Participation Rules & Proposal Guidelines

PARTICIPATION RULES

When submitting a proposal, applying for Research Groups, or accepting invitations for the 2026 Virtual Research Meeting, please follow the below participation rules:

Rule 1: Registration
APSA requires all program participants to register for the virtual conference by April 1, 2026.

Rule 2: Paper Delivery
While optional, Research Group participants are encouraged to reach out to their organizer(s) to share any documents or presentations relevant to their research or workshop contributions. Organizers are also welcome to share documents or resources they feel would benefit workshop participants.

Rule 3: Meeting Schedule
Each accepted Research Group will have a series of eight (8) dedicated 90-minute sessions across both days of the virtual meeting. Admitted applicants are expected to attend all workshop sessions across both days of the meeting. If you must miss one or more session for any reason, please notify the Research Group organizer(s) in advance. Due to limited capacity and concurrent session times, participants may only join one Research Group workshop.

Rule 4: Submissions
To use the online submission system, you will need a valid email address, an APSAnet.org account, and internet connectivity. To submit a Research Group proposal, you must log into the 2026 Virtual Research Meeting submission system using your APSAnet.org credentials. If you do not have an APSA account, you can create a free one here. You do not need to be an APSA member to submit a proposal or apply for a Research Group.

APPLICATION & PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

DEADLINE EXTENDED!
The submission system will now close for Research Group participant applications on March 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

Research Group Submission Procedure
Organizers are required to submit a proposal for their Research Group through the online submission system. Each submission should include the Research Group’s title/topic, a brief description, and a general outline of the anticipated content, structure, and goals of the suggested Research Group. Proposed workshop topics should align with the 2026 virtual meeting theme of “Collaboration in Times of Crisis: Polarization, Populism, and Political Science in a Changing World.”

Research Group Submission Rules
Please follow the below rules when submitting your virtual Research Group proposal:

  • Each organizer may host only one Research Group. Please limit your submission to a single proposal.
  • All Research Group host proposals must be submitted through the submission system no later than Thursday, January 15, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific.

Confirmation of Proposal Submission
Upon submission, each proposal will receive a unique ID number and an email confirmation. Please save the confirmation email and ID number for future reference. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours, contact APSA at meeting@apsanet.org.

You can view, edit, or delete submissions until the deadline through the “View Submissions” link on your All Academic homepage.

Research Group Acceptance Notifications
Notifications of acceptance or rejection for Research Group organizer proposals will be sent in early February 2026. If your Research Group is accepted, organizers must confirm their willingness to host their Research Group workshops during the 2026 Virtual Research Meeting.

Applications to participate in Research Groups will open early February 2026, and organizers will be expected to review all applications and select workshop participants by March 13, 2026.

For further details on organizer responsibilities and submission guidelines, please visit our Research Group Workshops page or email us at meeting@apsanet.org.

APSA reserves the right to select or remove panels and participants and modify panel dates, times, or formats at their sole discretion.

Research Group Participant Application Guidelines
To participate, candidates must apply through the All Academic submission system and be accepted by the organizer(s). The submission system will open for workshop participant applications in early February 2026 and close in March 2026.

Applicants should select one Research Group and submit a Statement of Interest tailored to that workshop. There is no word or character limit for the Statement of Interest. Due to limited capacity and overlapping schedules, participants may only join one workshop.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Research Group descriptions carefully in advance, as some workshops may request specific information or materials.

Statements of Interest should explain why the applicant is interested in the workshop and may include:

  • Current or prospective research projects related to the workshop’s topic.
  • A brief research abstract or summary of the applicant’s work.
  • How participation aligns with their professional or academic goals.
  • How the applicant hopes to contribute to and benefit from networking opportunities, group feedback, and collaborative research design.

The extended deadline for workshop participation applications is Friday, March 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. APSA will send email notifications to applicants regarding acceptance decisions mid-March 2026.

For more information, please review the Research Group Applicant Overview, which outlines workshop structure, application guidelines, and participation expectations for APSA’s virtual Research Groups.