Think Ahead to 2013!

Session Proposals Are Invited for the 108th Annual Meeting Program!

The substantive program for the 2013 Annual Meeting is now taking shape under the leadership of President-elect Cecilia Ridgeway and the 2013 Program Committee. The theme of “Interrogating Inequality: Linking Micro and Macro” invites participation across the discipline and provides many opportunities to bring together a variety of sociological work in diverse formats.

The spectrum of sessions on the Annual Meeting program reflects the ASA’s commitment to facilitate intellectual communication and the transmission of knowledge, information, and skills relevant to the field of sociology and aligned social sciences.

Members are encouraged to submit session proposals for the components of the program where participation is by invitation only. Those who wish to volunteer to serve as organizers for Regular Session topics, which are open to paper submissions, should watch for an announcement in mid-December 2011.

The ASA meeting is a program of the members, by the members, for the members. But a meeting of this size and scope requires advance planning. Think ahead and propose session topics and organizers now. With the collective input of ASA members, the 2013 Annual Meeting program will achieve a high mark of excellence.

Proposals of invited panels are solicited now for the following components:

Thematic Sessions are specially designed and planned by the Program Committee to further examine the meeting theme. These sessions are broad in scope and endeavor to make the theme of the meeting come alive. Ideas for Thematic Sessions are due by November 11, 2011.

 

Special Sessions focus on new areas of sociological work or other timely topics which may or may not relate to the theme. They generally address sociological issues, whether in research or its application, of importance to the discipline or of interest beyond, and participation is by invitation. Proposals for sessions co-sponsored with sister sociological associations are usually accommodated under this component.

 

Regional Spotlight Sessions provide opportunities to look at issues pertinent to the host site for the Annual Meeting. With New York City as the site of the 2013 Annual Meeting, there are many opportunities to develop interesting session topics with invited panelists, as well as ideas for local tours and site visits.

 

Author Meets Critic Sessions are designed to bring authors of recent books deemed to be important contributions to the discipline together with discussants chosen to provide different viewpoints. Books published between 2010-2012 are eligible for nomination. Only ASA members may submit nominations; self-nominations are not accepted.

 

Workshops provide practical advice or instruction to sociologists at every professional level. Workshop proposals should address one of four broad categories: departmental management and leadership; professional development; research and policy; and teaching workshops. If you have insights on faculty policies or curriculum development, have insightful career advice, have expertise in grant writing or a large data set to share, or have tried a pedagogical approach that has been effective, please submit a proposal for a workshop. Workshops are open to all attendees; no fees are involved.

 

Pre-convention Courses take place on August 9, the day prior to the official start of the Annual Meeting. They provide a unique opportunity for an extended (4 to 6 hour) examination of a special topic or method within the field of sociology in a format akin to an advanced graduate seminar. Course attendance is limited and requires pre-registration and a small fee. If you have cutting-edge methodological or theoretical knowledge in an important area please submit a proposal for a pre-conference course. Course leaders receive reimbursement for one night of lodging at any ASA conference hotel. Serving as a course leader does not count as one of the two allowed program participations.

 

Guidelines for Session Proposals

Proposals for Thematic Sessions, Special Sessions, and Regional Spotlight Sessions should provide:

• Designation of the session type:
  Thematic Session (invited panel closely related to the meeting theme)
  Special Session (invited panel on any topic)
  Regional Spotlight Session (invited panel on topic pertinent to Denver and/or the West)
• Working title for the session;
• Brief description of the substantive focus;
• Rationale for inclusion of the topic on the 2013 program;
• Recommendation(s) for session organizer, including address, telephone, and e-mail information; and
• A list of potential participants.

Author Meets Critics Session proposals must include:

• Name and affiliation of book author(s),
• Complete title of the book,
• Publication date and name of publisher,
• Brief statement about the book’s importance to the discipline of sociology,
• Rationale for inclusion on the 2013 program, and
• Suggestions for critics and session organizer.

Workshop proposals must include:

• Working title for the session;
• Brief description of the focus, goals, and intended audience for the workshop;
• Rationale for inclusion of the topic on the 2013 program;
• Recommendation for workshop organizer/leader, including address, telephone, and e-mail information; and
• A list of potential co-leaders or panelists, if desired.

Pre-convention Course proposals must include:

• Working title for the seminar;
• Brief description of the focus and content;
• Rationale for inclusion of the topic on the 2013 program; and
• Recommendation for seminar instructor, including address, telephone, and e-mail information.

Format. All session proposals are to be submitted through the e-mail link located at the bottom of this page.

Organizer Eligibility. All session organizers must be members of ASA. Students are not eligible to serve as sole organizers of invited sessions.

Deadlines. Proposals for Thematic Sessions are due by November 11, 2011. Proposals for all other sessions are due by February 3, 2012.

Submission. Proposals should be submitted through the e-mail link (below). This will ensure the proper transmission of proposals to the Program Committee–do not mail or e-mail proposals directly to Program Committee members.