Proposing a Special Session

Thank you for your interest in proposing a special session for the 2013 MLA Annual Convention. Special-session proposal forms will be available in early 2012. The deadline to submit a proposal is 1 April 2012.

If you want to invite paper submissions for creating your proposal, you may post a call for papers. A call for papers is not a session proposal but a way to solicit paper submissions.

Current MLA members may propose only one special session a year.

Before completing these forms, organizers should carefully read "Procedures for Organizing Meetings at the MLA Convention." Organizers may also refer to the calendar of deadlines.

Organizers should understand that proposals are at a disadvantage if all the information requested on the form is not provided or if the proposal includes individuals who are not MLA members by 7 April (unless the membership requirement has been waived). A waiver request may be completed online after your proposal has been submitted. To check the membership status of your participants, search the member database.

Click to view examples of the following sections of the proposal form:

Detailed Description of Session
Information on the Panelists' and Presider's Scholarship and Relevant Experience

Please visit these pages for more detailed information about special-session proposals:

Special Session FAQs
Tour of Special-Session Proposal Form
What Makes a Successful Special-Session Proposal? 
Scoring Guidelines for Special Sessions

Deadline for Audiovisual Requests

Session organizers should check with their participants about audiovisual needs and include any requests on the proposal form. All requests for audiovisual equipment must be made by the session organizer by 1 April. Because the need for audiovisual equipment is a major factor in the scheduling of meetings (and because the movement of equipment is both costly and hazardous), the deadline is firm.