Call for the Georgia Political Science Association Teaching Awards

In order to better serve our mission as the preeminent professional association for Georgia political scientists, the Executive Board of the GPSA has established teaching awards designed to recognize teaching excellence via two methods. The award descriptions are as follows:

GPSA Annual Teaching Excellence Award (GATE)

  • The GATE Award is designed to recognize excellence in teaching methods as demonstrated at the annual conference in the teaching workshop. Space in the teaching and learning session is limited and proposals are selected based on relevance to the panel theme.
  • The recipient of this award will be chosen by a committee headed by the GPSA Teaching and Learning Coordinator. The committee will be made up of past award winners.
  • The committee will observe the teaching workshop presentations and make their decision after the conclusion of the event. The criteria include teaching innovation, activity documentation and workshop presentation.
  • The winner of the award will be announced at the GPSA Business Meeting on the last day of the conference.

GPSA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award (GASOTL) (Formerly the GPSA Emerging Leader in Teaching Award)

  • The GASOTL Award is designed to recognize GPSA members who choose to enhance their skills in teaching as part of their faculty development plan. Preference will be given to those faculty members who pursue training in best practices and/or who participate in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) via research and/or publication.
  • Eligibility for this award is limited to full-time instructors (temporary or tenure-track), seeking to establish excellence in teaching a part of their career plan.
  • The criteria for this award include a letter of self-nomination that demonstrates efforts to improve the teaching craft (workshops, fellowships, conferences, etc.) or SoTL and a letter of support from a member of GPSA. To submit a letter of application for the GASOTL Award, please send your materials in a SINGLE email to the teaching and learning coordinator, Dr. Craig Douglas Albert at calbert@augusta.edu. Please include GASOTL and your name in the Subject-line!
  • Deadline for application for the 2017 GASOTL AWARD is Monday, October 30.
  • The recipient of this award will be chosen by a committee headed by the GPSA Teaching and Learning Coordinator. The committee will consist of past award winners. The winner of the award will be announced at the GPSA Business Meeting on the last day of the conference.

Vice president/program chair, other board nominations sought

Candidates are being sought for the role of vice president/program co-chair of the GPSA Annual Conference in 2019. The position is the first of a three-year leadership arc (vice president, president and past-president), each with specific duties. GPSA actively looking for people to serve in the cycle that begins in November 2018.

In addition, candidates for board at large positions on the GPSA board are being sought. Please send names, with school and contact information of nominees. Those interested in serving in another leadership position are also encouraged to respond.

For more information or to submit a nomination, email Tamra Ortgies-Young.

Emerging Global Issues Forum on Forced Migration, Immigration, and Security to be held at Georgia State, March 30

Georgia State University’s Global Studies Institute is holding the first annual Emerging Global Issues Forum on Forced Migration,  Immigration, and Security on Thursday, March 30 on the Atlanta Campus.  The forum will explore the causes, consequences, and policy responses to the global refugee crisis, along with other trends in migration.  Program details and registration link. Registration is free.

Preliminary conference program now available, please submit any corrections by Oct. 17

Click here to download the preliminary conference program. Presenters, panel chairs, and discussants should double check their name spellings, institution, and paper titles. This is the last chance to revise before nametags and program is finalized and printed. Please send revisions to Program Chair Dr. Craig Douglas Albert at calbert@augusta.edu. Please do this by Monday, Oct. 17. Revisions will no longer be accepted after this date. Please note that day/times/panels can not be changed at this point. Only errors can be corrected.

Guidance for conference presenters, panel chairs, and discussants now available

Responsibilities of Presenters

Presenters Should:

  • Register for the GPSA meeting at least three to four weeks in advance.
  • Send electronic copies of papers to panel discussants, chairs, and other presenters at least two weeks prior to the first day of the GPSA conference.
  • Prepare a short presentation of the paper for the panel discussion.
  • Refrain from indulging in extensive discussion of methods, statistics, and/or literature.
  • Refrain from reading large sections of papers.
  • Have available as appropriate some copies of the paper to hand out to audience members after the talk.
  • Accept the comments of the discussant and audience as constructive.
  • Refrain from indulging in ideological discussions of policy with the discussant and/or audience.

Responsibilities of Panel Chairs

Panel Chairs Should:

  • Assist the Program Chair, if necessary, with identification of appropriate discussant.
  • Register for the GPSA meeting at least three to four weeks in advance.
  • Send reminders, if necessary, of meeting and paper deadlines to presenters and discussants.
  • Arrive at the panel early to ensure the room is properly set up.
  • Introduce members of the panel.
  • Define the substantive area of the panel.
  • Instruct presenters on time allotment and maintain control of the time allotted to each paper presentation (based on the number of papers to be presented).
  • Allow appropriate time for discussant comments.
  • Allow for audience participation through questions and answer period.
  • If appropriate, forward high quality papers for review to be included in online proceedings and/or for award nominations.
  • Finally, within three days of the conclusion of the conference, inform the Program Chair in writing (an e-mail is fine) which panelists participated in the panel.
  • Take note of who did not attend and send to Conference Program Chair.

Responsibilities of Discussants

  • Register for the GPSA meeting at least three to four weeks in advance.
  • Read panel papers thoroughly and prepare constructive comments and appropriate questions to stimulate discussion during the panel.
  • Refrain from indulging in entertaining comments and focus on research guidance and alternative hypotheses to those offered by author(s).
  • Note gaps in literature in the papers presented.
  • Comment on alternative methodologies.
  • Comment on possibilities for paper submission for publication, if appropriate.
  • Recommend high quality papers to the panel chair for inclusion in online proceedings and/or award nominations.
  • Make written copies of comments for panel presenters if appropriate.
  • Please take special note if a presentation is by a student. If you have a student paper, remember to be encouraging in your comments, and not degrading.

