Why is the conference registration fee higher if I do not stay in a conference hotel?
When the MPSA negotiates a contract with a conference hotel, the association receives free meeting space in exchange for a guarantee that it will use a specific number of sleeping rooms. If attendees do not use the required number of sleeping rooms, the MPSA must pay the cost for these unused rooms, which could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition, the more sleeping rooms that conference attendees use, the more attractive the MPSA conference becomes to a hotel, and the MPSA can negotiate even lower room rates. In essence, the attendees who stay outside the conference hotels are "free riders."
Why are hotel rooms more expensive at the MPSA conference than they are at the APSA conference?
Hotel room rates are determined by the law of supply and demand. The APSA conference is held over a holiday weekend (Labor Day). As a result, the APSA can negotiate lower room rates with hotels, because hotels have low occupancy and few, if any, business travelers at that time. The MPSA seeks national bids for its conferences and considers other locations throughout North America. The association returns to the Palmer House based upon the right mix of quality and price.
Does the MPSA check to see if a person has registered in a non-conference hotel?
The MPSA counts on you to be honest when you select a registration rate and pay to attend the conference. We have restructured our registration system this year so we can confirm that people who register at the lower in-hotel rate are really staying in the Palmer House or an official conference overflow hotel. If a person registers for the conference at the lower in-hotel rate but is not a registered guest in an official conference hotel, he or she will be billed for the difference between the in-hotel and out-of-hotel rates. Be aware that if you are not officially registered as a guest in the hotel, you are not staying in that hotel. If you are sharing a room with another person, be sure that you register at the hotel check-in desk when you arrive at the hotel.
What happens if the Palmer House sells out of rooms?
As the MPSA conference has grown over the past several years, rooms at the Palmer House have sold out. When this has happened, the MPSA has negotiated additional blocks of rooms at other hotels. In 2008, we maintained a list of people who needed rooms, and we were able to find rooms for everyone on the list at official overflow hotels. We will continue to try to negotiate additional room blocks once the Palmer House sells out: however, ultimately it is your responsibility to make your reservations in a timely manner.
If I have already registered for the conference but decide not to attend, can I get a refund?
Like APSA and many other associations, we have a "no refund" policy.
Do I have to be a member to submit a proposal or present at the MPSA conference?
Answer: No, the conference is open to everyone, though registration fees are lower for members.
Where are my copies of AJPS?
The most likely reason you are not receiving your journal is that your mailing address has changed since you joined MPSA, but it has not been changed in the member database. Remember to update your record any time there is a change to your contact information. Simply log in using your user name (last name) and MPSA password. If your address is correct, contact us at info@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588, extension 1.
Where are my back issues of AJPS?
If you joined after January 1, you should receive back issues of the journal for the calendar year. (AJPS is published in January, April, July, and October.) For problems with back issues, contact us at info@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588, extension 1.
Why can’t I participate in more than two sessions at the conference?
Participation is limited to two panels/poster sessions (e.g., one poster session and one panel discussant or one panel chair and one single-author paper) to insure that junior scholars have a chance to present at the conference. However, participation in a roundtable does not count against the two panels/poster sessions limit.
How do I submit an entire panel if it is not an option in the proposal submission system?
For directions on how to submit an entire panel, click on the link "Submit a Panel" under Conference Links.
Can I register for the conference by phone?
No, but you can register on our web site using our secure server, or print the registration form from our web site and fax it with your credit card number and expiration date, or mail the completed form with a check to the MPSA office. The fax number and mailing address are on the form.
I have been invited to speak on a panel, and I am not a member of MPSA. Do I have to register for the conference?
Everyone who attends the conference must register. There are no exceptions. The Conference Fee Waiver Scholarship is available on a first-come, first-served basis for international scholars from developing countries and individuals who are not political scientists, if they have not attended the conference before. For more information, click here.