Stand-Alone Conferences
This conference format, which is usually two days long, involves psychologists as the primary organizers. The funding range is from $5,000 to $20,000.
Eligibility Requirements for Conference Proposals
Review Criteria for Conference Proposals
Proposal Contents
Budget Guidelines
Publication Requirement
Review and Award
Checklist
Eligibility Requirements for Conference Proposals
The eligibility requirements below must be met in order to submit a proposal.
- One of the primary organizers must be a member of APA.
- Only academic institutions accredited by a regional body may apply. Independent research institutions must provide evidence of affiliation with such an accredited institution. Joint proposals from cooperating institutions are encouraged.
- Conferences may be held only in the United States, its possessions, or Canada.
- APA governance groups, APA Divisions and related entities are not eligible for funding under this program.
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Review Criteria for Conference Proposals
Listed below are criteria that the Conferences Review Committee will examine when reviewing your proposal. Please be sure that you address these criteria as you develop your proposal.
- The primary focus of the scientific conference is on a significant research problem, and the topic involves a new approach to a research problem or area of research that has recently experienced a rapid advancement in knowledge.
- The topic selected has not received adequate coverage at other conferences.
- There is evidence that the sponsoring institution is committed to the organizational and financial support of the project.
- Each presentation is a well-integrated part of the conference scheme.
- Conference organizers have demonstrated experience in reviewing and editing scientific articles and chapters.
- The conference will attract a scientific audience from a broad range of areas within psychology, as well as scientists from other disciplines.
- The conference organizers must make appropriate allowances for attendance by interested scientists. These may not be closed meetings.
- The conference will promote the unique contribution of psychologists to the research area.
- The format will enhance interactions between participants and the audience. Organizers should consider alternatives to lecture formats when possible.
- Organizers will facilitate graduate student and postdoctoral fellow attendance, involvement, and access to the presenters.
- There will be publicity for the conference locally and regionally, although the conference should be national in scope.
- The location of the conference should be accessible to faculty and students.
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Proposal Contents
The information listed below must be included and addressed in the proposal. The proposal is limited to 10 pages (this does not include appendices).
- Names and qualifications of primary organizers (attach curriculum vitae).
- Rationale for the conference.
- Brief comments addressing the criteria.
- Brief history of previous conferences in this area (if any).
- Identification of the targeted audience.
- List of speakers who have agreed to participate, their qualifications, and one paragraph abstracts of their intended presentations. It is recommended that organizers limit the number of speakers to 10.
- Explanation of any collaborative arrangements.
- Details on location and format, including identification of those responsible for conference details and schedule.
- Plans for related activities (e.g., receptions).
- Correspondence confirming availability of additional funding from host institution (either with cash or in-kind support).
- Plans for evaluation of the conference.
- Detailed budget by category. If funds will come from multiple sources, provide information on the total budget. (Indirect expenses, faculty salary/release, and related expenses will not be provided and may not be considered as matching funds.)
- Appendices for the proposal should include curriculum vitae of the primary organizers and letters of intent from the conference speakers, letters of support from sponsoring institutions, and may include up to two relevant journal articles.
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Budget Guidelines
A detailed budget by category is required for application. If funding is sought from multiple sources, information on the total budget should be provided. APA grant funding does not cover certain items such as honoraria and gifts. These items should not be included in the budget.
Travel/Lodging/Meals: APA advises organizers to use the current U.S. government rate for food and lodging when considering the budget. Estimated [Actual] travel cost should be listed for each traveler. The Committee expects meetings to be organized so that APA and other funds may be used efficiently (e.g., lower weekend rates, when possible, for hotel or air). In order to maximize the application of funds, APA does not permit indirect cost recovery or capital cost recovery on scientific conference grants.
The budget should include all travel and lodging for every individual for whom funds are requested. The travel amount should not be an average, but a specific amount for each speaker based on his or her actual locations.
Institutional Support: The level of institutional support is negotiable and to be proposed by the applicant. Direct funding, in-kind support (e.g., conference space, meals, personnel, or other appropriate means), or a combination of both is acceptable.