Contacting Panel Members

Call for the 2016 Georgia Political Science Association Teaching Awards

In order to better serve our mission as the preeminent professional association for Georgia political scientists, the Executive Board of the GPSA has established teaching awards designed to recognize teaching excellence via two methods. The award descriptions are as follows:

GPSA Annual Teaching Excellence Award (GATE)

The GATE Award is designed to recognize excellence in teaching methods as demonstrated at the annual conference each year in the annual teaching workshop. Space in the teaching and learning session is limited and proposals are selected based on relevance to the panel theme.

  • The recipient of this award will be chosen by a committee headed by the GPSA Teaching and Learning Coordinator. The committee will be made up of past award winners.
  • The winner of the award will be announced at the GPSA Business Meeting on the last day of the conference.
  • The committee will observe the teaching workshop presentations and make their decision after the conclusion of the event. The criteria include teaching innovation, activity documentation and workshop presentation.

  • GPSA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Award (GASOTL) (Formerly the Emerging Leader in Teaching Award)

The GASOTL Award is designed to recognize members of GPSA who choose to enhance their skills in teaching as part of their faculty development plan. Preference will be given to those faculty members who pursue training in best practices and/or who participate in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) via research and/or publication.

  • The recipient of this award will be chosen by a committee headed by the GPSA Teaching and Learning Coordinator. The committee will consist of past award winners.
  • The winner of the award will be announced at the GPSA Business Meeting on the last day of the conference.
  • The criteria for this award include a letter of self-nomination that demonstrates efforts to improve the teaching craft (workshops, fellowships, conferences, etc.) or SoTL and a letter of support from a member of GPSA. All materials must be submitted in a single email to Dr. Craig Douglas Albert, calbert@augusta.edu
  • Eligibility for this award is limited to full-time instructors (temporary or tenure-track), seeking to establish excellence in teaching a part of their career plan.
  • To submit a letter of application for the GASOTL Award, please send your materials in a SINGLE email to the teaching and learning coordinator, Dr. Craig Douglas Albert at calbert@augusta.edu. Please include GASOTL and your name in the Subject-line!

Deadline for application for the 2016 GASOTL AWARD is Tuesday, Nov. 1.

Having trouble registering for the conference? Try this solution.

We’ve received some reports of difficulties registering for the annual conference in Savannah. Computers or other devices connected to campus networks may not be able to complete the registration process. If you encounter issues, please try to register from an off-campus location or a cellular device. We’ve found this has resolved the issue in most cases. If you continue to have issues, please email John Bennett.

Undergraduate papers sought for undergraduate research panel

Submit undergraduate papers for Pajari Undergraduate Research Panel

This panel was established to honor Roger N. Pajari, a tireless advocate for undergraduate research in political science. Professors of undergraduate political science courses in the state of Georgia may nominate students to present their research on this panel by submitting the completed paper to Dr. James LaPlant by Aug. 31.

Only four papers will be chosen for presentation on this special panel. The best paper presented from this panel will be given the Roger N. Pajari Undergraduate Research Award. Please nominate those excellent papers from your top undergraduate students for this exciting panel at our annual GPSA conference.

Submissions sought for student poster session at 2016 annual conference

Call for Submissions

The 2016 organizing committee  is accepting proposals for a special session dedicated to student scholarship during the Annual Georgia Political Science Association conference in Savannah, Nov. 10-12. Work from both undergraduate and graduate students will be considered.

Undergraduate students are an increasingly important element in the production and expansion of political knowledge. In its best form, undergraduate research can be seen as a collaborative apprenticeship, where undergraduates and faculty work together in a shared enterprise to create or expand the political knowledge base. In addition, as faculty, collaboration with undergraduate students in research is one of the most important ways we can facilitate innovation within our discipline. At its best, undergraduate research and collaboration can transform the way that we study political science. Submission deadline is Oct. 2.

Student Poster Session

The 2nd Annual Student Poster Session will showcase the work of both individual students and/or class based projects.

  • Individual Posters- These posters may describe applied or theoretical research that is completed or in the process of being completed; discuss interesting projects on which students have worked; or a report on a project or educational experiences (e.g., public outreach, volunteerism, internships). Submissions should focus on research or activities conducted within the past academic year.
  • Class Based Projects- These posters may describe class activities or simulations dealing with any area of politics and government. These presentations can focus on an individual experience, or the overall class experience. Any proposal focusing on a class based project is required to have an academic sponsor who signs off on the submission (including their title, rank and contact information).

Submission Instructions and Deadlines

The submitted poster abstracts will be selected on the basis of the clarity and the novelty of the ideas they present. Selected poster presenters will be given space to present their posters in a “Poster Presentation Session” at the beginning of the conference. The main idea of the “Poster Presentation Session” is to create a lively and intellectually challenging environment for undergraduate and graduate students to relate their ideas to a sophisticated audience and to invite discussions of their ideas during the conference.

Please send poster abstracts of 150-200 words, along with a short bio of the author(s) to mhipps@daltonstate.edu or GPSA@gpc.edu by Oct. 2, 2016. Decisions regarding selected posters will be emailed to presenters by Oct. 10.