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Guidelines for Proposing an MAA Meeting Session

To propose a session for a national meeting, use the online proposal form. Choose the appropriate meeting, list the title of your proposed session, and choose the appropriate event type. The title should succinctly and clearly define the content and purpose of the panel.

Enter your abstract in the box labeled Abstract/Session Description on the first tab. The abstract is the only description that prospective participants will see. It will appear in the meeting program, website, FOCUS and for the Joint Meetings, the Notices. This description should clearly articulate the content and goals for the session, the format of the course, and any necessary prerequisite knowledge, and should be written to help the meeting attendee determine whether or not they wish to attend the session. The abstract should be no more than 150 words in length (up to 200 words for a Contributed Paper Session, see additional CPS format details below).

In the Contact tab, enter all the requested contact information for the organizer(s) and panelists (if applicable). You will be asked to provide a very brief biographical sketch for each organizer/panelist, focusing on experience as related to the proposed topic. If an organizer has organized a workshop, panel, or poster session in the last three years either at the Joint Meetings or MathFest, list the meeting, session title and approximate session attendance.

In the Additional Information tab, under AV/Logistical Requests, list any special equipment or logistical needs (A computer projector will be provided; presenters are expected to bring their own laptops.). Any special needs should be included here in the original proposal for the session. All logistical requests are subject to approval. Also on this tab, list any sponsoring organizations, such as SIGMAAs, MAA committees, or external organizations, and indicate if the same session has been offered previously.

In the Additional Notes field, list any scheduling constraints you have during the meeting, the additional details requested under each session type below, and any other information you wish the selection committee to consider.

Session Descriptions and Additional Notes

Minicourse

Panel Session or Workshop

Poster Session

Contributed Paper Session

Invited Paper Session

Minicourse

An MAA minicourse has a workshop format and focuses on some aspect of collegiate mathematics, the undergraduate mathematics curriculum, or mathematical pedagogy. Minicourse participants expect to be involved actively throughout the minicourse, participating in small group discussions, working hands-on activities, etc. Depending on the desires of the organizers, minicourses may include up to 80 participants.

Each minicourse is four hours in length, with the time usually divided into two, two-hour sessions on different days. For example, a minicourse might be scheduled for Thursday, 2:15–4:15, and Saturday, 1:00–3:00. It may be possible to accommodate other formats.

For instructions on submitting a minicourse proposal, go to http://www.maa.org/meetings/miniguide.html.

For other questions on submitting a minicourse proposal, contact Jeff Knisley, Chair of the MAA Committee on Minicourses, knisleyj@etsu.edu.

Panel Session or Workshop

MAA panel sessions and workshops are scheduled for 80 minutes. The typical format of a panel session is for three or four speakers to make comments on a subject followed by a reasonable time for questions, answers and discussion. A workshop typically includes a hands-on activity and training.

In the Additional Notes field, please include any additional information that may be relevant to session selection. This can include justification for why the session should be run and any other information you wish the committee to consider.

Poster Session

MAA poster sessions are typically held in a large room or hallway where there is ample room for many participants to set up their poster. Each person or group is typically provided with a table. Some presenters use a computer but access to power cannot be guaranteed.

In the Additional Notes field, please include a proposed maximum number of posters that can be accepted.

For other questions on submitting a workshop, poster session, or panel session proposal, contact Jimmy Buchanan, Chair of the MAA Committee on Workshops/Panels/Poster Sessions, BuchananVM@hiram.edu.

Contributed Paper Session

An MAA Contributed Paper Session (CPS) may focus on any aspect of collegiate mathematics. Examples include expository mathematics, connections within mathematics or between mathematics and other disciplines, the undergraduate mathematics curriculum, or mathematical pedagogy. The CPS committee seeks and encourages proposals that will contribute toward a well-balanced and scholarly program that represents the MAA’s mission.

CPS organizers will be responsible for reviewing abstracts submitted for consideration, deciding which abstracts to accept, communicating with speakers, scheduling and chairing the session program. CPS session presentations are 15 minutes in length with 5 minutes for questions and transition to the next presentation. A single session is generally 3–4 hours (9–12 talks).

Abstract/Session Description

The session description is the only information seen by the MAA membership and in the call for papers, so it must clearly and precisely describe the session and state the types of submissions sought. The description format should adhere to the following outline:

• The first three to five sentences should clearly define and describe the topic of the session. This introduction is meant to succinctly describe what the session is about in order to attract potential audience members and speakers.
• (Optional) After describing the topic, if appropriate, you may briefly mention why this topic is timely, recent changes in this field, etc.
• The session summary should end with a very specific description of the types of presentations sought for the session. In the call for papers, it should also be emphasized (either explicitly or implicitly) that presentations are expected to be scholarly in nature.
• The summary should also include sponsoring organizations if any (e.g., MAA committees, SIGMAAs).

In the Additional Notes field, please include any additional information that may be relevant to session selection. This can include justification for why the session should be run and any other information you wish the committee to consider (e.g., rationale, intended audience, reasons why the topic is timely, dissemination plans). You can also list any anticipated time/scheduling conflicts at the meeting (if applicable).

Late Proposals: CPS proposals submitted on or before the deadline will be given priority. Late proposals will be considered only if (i) the program has availability, and (ii) the proposal would significantly contribute towards a better-balanced program.

Inspired Proposals: In order to allow for consideration of CPS proposals that are inspired by presentations and/or discussions at the Joint Mathematics Meetings, the committee will reserve two CPS sessions that may be awarded to innovative and/or timely proposals for the next Joint Mathematics Meeting that are submitted within one week of the last day of the current Joint Mathematics Meetings.

Invited Paper Sessions

MAA Invited Paper Sessions (IPS) are designed to provide "substantial mathematical content in the MAA program at each national meeting." With this goal in mind, the MAA’s Committee on Invited Paper Sessions solicits sessions devoted to exposition of recent research in the mathematical sciences. Speakers in IPS sessions should be experts in their field committed to giving presentations accessible to a broad, non-expert audience.

IPS organizers are responsible for determining the overarching theme of their session, inviting speakers, communicating with speakers, scheduling, and chairing the session program at the national meeting. IPS session presentations are typically 25 minutes in length with 5 minutes for questions. A session should contain at least four (4) talks on the subject so that the minimum timeframe for an IPS is two (2) hours. IPS sessions typically include no more than six (6) talks.

The MAA Committee on Invited Paper Sessions recruits organizers for sessions and often suggests topics linked to invited talks at national meeting or other topics of broad interest. The committee also accepts proposals from MAA members to organize an IPS, as described below.

Proposal Submission

To propose an IPS, email the information described below to the chair of the MAA Invited Paper Session Committee at ipschair@maa.org. You can also send your questions to the committee chair at the same email address if you would like to discuss a potential proposal with the chair before proceeding to a formal submission.

An IPS proposal should include a proposed title and a 1-2 paragraph description of the topic that will serve as the theme of the session and identify current research to be presented in this session. A list of potential speakers and their affiliations should also be included in the proposal. A named organizer (or pair of organizers) is required.

Once received, the proposal will be reviewed by the Invited Paper Session Committee and a decision to accept or deny the proposal will be made in a timely fashion.