{"id":734,"date":"2025-12-15T16:46:22","date_gmt":"2025-12-15T16:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/?page_id=734"},"modified":"2026-03-25T13:19:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T13:19:49","slug":"2026-department-chairs-mini-conference-and-luncheon","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/2026-department-chairs-mini-conference-and-luncheon\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 APSA Department Chairs Mini-Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:51px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"442\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/AM26-Graphics-miniconfdept-e1766092559937-1024x442.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/AM26-Graphics-miniconfdept-e1766092559937-1024x442.png 1024w, https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/AM26-Graphics-miniconfdept-e1766092559937-300x130.png 300w, https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/AM26-Graphics-miniconfdept-e1766092559937-768x332.png 768w, https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/AM26-Graphics-miniconfdept-e1766092559937-1536x663.png 1536w, https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/AM26-Graphics-miniconfdept-e1766092559937-2048x884.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:36px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>2026 APSA Department Chairs Mini-Conference<\/strong> <br>Theme: &#8220;<em>Strengthening Political Science Departments<\/em>&#8220;<br><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\" style=\"font-size:18px\"><strong>APSA Annual Meeting &amp; Exhibition | Boston, MA | Friday, September 4, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>The proposal submission system is CLOSED.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:12px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Join political science departments for the <strong>2026 Department Chairs Mini-Conference and Luncheon<\/strong> to be held on <strong>Friday, September 4, 2026<\/strong>, during the <strong>122nd APSA Annual Meeting and Exhibition<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the past two years, APSA has organized a half-day mini-conference to provide political science departments with a forum to discuss significant issues affecting the discipline and engage in peer-to-peer collaboration. The 2026 mini-conference will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"792\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/APSADay2-020-300x200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-792\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"793\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/APSADay2-026-300x200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-793\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"794\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/APSADay2-023-300x200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-794\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"795\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/APSADay2-021-300x200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-795\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-id=\"796\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/112\/2025\/12\/APSADay2-033-300x200-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-796\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2026 Theme: <strong>Strengthening Political Science Departments<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Higher education has changed dramatically in recent years, and yet the importance and value of a political science education has never been more apparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How are political science chairs, graduate directors, and undergraduate coordinators revitalizing and reimagining their programs and curriculum?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What strategies are political science departments using to strengthen their programs in the 21st century?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>About the Call for Proposals<br><\/strong>We seek proposals that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Resources for departmental leadership<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Best practices to recruit and sustain undergraduate enrollment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Undergraduate curriculum and teaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hiring, tenure, and promotion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>External reviews, strategic planning, and assessments<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Resources to support and strengthen academic freedom of speech<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Helping graduate students enter careers beyond the academy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Approaches to improve accessibility and belonging in the discipline<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Submissions may take the form of multiple formats:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<table style=\"width: 100%;\" width=\"600\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left; width: 47.6829%;\" width=\"20\"><strong>30-Minute Lightning Session<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.1951%;\" width=\"40\">This format should include a brief professional development presentation, with 15-20 minutes for audience engagement. Lightning sessions would be combined with other lightning sessions.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left; width: 47.6829%;\" width=\"20\"><strong>Roundtable<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.1951%;\" width=\"40\">A roundtable proposal is a discussion format session. Participants agree on a specific topic to discuss and debate, and identify learning objectives for the audience. You must submit a session title and all participant details.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: left; width: 47.6829%;\" width=\"20\"><strong>Workshop<\/strong><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 52.1951%;\" width=\"40\">A workshop features a single presenter who leads a deep dive on a focused topic. The workshop should provide participants with best practices, hands-on experience, and pre-determined learning objectives.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h4><strong>Honoraria<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>The APSA Departmental Services Committee is pleased to offer honoraria to accepted presenters upon completion of their mini-conference event. Honoraria:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lightening Presentation &#8211; $300 honorarium<\/li>\n<li>Roundtable Presenter &#8211; $300 honorarium<\/li>\n<li>Workshop Leader &#8211; $500 honorarium<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Submission Instructions<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Proposals submissions are CLOSED. The submission deadline was January 14, 2026, 11:59 p.m. Pacific.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Please note: Submitting to the Department Chairs Mini-Conference is exempt from the two-submission rule and can constitute a third submission.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><strong>Frequently Questions<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Who will review the proposals?<\/strong> The APSA Departmental Service Committee will review the proposals and make all decisions about the mini-conference&#8217;s program.<\/li>\n<li><strong>When will applicants be notified of the Departmental Service Committee\u2019s decision?<\/strong> APSA will contact all applicants by mid-February 2026.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Is there any additional costs to attend the mini-conference?<\/strong> All attendees must register for the 2026 APSA Annual Meeting &amp; Exhibition. There is no additional cost to attend.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do you have to be an active department chair to apply?<\/strong> No. You do not have to be a department chair to apply.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Who is eligible to apply?<\/strong> Any political scientist who is prepared to contribute to topics and discussions important to political science departments.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How important is institutional diversity?<\/strong> Political science departments cover the range of institutional types in higher education. Roundtables and workshops should reflect the wide variety of political science departments and programs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Do I need to attend the entire mini-conference?<\/strong> No. While you are welcome to participate in the whole program, it is not required.<\/li>\n<li><strong>If my proposal is accepted, will the time conflict with my other APSA responsibilities?<\/strong> APSA staff will work to prevent scheduling conflicts.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Who can I contact if I have any questions?<\/strong> Please write Bennett Grubbs, APSA\u2019s Associate Director of Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development, at <a href=\"mailto:bgrubbs@apsanet.org\">bgrubbs@apsanet.org<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>View past APSA Department Chairs\u2019 Mini-Conferences and Chairs\u2019 Roundtables below:<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2025\/department-chairs-mini-conference-and-luncheon\/\">2025 Department Chairs Mini-Conference Program<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2024\/department-chairs-mini-conference-and-luncheon\/\">2024 Department Chairs Mini-Conference Program<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2026 APSA Department Chairs Mini-Conference Theme: &#8220;Strengthening Political Science Departments&#8220; APSA Annual Meeting &amp; Exhibition | Boston, MA | Friday, September 4, 2026 The proposal submission system is CLOSED. Join political science departments for the 2026 Department Chairs Mini-Conference and Luncheon to be held on Friday, September 4, 2026, during the 122nd APSA Annual Meeting &#8230; <a title=\"2026 APSA Department Chairs Mini-Conference\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/2026-department-chairs-mini-conference-and-luncheon\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about 2026 APSA Department Chairs Mini-Conference\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77385,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-734","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77385"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/connect.apsanet.org\/apsa2026\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}