This document has been prepared by the Committee on Professional Rights and
Responsibilities in response to concerns that recently have been voiced about
the obligations assumed by participants at the annual ISA convention.
I. Composition of the Program
I.1 Panels may be organized according to a variety of formats,
ranging, for example, from the traditional oral presentation of research papers
to poster presentations to more innovative means of presentation that utilize
computer software, film, or demonstrations of teaching techniques.
I.2 The numbers of roundtables on the program should not be increased at the
expense of the number of panels.
I.3 Chairs of roundtables are encouraged to assign titles to participants'
topics and to request discussion papers. To facilitate applications for
institutional travel funds, chairs need to send letters to roundtable
participants inviting them to "prepare a paper on topic X for discussion
at session Y."
I.4 Panel proposals from ISA sections are subject to review by the program
chair(s) using the same standards of quality and suitability that are applied
to other proposals.
I.5 Joint panels and roundtables organized collaboratively by two ISA sections
are particularly encouraged and should be given special consideration by the
program chair(s).
Rationale: Scholars can participate in the program in a variety of ways: by
chairing a panel or roundtable, by delivering a formal paper or prepared
remarks on a given topic, or by serving as a discussant. The primary purpose of
program activities are to encourage the full presentation and active discussion
of theories and research findings, as well as to explore topics of interest
from a wide range of disciplinary and theoretical perspectives. The specific
format used in panels and roundtables to accomplish these goals may vary as
deemed appropriate by panel chairs and the program chair(s).
II. Composition of Panels
II.1 The program chair(s) should maintain flexibility in order to
accommodate the various scholarly aims of different types of panels. Those
panels seeking to debate contending views on a topic are generally well served
by a structure of two papers and two discussants. Other panels may range
between three and four papers, and might have a single discussant. Only under
the most extraordinary circumstances should a panel have more than four papers
or a roundtable have more than six participants.
II.2 Regardless of the composition of panels, thirty minutes should be reserved
for discussion from the floor and among the panelists. The panel chair has the
right and responsibility to enforce this norm.
II.3 Panel organizers should strive for a good mix of participants. The best
panels often include scholars from different countries, a range of
institutions, and different career stages. The best discussants are often
scholars with significant experience in the field. In general, graduate
students should not fill this role.
Rationale: There is no ideal composition for the panels. The number of
formal papers and the time allocated for their presentation should be based on
the scholarly objectives of the panel. In all cases, including roundtables,
adequate time should be reserved for a full and active discussion after the
formal presentations.
III. Responsibility of Panel and
Roundtable Chairs
By proposing and accepting responsibility for chairing a panel or
roundtable, the chair accepts these obligations:
III.1 To inform the program chair(s) of all changes in the composition of the
panel or roundtable prior to the publication of the final program. And,
similarly, to inform all other participants of such changes well before the
meetings begin.
III.2 To inform the program chair(s) of any panelist who fails to attend the
panel without providing advance notification of those extenuating circumstances
preventing their participation.
III.3 If chairing a roundtable, to circulate a detailed memo regarding the
issues to be discussed by the participants well in advance of the meeting.
III.4 If chairing a panel, to take all reasonable steps to ensure that the
discussants receive advance copies of papers, even in draft form. Five working
days prior to the commencement of the meetings is the absolute minimum
acceptable lead-time.
III.5 To hold participants to agreed-upon time limits for their presentations,
so that at least thirty minutes are available for general discussion.
III.6 ISA will provide an overhead projector and screen for your panel. If your
panelists require PowerPoint hookups, film projectors, or other A/V equipment,
they must arrange this with the hotel at their own expense.
Rationale: Stimulating scholarly interchange requires that panelists attend
their panels and roundtables, and that adequate time be set aside for
discussion among panelists and the audience. The purpose of these guidelines is
to provide accurate information about the nature and composition of a
particular panel or roundtable and to provide sufficient time for the participants
and audience to interact.
IV. Responsibility of Panelists and
Roundtable Participants
By proposing and accepting formal participation, participants accept
these obligations:
IV.1 To inform the panel chair, discussant of your paper, and program chairs(s)
at the earliest possible date of any changes in the status of your work, your
availability, or travel funding which will or is likely to prevent your
participation. Failure to show up for your panel without having previously notified
the panel chair, discussant, and program chairs(s) could adversely affect the
likelihood of your being included on the program in future years.
IV.2 If giving a prepared paper, to circulate copies to discussants and other
panelist in advance of the meetings, and at least
five working days before the commencement of the meetings. Paper presenters are
also responsible for providing copies of their paper to other attendees.
IV.3 If serving as a discussant, to read carefully each of the papers that you
receive at least five days prior to the conference and comment upon these
papers in a constructive manner.
IV.4 To abide by the panel chair's stipulations regarding the length of
presentation and comments.
