NOW ACCEPTING PROPOSALS

82nd Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference
Thursday, April 3 through Sunday, April 6, 2025
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:
Hans C. Noel, Georgetown University
Jae-Jae Spoon, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus

Submit a Paper, Roundtable, Complete Panel, or Working Group/Conference-within-a-Conference Proposal for the 82nd Annual MPSA Conference

Conference Program Chairs (Hans C. Noel, Georgetown University and Jae-Jae Spoon, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus) and Section Heads invite you to submit proposals that reflect the best thinking in the discipline, informed by theory, research, and practical application for the 82nd Annual Midwest Political Science Association Conference, April 3-6, 2025. The conference will feature a hybrid session format for all Panel/Paper sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups. Sessions will be broadcast online in real time. Panels may consist of individuals participating in-person, online, or a mixture of both. Please note that Poster sessions and Receptions and Networking Events are available for in-person participation only. Each format is described in detail here. 

The proposal deadlines are as follows: 

October 8, 2024: Papers, Roundtables, Complete Panels and Working Groups
November 27, 2024: Subfields and Undergraduate Sections

We look forward to welcoming you to the 82nd Annual MPSA Conference, whether in-person or virtually, in April. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in the MPSA and in the political science discipline as a whole. 

How to Submit a Proposal 

View the submission guidelines before you submit your proposal. 

Proposals must be submitted electronically and you must be logged into your MPSA account to access the proposal submission system. If you do not have an account, or are unsure, click here. If you need to create an MPSA account, view these helpful tips and screenshots. Click here if you need to reset your password. After logging into your account, click the “Submit a Proposal” button. All users must complete their profile before submitting a proposal or volunteering for a chair or discussant role. If you have not already completed your account profile, you will be prompted to do so before you can access the proposal system. Every user must submit their own proposal using their own account. If you are a faculty advisor, please do not submit a proposal for one of your students when you are logged in with your personal account.

Do you have an account associated with an email you no longer have access to? Email us to help! If you create a duplicate account, there may be a delay in submitting your proposal. 

Organize a Working Group/Conference-within-a-Conference

Individuals holding a Ph.D. may submit a proposal to convene a conference-within-a-conference, or multiple organized sessions related to a single theme, topic, or area of study. Proposals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. The convenor(s) are responsible for recruiting participants, organizing them into sessions, and facilitating communication and cooperation within the group. MPSA staff will assign meeting space, provide for the logistical needs of the group, maintain a roster of participants, help to promote the event, and work with the convenor(s) to accommodate scheduling requests. This is an excellent opportunity for cohorts to gather around specific areas of study that may not be well-represented in the normal conference sections, or to develop specific projects like an edited volume. If you are interested in organizing a Working Group or Conference-within-a-Conference, contact MPSA Professional Development Manager, Lewis Hoss, Ph.D. at hoss@mpsanet.org.

Offer to Serve as a Chair or Discussant 

Please consider volunteering your expertise to demonstrate your support of your colleagues in the discipline. Professional-level members and submitters may volunteer to be a discussant or chair via the MPSA proposal system. Second-year graduate students may volunteer to serve as a discussant on undergraduate sessions (poster sessions are for in-person participation only, no virtual option is available). You must be logged in with your MPSA username and password to volunteer. All users must complete their profile before volunteering for a chair or discussant role. You will be prompted to complete your account profile if you have not done so already. After logging in, click “Volunteer to be a Chair or Discussant for a Section” in the proposal system. Learn more about conference participation roles here.

Schedule a Meeting or Reception at the Conference

MPSA intends to hold some networking sessions, meetings and receptions. Attendees are also invited to propose meetings, receptions and networking events for the conference. If your group needs to arrange for a meeting, reception, or catered meal in conjunction with the 2025 MPSA Annual Conference, complimentary meeting and reception space is available to our professional colleagues on a first-to-ask, first-to-receive basis. If your group needs to arrange for a function at the conference, please check back later or email MPSA Conference Administrator, Bonnie Van Deventer (vandeventer@mpsanet.org) with any questions.

