Planning a Convention Session
The 2024 MLA Annual Convention will be held from 4 to 7 January in Philadelphia. The deadline to submit a session for the 2024 convention has passed. Calls for papers for the 2025 convention are open until 28 February 2024 for soliciting speakers for your 2025 session. Forms for submitting a session for the 2025 convention will be available in March 2024 and must be submitted by 1 April 2024.
Interested in organizing a session for a future convention or want to find out how you can participate in a session?
MLA Entity Sessions: MLA members who are authorized to do so may submit a session on behalf of an MLA committee, forum, or allied organization. Completed session copy forms must be submitted by 1 April 2024 for the 2025 convention. Entities submitting more than one session must post a call for papers.
Special Sessions: MLA members who wish to propose their own sessions not connected to any MLA entity may propose a special session. Special-session-proposal forms must be submitted by 1 April 2024 for the 2025 convention. Those who wish to solicit panelists may post a call for papers until 28 February 2024.
Calls for Papers: Session organizers may post a call for papers to solicit panelists for their sessions. Members who wish to participate on a session can review the calls for papers between November 2023 and March 2024 and respond to session organizers directly.
Preparing for the Session
All session participants must be MLA members and be registered for the convention.
- Procedures for Organizing Convention Meetings
- Calls for Papers
- Policies for Forums and Allied Organizations
Proposing the Session
- Proposing a Special Session
- Special-Session FAQs
- Convention Session FAQs
- Convention Participant FAQs
- Innovative Session Formats
- Proposing a Just-in-Time Session
- Quick Tour: Session Proposal Form
- Examples of Proposal Forms for Convention Sessions
- What Makes a Successful Convention Proposal
Have you already organized a session? Read more below on how to prepare for a successful session.
Running the Session
- Access Guidelines for MLA Convention Session Organizers and Presenters
- Guidelines for Participants and Session Organizers
- Online Session FAQs
- Online Session Presider and Presenter Tips
- Online Session Platform General Guidance
- Scheduling Convention Sessions
If you have questions about planning a convention session, please contact us.
View future convention locations and dates or learn more about how convention locations are chosen.