GRADUATE STUDENT CAUCUS
Call for Papers and Panels
Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
Annual Convention-Grand Rapids, MI
April 2nd-7th, 2024
Incoherence: Failure, futures, and forgotten messages
The Graduate Student Caucus (GSC) invites all graduate student members of CSCA to submit competitive papers, programs, and interactive panels to be considered for programming at the 2024 CSCA conference to be held in Grand Rapids, MI. GSC focuses on celebrating graduate student work, offering development opportunities regarding teaching, service, & scholarship, and providing a supportive and affirming place for the unique situations of being a graduate student.
This year we encourage members to embrace the convention theme, Incoherence: Failure, futures, and forgotten messages. Ideas generated at our 2023 business meeting illuminate this theme well, with ideas such as experiencing failure amidst the graduate school process (e.g., handling PhD program rejections, moving on from a journal rejection) and navigating our futures (e.g., the academic job market, considering industry positions). We encourage members to run with these themes among others. To encourage collaboration among graduate students, we have a Facebook page for brainstorming, planning, and networking opportunities. Please visit, join, and participate in the conversations about the upcoming convention at https://www.facebook.com/groups/cscagradcaucus/
GSC accepts completed competitive papers, extended abstracts, and discussion panels. Programming (papers and panels) will only be accepted from students who are currently enrolled in a graduate program at the time of submission; submissions co-authored with faculty mentors/advisors will not be accepted.
Completed Competitive Papers
Extended Abstracts
We encourage members to submit extended abstracts with the expectation that extended abstracts are amended to complete research projects by the time of presentation. If you do not think that you will be able to complete the project by the conference (April 2-7), you should abstain from submitting. These completed projects should be sent to the caucus Chair no later than one month from the conference to ensure compliance. Extended abstracts are not eligible for the Paul D. Skalski Top Paper award.
Extended abstracts must abide by the following:
Panels
A panel submission is a format that engages a group of panelists in a formal interactive discussion about a topic related to the GSC. Panel session submissions do not undergo anonymous review. These sessions are reviewed based on overall quality, interest to the caucus, relevance of the topic to the theme, innovativeness, and overall contribution. We strongly recommend collaboration with graduate students from multiple institutions. Panel submissions must include the following:
Graduate Student Caucus Award Information
The Graduate Student Caucus presents certificates to the top competitive graduate student papers and the top graduate student panel at the annual Business Meeting. $50 awards are given to the Paul D. Skalski Top Paper and top graduate student panel.
Equity & Inclusion Scholarship Award
The Equity and Inclusion Scholarship Award is sponsored by the CSCA Equity & Inclusion Committee (EIC). Its purpose is to highlight the most promising work by scholars in the areas of equity and inclusion. The papers will be delivered both during the programming of the respective interest groups/caucuses to which they were submitted & during the EIC sponsored paper panel.
The Graduate Student Caucus is happy to take part in the Equity and Inclusive Scholarship Award process. If your paper should be considered for this award, the paper must clearly articulate, in at least one paragraph, how the respective scholarship explicitly addresses equity and inclusion. Additionally, make sure to select the “Equity and Inclusion Scholarship” option when submitting said paper.
Final Important Information
Interest Group Planner & Chair: Madeline “Maddy” Pringle, madeline.pringle@mail.missouri.edu