Each participating college or university represents a Member State of NATO and/or Partnership for Peace Member State. Delegates prepare for participation by individual research, through in-class instruction (where possible), and by reviewing materials provided by the Conference staff and the Embassy of the country they will represent at the Conference.

Upon arrival in Washington, delegates are briefed at the Embassy of the country they represent at the Conference (delegates representing the United States of America will be briefed by the United States Department of State).

During the Conference, committees meet to consider the items on the pre-conference agenda. As the Conference unfolds, the agenda is disrupted by events, which lead to a crisis. Each committee then responds to the situation within its area of expertise under the direction of the North Atlantic Council with individual delegates acting in accordance with the position of the country they represent at the Conference.

The Conference concludes with the adoption of final communiqués reflecting actions decided upon by the North Atlantic Council.

Faculty advisors serve as home governments and are available to consult with their delegates in various roles, such president or prime minister, technical expert, etc.

Dr. Michael C. Nwanze, Professor, Department of Political Science at Howard University is a conference coordinator along with Kent State's Dr. Mark Rubin.

The NATO News, an in-house summary of relevant news stories, is published periodically throughout the Conference.