Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get my MPSA password?
Request your password by e-mail by clicking on Register/Log In at the top of this page and following the directions. Some spam filters block the e-mail reply. If you do not receive an e-mail with your password, check your junk e-mail folder. Otherwise, e-mail your request to info@mpsanet.org (be sure to include your full name).
Where are my copies of AJPS?
The most likely reason is that your mailing address has changed since you joined MPSA, but it was not changed in the member database. Remember to update your record any time there is a change. 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.
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.
Why do I need to create a profile to submit a proposal for the 2008 conference?
You need to create a profile so you can re-enter the system anytime to make changes to your proposal or submit another proposal or volunteer to be a chair or discussant. Click the "Create a Profile " button and then follow the directions. Enter a password of your choice that is easy to remember, and write it down if you think you might forget it. Remember that the deadline for making changes to your proposal is February 13, 2009.
Why can’t I participate in more than two sessions?
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 here.
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.
When I tried to register online, I couldn't remember my MPSA password, so I clicked on the button to "Send me my password," but I never got it. Why not?
Some spam filters block the e-mail that is sent to you when you request your password. Just contact us directly at info@mpsanet.org, and we'll send it to you right away. Be sure to provide us with your full name.
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.
Why was I charged twice for conference registration?
When you registered online, you clicked on the "Pay Now" button twice while you were waiting for your payment to be processed. This caused your credit card to be charged twice. Contact us at info@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588, extension 1, for a refund.
Why is the conference registration fee higher if I do not stay in a conference hotel?
When 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, 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 MPSA can negotiate even lower room rates. In essence, the attendees who stay outside the conference hotels are "free riders."
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.
Why do you charge extra for LCD projectors at the conference?
MPSA has to pay for union engineers to set up the projectors and be present for a minimum of eight hours at an hourly rate of more than $50. The cost for an engineer is often more than the cost to purchase the equipment. Union engineers are required for presenters who use TV/VCRs and all other AV equipment.