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Publication Requirement
Proceedings from the Conference
Conference proceedings and presentation materials (including electronic presentations) must be submitted to APA three months after the date the conference is held. APA will hold the conference proceedings for three years. If a book has not been published by APA or another publisher within the three-year holding period, APA will place the conference proceedings in PsycEXTRA.
PsycEXTRA is a companion database to the scholarly PsycINFO, which is designed to link academics, clinicians, librarians, consumers, policy-makers, and researchers to a variety of information sources covering psychology, behavioral science, and health; PsycEXTRA provides the readership with original documents, including proceedings, newsletters, magazines, newspapers, technical and annual reports, government reports, and consumer brochures. Funding disbursements are normally paid in portions of 25%. The final 25% of the funding will not be payable to the grantee until the submission of a final financial report detailing conference expenditures equal to or exceeding Grantee's proposed total budget.
Possible Scholarly Book Based, in Part, on Conference
APA retains the right of first refusal on any scholarly volumes that might result from the conference.
If the conference organizer would like to consider producing a scholarly volume based on the conference, he or she would submit a formal prospectus to APA Books for independent review and consideration. Each prospectus would contain a statement of purpose, a description of the audience, a listing of competing volumes, an annotated table of contents, and the proposed editors' vitas.
The proposed scholarly book would not duplicate the conference exactly. Instead, it would use the conference as a springboard to identify two or three key questions and to select individuals well qualified to advance science by exploring those questions. These thematically focused volumes will contain some reviewed and revised conference material as well as specially commissioned articles, along with integrative material written by the editors to examine key themes and identify the implications of the work. Please note that if your conference proposal is selected to receive a grant, you will receive more information on submitting a formal book prospectus.
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Review and Award
Prospective applicants are urged to consult with APA Science Directorate staff for advice on the conference organization and application (e.g., formats or budget allowances). The committee makes recommendations for funding to the Science Directorate. The review period is approximately 8 weeks.
Seventy-five percent of funds will be distributed to grantees prior to the conferences in intervals, and the remaining twenty-five percent will be released after the submission of a final financial report detailing conference expenditures equal to or exceeding Grantee's proposed total budget.
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Checklist
Please pay close attention to the checklist below and be sure that each area has been addressed properly and completely in the proposal.
- It is important that everything listed under program content be addressed in the proposal.
- Conference proceedings shall be submitted to APA no later than three months after the conference is held for publication in PsycEXTRA, a companion database to the scholarly PsycINFO. APA will hold the conference proceedings for three years. If a book has not been published by APA or another publisher within the three-year holding period, APA will place the conference proceedings in PsycEXTRA. PsycEXTRA is designed to link researchers, academics, clinicians, librarians, consumers, and policy-makers to a variety of information sources covering psychology, behavioral science, and health; PsycEXTRA provides the readership with original documents.
- Conferences should be held at least seven months after proposal has been submitted. The purpose of this is to ensure that the committee has some input in program planning.
- A detailed budget must be included in the proposal. Honoraria or gifts are not covered by APA grant funding and should not be included.
- Registration for conference attendance should be open and the fee should be reasonable.
- Please be sure to submit CV's of conference organizers, letters of intent for speakers, and letters of financial support from sponsoring institutions.
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Quick Info on Conference Types...
Festschrifts - conferences organized as tributes to distinguished scholars.
Grant amount ranges from $5,000 - $20,000
Stand-Alone Conferences - conferences, usually two days long, that involve psychologists as the primary organizers.
Grant amount ranges from $5,000 - $20,000
Add-a-Day Conferences - conferences that occur at the beginning or end of a scientific conference other than APA (e.g., Society for Ingestive Behavior or Psychonomics Society).
Grant amount ranges from $500 - $3,000 |
| Important Information |
The annual deadlines are June 1 and December 1 for conferences to be held in the following year.
Contact:
APA Science Directorate
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-6000
(202) 336-6123 TDD
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