as possible. We also strongly suggest bringing comfortable walking shoes, as conference sessions will be conducted all over the campus. Finally, the June weather in Leuven is typically mild, but we recommend checking the weather forecast before arriving.


    4. Where can I stay while I'm in Leuven?

    Please review our Travel and Lodging Page .

    5. Can I have a list of all conference participants?

    Our privacy policy prevents us from providing this. However, we design sessions so that participants frequently work with others in pairs and small groups. This enables those interested in establishing personal contacts at the conference to exchange contact information.

    6. How do the Concurrent Sessions work?

    All Concurrent Sessions will be held on Thursday. For each Concurrent time slot, there will be several sessions to choose from. Information about each Concurrent Session will be available in the Conference Program and Proceedings , which you will receive when you check in on the first day. Please review the descriptions so you can attend whichever Concurrent Sessions most relevant to you.

    7. What is the closing session?

    This is a time for all registrants to come together on the last day, to process what you have learned at the conference, and to think about next steps for moving forward. This session will be led by Drs. Linda Elder and Gerald Nosich with input from our Visiting Scholars as well.

    8. Does the Foundation for Critical Thinking offer on-site or remote professional development programs in critical thinking?

    Yes, both. You will receive a basic proposal regarding professional development in your registration packet, which explains our programs. Information is also available on our website here .

    To communicate with us about our professional development programs, please email Ms. Rachael Collins at collins@criticalthinking.org .

    9. What is your policy on canceling my registration?

    Please see the policy description on this page .

    10. Why are some of the sessions being recorded?

    Many of the workshop sessions are videotaped for the following reasons: (1) to
    permanently document the sessions for the Foundation for Critical Thinking
    archives, (2) to create video footage from the sessions for our website, and (3)
    to provide video clips for educational purposes.







    Please do not pass this message by.

    CRITICAL THINKING IS AT RISK.

    Here are some of the big reasons why:

    1. Many people believe that critical thinking should be free and that scholars qualified to teach critical thinking should do so for free. Accordingly, they do not think they should have to pay for critical thinking textbooks, courses, or other resources when there is "so much free material online" - despite how erroneous that material may be.
    2. There are many misguided academicians, and some outright charlatans, pushing forth and capitalizing on a pseudo-, partial, or otherwise impoverished concept of critical thinking.
    3. Little to no funding is designated for critical thinking professional development in schools, colleges, or universities, despite the lip service widely given to critical thinking (as is frequently found in mission statements).
    4. Most people, including faculty, think they already know what critical thinking is, despite how few have studied it to any significant degree, and despite how few can articulate a coherent, accurate, and sufficiently deep explanation of it.
    5. People rarely exhibit the necessary level of discipline to study and use critical thinking for reaching higher levels of self-actualization. In part, this is due to wasting intellectual and emotional energy on fruitless electronic entertainment designed to be addictive and profitable rather than educational and uplifting.
    6. On the whole, fairminded critical thinking is neither understood, fostered, nor valued in educational institutions or societies.
    7. People are increasingly able to cluster themselves with others of like mind through alluring internet platforms that enable them to validate one another's thinking - even when their reasoning is nonsensical, lopsided, prejudiced, or even dangerous.
    8. Critical thinking does not yet hold an independent place in academia. Instead, "critical thinking" is continually being "defined" and redefined according to any academic area or instructor that, claiming (frequently unsupported) expertise, steps forward to teach it.

    As you see, increasingly powerful trends against the teaching, learning, and practice of critical thinking entail extraordinary challenges to our mission. To continue our work, we must now rely upon your financial support. If critical thinking matters to you, please click here to contribute what you can today.

    WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONTINUE OUR WORK.

    Thank you for your support of ethical critical thinking.