IV.5 Unless you are a co-author and the other author(s) are presenting your
paper, you have an obligation to attend and fulfill the responsibility for
which you applied. This year, like last, we had far more people applying than
we had space for in the program, and literally hundreds of worthy applicants
were turned away. In turn, ISA's Governing Council imposed a deadline of no
later than December 1st, by which time
you could still cancel your participation (and the program chair could
substitute another worthy participant); of if you failed to cancel your professional
obligation by that date, you would be penalized by not allowing you on the
program for future conferences.
IV.6 If you are a co-author, and you are not planning on attending, and your
co-author is presenting your work, please notify us immediately so we may plan
for this and not spend resources unnecessarily. You can notify us by e-mail at isa@u.arizona.edu.
IV.7 ISA will provide an overhead projector and screen for your use. If you
require PowerPoint hookups, film projectors, or any other A/V equipment, you
must arrange this with the hotel at your own expense.
Rationale: The quality of scholarly interaction among panelists and the
audience increases when panelists receive copies of papers in advance of the
meeting and when members of the audience have access to the papers. The
inability of attendees to purchase papers is a source of considerable
frustration. Panelists have a professional responsibility to make copies of
their papers available to convention attendees.
V. Participation of Scholars from
outside North America
V.1 Panel and roundtable chairs are encouraged to invite the participation of
relevant scholars outside of North America.
V.2 Letters confirming the participation of scholars from outside North America
should be sent by the program chair(s) at the earliest possible date and,
whenever possible, in advance of the publication of the preliminary program.
V.3 If participation of a scholar from outside North America is contingent on funding from ISA or other sources, that
fact should be made clear when the proposal is submitted.
Rationale: The participation of scholars from outside North
America is in keeping with the purposes of the Association. Their
participation is most effective if North American members have ample
opportunities to interact with them as panelists and discussants and vice
versa. Early indication of the need for funding will allow the program chair(s)
and section organizers to provide the potential participant with the
appropriate application.
VI. Frequency of Appearances
VI.1 Participants should appear on no more than two panels or
roundtables. A participant may present only one paper, except in the case of
co-authorship.
VI.2 The limitation on the number of appearances will be waived for
participants serving on a panel that is honoring an ISA member, for
participants from outside
North America, or
for other exceptional circumstances identified by the program chairs(s).
Rationale: Minimizing the number of appearances by any one participant
increases the opportunities for participation by others.
VII. Proposal Submission
VII.1 Scholars who submit more than one panel, roundtable or paper
proposal must inform the program chair(s) and the relevant section organizers
of these multiple submissions. In addition, they must indicate the order in
which they wish the proposals to be considered.
VII.2 Scholars who submit proposals for panels or roundtables must not place an
individual on the proposed panel or roundtable without his or her consent.
VII.3 Scholars wishing to participate in the program must adhere to the
submission deadline. Proposals received after the deadline stipulated by the
program chair(s) are unlikely to be included in the program.
Rationale: The fact that some scholars submit multiple proposals without
informing the program chair(s) and other appropriate personnel creates serious
difficulties in preparing the program. Accurate information on multiple
submissions will assist the program chair(s) in making the most efficient use
of available sections. Adherence to the submission deadline facilitates timely
completion of the program.
VIII. Notification of Unsuccessful Proposals
VIII.1 It is the responsibility of the program chair(s) and section
organizers to ensure that scholars who cannot be accommodated on the program
are notified by letter of that fact prior to the publication of the preliminary
program. Acceptance letters and notifications for those who submitted proposals
will sent out by e-mail from ISA starting the last week in September.
Rationale: Not informing scholars that their proposals are unsuccessful
until publication of the preliminary program is a professional discourtesy and
a source of some bitterness.
IX. Registration
and Membership
IX.1 Pre-registration is required for all participants to be listed in the
program.
IX.2 Membership in ISA is not required for participation in the annual
meetings. Nonetheless academic participants are strongly encouraged to join the
Association.
X. Paper and Panel Proposal
Deadline
X.1 The deadline for paper and panel proposals is June 1st,
all proposals may be submitted online at the Convention website located at the
following URL:
http://www.isanet.org/sanfran2008/
XI. Travel Grant
Deadline
XI.1 The travel grant application deadline is September 15th.
For more information on the grant application process, please see the website
located at the following URL: http://www.isanet.org/travel-guideline.html
Rationale: We ask that you submit your travel grant application prior to receiving
your participation confirmation. This early deadline allows us to carefully
consider the many applications received before awarding the limited funds
available.
XII.
Pre-Registration Deadline for Non-Members
XII.1 The pre-registration deadline for non-members is: October 29th.
Non-members who do not register by this
date will not appear in the Convention Program.
Rationale: We request that non-members pre-register for the program no later
than by October 16th. If you fail to do so we will assume that you will not be
participating and we will rearrange the program by removing your contribution
and adding those who have currently been placed on a considerably long waiting
list. In previous years, some non-ISA members have been, for various reasons, unable
to meet their professional commitments to present at ISA meetings. In an
attempt to limit these occurrences to only those with legitimate reasons, this
new procedure was instituted. We hope that this will help ensure full participation
in the ISA Annual Convention.
XIII. Pre-Registration
Deadline for Members
XIII.1 The pre-registration deadline for members is: November 30th.