Exhibit, Sponsor or Advertise at the 82nd Annual MPSA Conference 

We invite you to secure your chance to share information about your organization, its books, products and services, and network with members and attendees through exhibiting, advertising and sponsorship opportunities throughout the conference. We have some great bundle deals featuring options to get in front of conference attendees, expanding your outreach and visibility to more professionals in the political science community. For questions or assistance, contact MPSA Professional Development Manager, Lewis Hoss, Ph.D. at hoss@mpsanet.org or (812) 558-0588, ext. 13. 

About the MPSA Annual Conference

The MPSA Annual Conference is one of the largest political science conferences in the discipline with over 1,000 panels, a large exhibit hall, and a variety of networking and professional development activities. The conference historically averages more than 4,500 attendees from every state in the US and over 65 countries around the world representing 80+ political interest areas. The conference brings together scholars, researchers and decision makers in the political science community to exchange information and address the latest scholarship in political science.

The conference has the international and multidisciplinary research collaboration opportunities you seek and the networking opportunities and professional development sessions tailored to help you take the next step with your research. 

Hybrid Session Formats and Real Time Sessions
The 82nd Annual MPSA Conference will feature a hybrid session format for all Panel/Paper sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups. Sessions will be broadcast online in real time. Panels may consist of individuals participating in-person, online, or a mixture of both. Poster sessions and Receptions and Networking Events are available for in-person participation only. Each format is described in detail here.

In-Person Conference Participation and COVID-19 Policies
In-Person Participation. All conference events, including research panels, networking and mentoring receptions, will be held at the historic Palmer House Hilton Hotel. For those participating in-person, hotel rooms will be available at various price points at the Palmer House and at multiple nearby hotels. Featuring two international airports (ORD and MDW), Chicago is one of just FIVE cities on Earth with direct air service to all inhabited continents – traveling to Chicago couldn’t be easier!

COVID-19 Policies. The MPSA will follow state and local guidelines requiring masks and vaccination. The City of Chicago has lifted its indoor mask mandate, its proof of vaccination requirement, and has no capacity restrictions; however we highly encourage you to take appropriate health and safety measures. If there are any changes to state and local guidelines, we will communicate them as they become available. Please see additional COVID-19 recommendations and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control.

Presenter Registration Status Flexibility
If you register for in-person attendance and are unable to travel, you can change your registration status to virtual if you are participating on a session featuring a hybrid format (Panel/Paper sessions, Roundtables, Lightning Talks and Working Groups). You may also switch your registration status from virtual to in-person as needed. If you have a participatory role (presenter, chair, discussant) on a Poster session, you will not be able to switch your registration status from in-person to virtual as this session type is available for in-person participation only. Information on how to update your participation will be available in Spring 2025. Adjustments to registration pricing (based on in-hotel/virtual, out-hotel status) will be processed accordingly. If a balance is due, your registration will not be updated until the balance is paid in full. Any refunds due to registration status changes will be issued after the conference.

Conference Policies
The Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) is committed to providing a safe, harassment-free, hospitable and productive meeting environment for everyone attending our events, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, religion or belief. All conference participants must agree to abide by the MPSA Code of Conduct at Events as well as the MPSA Streaming and Recording Policy. 

About the MPSA

Home of the American Journal of Political Science (AJPS), one of the top-ranked academic journals in the discipline, the Midwest Political Science Association (MPSA) was founded in 1939 and is dedicated to the advancement of scholarship in all areas of political science.

The purposes of the MPSA are to promote the professional study and teaching of political science, to facilitate communications between those engaged in such study, and to develop standards for and encourage research in theoretical and practical political problems.

As such, MPSA is a nonpartisan association. It does not support political parties or candidates.

Questions?

Please contact MPSA staff at mpsainfo@mpsanet.org.

Future MPSA Conference Dates

    • Thursday, April 23 – Sunday, April 26, 2026
    • Thursday, April 1 – Sunday, April 4, 2027
    • Thursday, March 30 – Sunday, April 2, 2028
    • Thursday, April 19 – Sunday, April 22, 2029
    • Thursday, March 28 – Sunday, March 31, 2030