All submissions must be completed by mid-January. Late submissions will not be accepted. All abstracts must be final and ready for publication in the conference program at the time of submission. The 2026 Joint Conference Planning Committee cannot guarantee edits after the deadline.

Please note there are two abstract submission portals this year:

• Organized Session/Symposium Portal: Organizers/Chairs must submit the organized session title and abstract before individual paper/presentation abstract submittals. For questions regarding session format, technology, room options, or event design, please coordinate with your chair and contact nwaconf@gmail.com and conferences@wwu.edu.
• Individual Paper/Presentation Portal: Presenters, panelists, and discussants must submit their own abstracts. If you are part of an organized session/symposium, please link your submission to the session using the title information after the organizer/chair submitted the organized session/symposium. Papers or posters with multiple authors should select the main presenter. If you are a discussant or panelist of organized session/symposium and you do not have an individual abstract, enter “discussant” or “panelist” in the paper title text box and include the session/symposium title in the “Additional Information” section of the portal.

Evaluation Process

Following the deadline, the Program Committee will evaluate all submissions. They may recommend revisions or format changes (e.g., converting a paper to a poster). Submissions may be declined based on content, clarity, or ethical concerns.

Notifications will be sent to individual presenters and organized session chairs once a decision has been made by the committee.

Submission Policies

Registration Requirement

All presenters, chairs, moderators, and discussants must register and pay the full 2026 Joint Conference registration fee.

Conference Roles

• Presenter – Submits and delivers a spoken paper, poster, or participates in a session.
• Chair – Organizes and manages an organized session; coordinates all presenter submissions and facilitates the session at the conference.
• Moderator – Manages forums, discussions, or workshops and ensures session flow.
• Discussant – Provides commentary in a forum, discussion, or workshop.

Number of Roles

While there is no set limit on the number of roles, participants are encouraged to minimize overlapping commitments to reduce scheduling conflicts. Exceptions apply to organized session chairs and moderators.

Coauthors

Each abstract may list up to five authors (1 presenter + up to 4 coauthors). Only the presenting author is required to register. Non-presenting coauthors are not required to register but are welcome to register and attend.

Organized Session Portal

Organized sessions are pre-arranged by a chair or moderator around a shared theme. This portal allows the chair to submit the session description and identify the presenters expected to participate in the organized session. Organizers/Chairs must submit the organized session title and abstract before individual paper/presentation abstract submittals. 

Organized session formats include:

• Session / Symposium
• Poster Symposium

Session chairs are responsible for coordinating with all participants to ensure that individual abstracts are submitted through the Abstracts Portal accurately and by the submission deadline. Please note that additional papers closely related to your topic may also be included in your session in the final program.

Individual Abstract Guidelines

• Each presenter must submit their own abstract, regardless of whether it is for a general session or an organized session.
• Coauthors or chairs should not submit abstracts on behalf of presenters.
• Maximum abstract length: 200 words
• Titles should use lowercase letters, capitalizing key words only.
• Each individual may submit one abstract as presenter.

Individual Abstract Portal

Presenters should submit their individual paper or poster through the Abstracts Portal. The Program Committee will group accepted submissions into general sessions based on theme, method, or region.

If your submission is part of an organized session, please indicate this by providing the organized session title and the session chair’s name in the designated fields.

Formats:

• Paper
• Poster
• Panel

Special Scheduling Requests

Requests for special scheduling (e.g., due to travel or teaching obligations) must be submitted in writing as early as possible to nwaconf@gmail.com. While efforts will be made to accommodate reasonable requests, limitations of the venue and schedule may prevent full accommodation.

Presenting a Paper?

• We ask that presenters plan to speak for 15 minutes and allow 5 minutes for questions and transition to the next speaker.

Presenting a Poster?

• Each poster presenter must submit and abstract (please see Abstract Submittal section for further details). Posters may be placed in general sessions or organized poster symposia. Chairs of poster symposia should submit the title and abstract before individual submittals.

Preparing your poster:

• Include title, author(s), citations, and supporting content and figures
• Printed, format recommended 48” x 36” – Please ensure your poster is printed prior to the start of the conference as large format printing services may not be available on location. It is recommended that you travel with the poster in a protective mailing or drawing tube.
• (optional) Prepare handouts for conference attendees. Formats could include printed materials, file paths, or QR codes for outlines, brochures, contact cards, or other supplemental information.
• (optional) Upload a PDF file of your poster to your conference profile, which will be available following registration.

During the conference:

• • Hang your poster in the assigned area before the assigned session and remove it afterward. Do not put up or leave your poster during another session.
  • Poster hanging supplies will be provided.
  • Each poster will be available throughout the duration of the session, and the presenter will be scheduled for a 20-minute Q&A period during that time. While you will not be required to attend the Q&A live, it is recommended.

For questions regarding session format, technology, room options, or event design, please coordinate with your chair and contact nwaconf@gmail.com and conferences@wwu.edu.