81st Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference
Thursday, April 4 through Sunday, April 7, 2024
Hybrid Format: In-Person at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL or Online
All Panels/Paper Sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups will Feature a Hybrid Format (for In-Person or Virtual Participation). Undergraduate Poster Sessions will be In-Person Only.
Conference Program Co-Chairs:
Gisela Sin, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Elizabeth Suhay, American University
Learn more about the conference. Sign up here to receive email communications about the conference.
Conference Childcare Scholarship
MPSA offers Childcare Scholarships to help defray the hourly cost of childcare for parents or guardians that are current members of MPSA, registered and attending the annual conference in-person, staying at one of the Conference Hotels (Palmer House, Hilton Chicago or Hosteling International of Chicago). If you are a Chicago resident, you may request consideration, however you must meet all of the other guidelines to be awarded the scholarship. A limited number of scholarships will be awarded on a first come, first served basis. One parent/guardian per household should apply for consideration.
Childcare must be provided by a bonded and insured sitter service within Chicago, and not be the childcare costs a member is already paying on a day-to-day basis.
This service must be arranged by the parent or guardian. Most providers recommend making childcare reservations at least two weeks or more in advance. Childcare may not be available if you wait until later to make reservations. This will depend on the provider you choose.
The final childcare cost for an attendee would be approximately $7 an hour, after the MPSA reimbursement, with a cap of no more than $400 for reimbursement and only one family caregiver MPSA member may apply.
Scholarship recipients will be emailed instructions on how to submit an itemized paid receipt for reimbursement. Reimbursement is made following the conference, after MPSA is provided with an itemized copy of the receipt that the parent/guardian receives from the childcare service. The paid receipt must show that the hours of service are within the guideline hours. MPSA will not pay any fees incurred for the parent or guardian canceling the service. Prior to reimbursement, MPSA reserves the right to request additional documentation, if needed. The submitted Invoice must include the Federal ID number of the provider, the date(s) and time(s) of service along with the hourly rate, the provider’s address and phone number.
The hours considered for reimbursement, must only be during specific times indicated below and must be listed on the itemized receipt.
Wednesday, April 3, 2024: 4:00pm – 10:00pm
Thursday, April 4, 2024: 9:00am – 10:00pm
Friday, April 5, 2024: 7:30am – 10:00pm
Saturday, April 6, 2024: 7:30am – 10:00pm
Sunday, April 7, 2024: 7:30am – 2:00pm
The application deadline is March 29, 2024 with the MPSA. It is highly recommended you reserve your childcare at least two weeks in advance of the date needed.
Additional Conference Fee Waivers and Scholarships
The MPSA also offers additional financial assistance opportunities for conference through Conference Registration Fee Waivers and Graduate Student Travel Scholarships.