05/31/2011

ECA 2012 Undergraduate Scholars Conference

Papers for the Undergraduate Scholar’s Conference will be accepted from every sub-discipline in the field of communication.

James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond

ECA 2012 Undergraduate Scholars Conference

In Conjunction with the
103rd Eastern Communication Association Convention


Conference Theme: TRANSITIONS

Submission Deadline: December 17, 2011

Submission Email: ECAUSC@gmail.com Submission Format: .doc, .docx, or .pdf 

Plan to attend the 2nd annual James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond Undergraduate Scholars Conference to be held in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel Boston April 27th and 28th, 2012. ECA’s convention theme, “Transitions” promises great opportunities for us to participate in meaningful, scholarly dialogue over the course of the convention.  “Transition” brings about thoughts of change, movement, passages, and journeys.  Although not all transitions are pleasant ones, they often bring us greater enlightenment and renewal.

This theme invites ECA members and others to critically and productively examine not only specific transitions, but also the process of transition itself. Is all transition inherently communicative in nature? Are transitions themselves the mechanisms for invoking change in communication? To what extent can manipulation of the communication context of a transition shape that very transition? What are the outcomes of transitions? What are the by-products? What role does technology play in social, personal, intellectual, or creative transitions?

The USC Planners (Dr. Susan Jasko and a team of students from California University of PA’s Department of Communication Studies) are open to suggestions and ideas and queries about forms of submission and presentation.

Contact us at ECAUSC@gmail.com

Papers for the Undergraduate Scholar’s Conference will be accepted from every sub-discipline in the field of communication. We will also offer a range of presentation formats including: 

• Competitive Paper Presentations  
• Poster Submissions 
• Panel Discussions

Guidelines for each of these is attached to this call.  

Faculty, please note that the deadline for submissions is December 17th to allow for the submission of projects completed in the Fall 2011 quarter or semester.

Submissions of Completed Papers Should Include: 

1) A title page with the title of the paper and the author(s)’ affiliations, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. 

2) Mark "Debut" if the author has not presented previously at a regional or national convention. 

3) A one-page abstract on the second page. 

4) Please indicate your willingness to present your paper as a competitive paper presentation, competitive poster presentation, or both. 

Competitive Paper Presentation

Competitive Paper Presentations are similar to formal presentations where the authors explain their research in a 10 to 15 minute oral presentation. In this presentation format, 3 or 4 papers will be presented together containing general theme that links the papers together. Furthermore, these presentations will be followed by a response from a top-scholar in the field of communication who will provide feedback on your paper. 

Competitive Poster Presentation

Competitive Poster Presentations involving an author or group of authors standing next to a physical poster that visually explains the crux of the paper/project. Individuals will walk around reading the posters and talking to the author(s) about the study. One of the nice things about poster sessions is that they tend to be fairly low key and full of energy. If you have never presented at an academic conference, poster sessions are a less stressful first foray into the academic community. You may even want to consider making a handout that summarizes your study to individuals who talk to you about your study. 

5) Statement of professional responsibility should follow the abstract on the second page of the submitted manuscript.

“In submitting the attached paper or proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel or paper if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s Undergraduate Scholar’s Conference must register and pay required fees.” 

6) Your manuscript should be e-mailed to ECAUSC@gmail.com by December 17th by 11:00 PM EST. Please note that this is later than the traditional ECA paper deadline. 

(If a paper or panel is multi-authored, please indicate who will be presenting at the convention. In case someone has many presentations that overlap, this helps the Second Vice President determine how to slot people.)  

Submissions of Program/Panel Proposals Should Include: 

1) A thematic title for the program. 

2) Names of chair and respondents, if any. 

3) Names, mailing address, telephone numbers, e-mail addresses, and institutional affiliation of all participants. 

4) Title and abstracts for each paper or presentation. 

5) Program copy (a 75 word description) as it will appear in the final program. 

6) A detailed rationale for the program/panel. 

7) Statement of professional responsibility. 

“In submitting the attached paper or proposal, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this panel or paper if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s Undergraduate Scholar’s Conference must register and pay required fees.” 

8) Your panel proposal should be e-mailed toECAUSC@gmail.com by December 17th by 11:00 PM EST.  

Please note that this is later than the traditional ECA paper deadline. 

(If a paper or panel is multi-authored, please indicate who will be presenting at the convention. In case someone has many presentations that overlap, this helps the Second Vice President determine how to slot people.) 

Submissions of Alternate Formats/Video Should Include: 

We realize that student scholarship doesn’t come in just the written form. As such, we encourage the submission of short (20 minutes or less) documentaries that address an educational topic. 

1) The Undergraduate Scholar’s Conference invites submissions of original creative works in which the entrant maintained predominant authorship over the project’s content and aesthetics (producing, directing, writing, editing, etc.). Previously submitted works will not be accepted. However, a derivative of a previously submitted work may qualify for submission if it can be shown that substantial changes have been made to the original work. In cases where the work is not entirely original, the entrant must provide additional clarification. Works-in-progress will not be accepted. 

2) The entrant agrees to clear all licenses, copyrights, and permissions to ensure that the submission can legally and ethically be presented at the ECA convention. If an entity other than the entrant owns the rights to all or part of the submitted program, the entrant must attach written consent from the owner or an authorized representative of the owner to the entry form. 

3) Language: Works must be in English or have English subtitles. 

4) Submissions will be accepted in one of two formats: 

            a) 3 copies of your DVD that should be received by the conference chair no later than December 17th, 2011 at 5:00 PM EST to: 

Susan A. Jasko
USC Coordinator
Communication Studies
250 University Ave
California University of PA
California, PA 15419 

(If sending via mail, please send an e-mail, ECAUSC@gmail.com, confirming the project has been sent). 

            b) You can also submit an internet link to a website where the video has been uploaded and can be viewed by reviewers online. 

5) Entries are evaluated according to the following criteria: 1) professionalism; 2) the use of aesthetic and/or creative elements; 3) sense of structure and timing; 4) production values; 5) technical merit; and 6) the overall contribution to the discipline in both form and substance. 

6) When submitting your project, the following information must be contained in your submission: 

            A) A title page with the title of the paper and the author/creator(s)’ affiliations, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses. 
            B) Mark "Debut" if the author has not presented previously at a regional or national convention. 
            C) A one-page abstract on the second page. 

7) Statement of professional responsibility should follow the abstract on the second page of your submission. 

“In submitting this video, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this video if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s Undergraduate Scholar’s Conference must register and pay required fees.”