MLA Entities: Posting Calls for Papers
Use this guide if you are posting a call for papers for a forum, allied organization, or MLA committee.
The deadline for posting a call for papers for the 2025 convention has passed. Calls for papers for the 2026 convention may be posted between November 2024 and 28 February 2025.
Entities that want to organize more than one session at a convention must post at least one call for papers.
The MLA is committed to ensuring that the convention is an inclusive and harassment-free environment. Calls for papers must adhere to the MLA’s guidelines for appropriate convention conduct, which govern in-person and online venues. Any calls that violate these guidelines will be removed. Please contact convention@mla.org to flag a call that violates our guidelines.
Posting a Call for Papers
- Log in to the submission portal with your username and password. You may be prompted to log in twice.
- Click Submission Links on the left for a list of your entities.
- Click Submit Call for Papers next to the entity name.
4. Fill out the calls for papers form. Your call must be 35 words or fewer.
Close- Review the information carefully before submitting to avoid misspellings and other errors. Calls for papers are not edited by the MLA.
- It may take up to 24 hours for your call to appear in the listing. You will be able to edit your call for papers up to one week before your posted submission deadline.
- If you are an entity chair: Continue to step 5. Be sure to read the section below, "Reviewing and Approving Calls for Papers."
- If you are not an entity chair: Your call must be approved by the chair of your entity before it is posted. Once you've submitted your call, alert the chair and let them know they need to log in and review your submission.
- Respond to all submissions and inquiries you receive regarding your call. This is your responsibility as session organizer.
For a collaborative session: You may submit a call for papers in collaboration with one other entity. Each entity should separately submit the same call-for-papers listing. Please note that each entity may submit only one collaborative session.
CloseReviewing and Approving Calls for Papers
If you are an entity chair or liaison, you are responsible for approving calls for papers for your entity. We ask that you check the submission portal periodically for new calls. To review submitted calls, follow the steps below.
- Log in to the submission portal with your username and password. You may be prompted to log in twice.
- Click Submission Links on the left for a list of your entities.
- Click Review Calls next to the entity name. You will reach a list of all the calls for papers that have been submitted for that entity that still need your review.
2. Click the icon in the Rating column to mark a call for papers as Accepted (A) or Rejected (R). Be sure to click the Save button below each rating. Once a call for papers is accepted, it will display on the MLA website within 24 hours.
CloseProgram copy forms for sessions at the 2025 convention will be available by mid-March 2024 and must be submitted by 1 April 2024.
For more information, see Planning a Convention Session.