Multiple Placements on the Program
Your Presentation Schedule
Submission of Final Papers
Presentation Tips
Audio Visual Equipment Available for Presentations
Speaker Ready-Room
Internet Access
 

Abstract are Published on-line

The ACSP publishes only accepted abstracts to the ACSP web site prior to the conference. The abstract submission site has a process for proof-reading your work and we STRONGLY recommend using this process. All abstracts will be published in the manner in which they were submitted. An abstract accepted based on interesting research may still result in embarrassment to the author if not proof read for spelling errors, name misspellings and lack of references
We do not proofread for you, nor can we edit your submission after the deadline.

Multiple Placements on the Program

Abstract submissions exceed the amount of time slots and hotel space available to our group. Track chairs are charged with ruthlessly rejecting mediocre submissions and to keeping to a strict number of allotted sessions per track - a very difficult task for most of the chairs. They are also limited to the number of roundtable placements.

The ACSP participation policy is as follows: one paper presentation (either in a pre-organized session or an individual paper session), one discussant role, one roundtable and one poster presentation.

This allows individuals four placements on the program. Please understand one role is not interchangeable with another, for example, two paper presentations and one roundtable but no discussant role will not be allowed. In the past, we have relied on conference participants to "self-police" this policy. Not anymore. Simply said, the downside of an extremely successful conference is that the Conference Committee and staff must now enforce this policy.

The notion behind this policy is to allow space in the program for as many people to participate as is humanly possible by restricting the number of "duplicate" forms of participation. We hope you understand our collective problem of trying to provide the greatest number of opportunities for participation at the highest level of quality that is feasible.

Your Presentation Schedule

The conference committee and association staff will schedule an anticipated 200-215 sessions for approximately 650 faculty and student presenters in 12-14 time slots over four days with only 12-14 meeting rooms to work with. ACSP Committee Meetings, journal meetings, and other special sessions must also be included in the schedule. We appreciate your understanding of just how difficult it is to make any changes to the schedule once all participants have been notified and the schedule is posted to the web. Presenters unable to present at the scheduled time must notify the Conference Manager in writing and withdraw from the program. Your presentation schedule cannot be rearranged.

Registration by Deadline or Risk Removal from the Program

A historical policy is enforced - if you hope to see your name in print in the final program for the conference, you must register by the early presenter's deadline. If you don't make this deadline, we will remove your name from the program.

Submission of Final Papers

The deadline for submitting final papers is typically a month out from the opening date of the conference. If your discussant is not yet confirmed at this time, the conference management office will advise you as soon as the discussant is confirmed and we will ask that you email your paper immediately to the discussant.

How to Submit Your Final Paper

Papers must be sent to the discussant of your session (not to the track chair, nor the conference organizers). We also encourage you to send your final paper to the other presenters in your session. This will enhance and hopefully stimulate discussion after all presentations are made.

Final Paper Format

Although there are no official guidelines on the format of your full paper, please submit your paper as an attachment to an email to your discussant and the other participants of your session. Microsoft Word is probably the most widely used and readily accessible software format - we suggest you use this software. We do recommend a 20-page limit as discussants only have as much time in their day as you do and we ask them to pre-read 3-5 papers prior to the conference. ACSP does not publish a conference proceeding book and, therefore, ACSP does not publish style, spelling and usage guidelines. The ACSP Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER) states in its "Guide for Authors" (on the inside of back cover) that is uses the Chicago Manual of Style. Please also refer to the JPER Guide for any citation questions.

Presentation Tips

• Arrive at the session room five minutes prior to the scheduled starting time.
• Introduce yourself to the other presenters and to the moderator and discussant. If no moderator is present for whatever reason, please nominate someone among the presenters to act as the time manager for the session.
• You will be instructed by the moderator before the session on the length of your presentation. This will inevitably vary between sessions depending on the number of papers to be presented and whether there is a discussant. You therefore need to structure your presentation around key points and arguments. You will not be permitted to speak longer than the allocated time, as this would be unfair to other presenters. The moderator is instructed to intervene by means of a system of colored cards.
• In a formal paper session, you will have only 10-15 minutes to present your work. Sessions with five papers will only have 10-12 minutes for each presentation.
• Do not attempt to read your paper. Don't turn your back to the audience to read a projected text and don't read out loud what your audience can read for itself. Use PowerPoint wisely
• Indicate at the beginning of your talk if you are willing to send electronic versions of your paper when you return to your office.
• Concentrate on what is new, interesting and different rather than providing full theory and methodology.
• If you have any concerns about setting up your presentation, please take advantage of the Speaker Ready Room and conference/audio visual staff to assist you before your scheduled presentation. A.V. technicians will be available for projector equipment failures in session rooms if they occur, but absolutely should not be tied down to assisting you with your laptop the minute before your presentation. That being said, if you do experience trouble at the very minute you're to present (it happens!) - please step aside immediately and offer the time to another presenter while you work out your trouble - AND don"t hesitate to ask us for help. We will always do what it takes to get you up and going.
• Within each session some time will be devoted to questions and discussion. There will be informal opportunities to discuss your ideas with participants at the various social events. Please do not feel that you must cram everything into 15 minutes.

Audio Visual Equipment Available On-Site for Presenters

Pre-Set Equipment
The conference supplies data projectors, screens and podium (no microphone). Slide projectors are available only by request and reservation. Any other audio visual equipment requirements will be at the presenter's expense. Contact the Conference staff before arriving at the conference hotel.

Data projectors will be set in every presentation room. Presentation rooms are staffed by student volunteers, but these volunteers are not trained on the use of the equipment. The audio visual company providing the projectors will have limited staff on site to assist with technical difficulty and will be working in more than a dozen different presentation rooms. In other words, we strongly recommend making yourself comfortable with these types of projectors before your arrival. Most of them are standard and simple in operating procedures

Laptop Protocol
Laptops are NOT provided, nor does the staff have any available to "borrow just for an hour." If you don't have one, be prepared to borrow one from a friend. If you don't have any friends, we will be glad to introduce to people

• Mac Users - bring the Dongle adapter to plug into a PC port on the data projector.
• Please remember to bring your power cord.

Speaker Ready-Room

The Speaker Ready-Room will have the same exact equipment available as in the presentation rooms. The room is available on a first-come, first-serve basis so please be patient with your fellow presenters, but we also ask that in fairness to everyone, please limit your time when using the equipment.

• Computer station set with PowerPoint and Microsoft Word software, a CD R/W drive and flash drive for memory sticks. This computer will not have internet access. It is strictly for doublechecking your presentation. The ACSP does not provide data storage materials.
• An LCD projector to preview your presentation. Bring your own laptop to practice plugging in before your presentation.

Internet Access Not Provided

Internet access is not provided by the ACSP in the Speaker Ready Room. Please see the information section of the final conference printed program to know where the hotel may provide free or fee-for-service internet access.