Why is U.S. Central Time being used?
While it is impossible to organize a schedule that accommodates all participants across different regions in a virtual live event setting, the choice of the Central Time Zone was made after careful consideration and research to maximize inclusivity and accessibility for the highest number of attendees. Some of the factors considered when making this decision included international attendees, past experience and feedback, balance, logistical feasibility, minimizing disruptions, accessibility, fairness, and optimizing networking opportunities. We looked at the international regions where the majority of our membership resides and the Central Time Zone strikes a balance for a majority of participants from different regions. While it might require some flexibility from attendees, it's a compromise that allows a fair window for participation. Central Time also offers logistical advantages, facilitating smoother coordination and scheduling for speakers, hosts, and tech support. We appreciate your understanding.
Tools for time zone conversion:
Why did SCMS decide not to have seminars this year? In the past, being part of a seminar helped me to get travel funding for the in person conference.
Due to declining interest and fewer and fewer submissions in recent years, the labor required to organize seminars no longer made sense. As a result, SCMS has decided to pause seminar offerings this year. We will reassess the potential for reintroducing them in the future.
SCMS provides various types of travel funding assistance, and we encourage you to apply for them. If you are not eligible for any of these options, you can use this form to join the waiting list for a conference assistant shift. Sign-ups for time slots will open closer to the conference date. Please note that time slots are limited and not guaranteed.
My institution has informed me that they won't be able to fund my membership or attendance at the upcoming in-person conference. Is there any support SCMS can offer?
SCMS will continue to offer travel grants and dependent care subsidies this year. Details on these funding opportunities are provided alongside acceptance notices. These grants and subsidies support graduate students and underemployed/adjunct/contingent faculty with financial support for conference-related travel and dependent care expenses. These funds are awarded by lottery, so please review your acceptance notice carefully for application information including deadlines.
Many of our Caucuses and SIGs also provide additional funding opportunities for their members, ranging from awards and grants-please reach out to your Caucus or SIG representatives to learn more about any available support and how to apply. Two alternative routes you may consider for financial support are through the Precarious Labor Organization or by signing-up to work as a Conference Assistant.
- Conference Assistants help at the registration desk and elsewhere during the in-person conference, and earn a stipend per shift. If you are interested in working at the conference, please use this form to join the Conference Assistant Waitlist. As the conference approaches, SCMS will contact those on the waitlist with instructions to sign-up for available time slots. The number of shifts available per person depending on the number of volunteers we receive.
- Each summer, the Precarious Labor Organization offers membership waivers through a lottery process. These waivers grant full SCMS membership benefits for the year, including eligibility to submit for the in-person conference. While the application period for waivers for the 2025 Conference has now closed, we encourage you to look out for membership waiver opportunities through the PLO in Summer 2025 for the 2025-2026 SCMS year.
When will accept/decline notices for the in-person conference be released?
We hope to release accept/declines before the Thanksgiving holiday in the US (before Nov 28).
Why is the Virtual Symposium scheduled for early December? That time of year can be challenging.
We understand that some would prefer the Virtual Symposium to be scheduled closer to the in-person conference. However, given the intensive planning required for the conference itself, this timing helps ensure a smoother experience for both events. While we've considered various options, this early December timing has generally worked best for most participants. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we aim to make both events as accessible as possible.
Additionally, we acknowledge that the timing of the Virtual Symposium may feel disconnected from in-person conference preparations and may require Caucuses/SIGs to adjust their annual activity schedules to align with the SCMS calendar in new ways. To help address these concerns, SCMS aims to announce conference acceptances shortly ahead of the Virtual Symposium, allowing more time to share details and prepare for both events.This scheduling approach is part of a broader effort to foster year-round engagement and create diverse participation opportunities across SCMS. While we know December presents challenges for some, we encourage groups to explore innovative ways to leverage the Virtual Symposium as a space that complements rather than centers around, the in-person conference. This virtual format offers valuable ways to engage and connect with SCMS in new and accessible ways throughout the year.
