AUPresses 2025 Virtual Annual Meeting Call for Proposals

Have a question about scholarly publishing that you’ve always wanted answered? Did you read a report or attend a webinar recently that made you start rethinking a workflow or a business decision? What are the university press futures that you want to see develop? 

Propose those questions, ideas, and brainstorm a topic for AUPresses 2025! The Annual Meeting Program Committee eagerly welcomes your proposals for sessions at the AUPresses 2025 Virtual Annual Meeting!

Proposal Submissions.

View descriptions of the types of sessions taking place at AUPresses 2025.

PROPOSALS DUE by NOVEMBER 5, 2024. 

The AUPresses 2025 Annual Meeting will be held virtually from June 9 through June 12. The 2025 Program Committee, co-chaired by Ana Maria Jimenez-Moreno (Ohio State) and David Famiano (California), is eager to bring new voices together to discuss important topics for UPs and the wider scholarly publishing community. We welcome all ideas and all community members to participate!

The Program Committee strives to represent a variety of perspectives in all sessions: presses of different sizes, regions, and countries, specializing in books, journals, or both; publishers outside of the traditional university environment; and speakers and facilitators from different departments, career levels, and other variables—with career levels and a diversity of personal identities and intersectionalities being an integral part of that variety. AUPresses welcomes proposals from members, non-members, and partners.

The AUPresses Program Committee is particularly interested in proposals for panel topics and sessions that:

• apply to more than one functional area and/or product type (i.e., books and journals) 

• take into consideration all levels of experience and engagement for a given topic 

• take into consideration differences across presses (i.e., size, staffing, relation to parent institution, etc.)  

Proposals from individuals from outside North America or traditional university press publishing—or proposals that will actively recruit panelists with these backgrounds—are highly encouraged. Additionally, the virtual format facilitates inclusion of partners and collaborators from outside AUPresses who might not be able or willing to participate in in-person meetings, such as authors, editors, freelancers, society partners, and others.

Proposals should include a maximum of one moderator and three presenters. Inclusion of a fourth presenter requires approval from the Program Committee. 

Panel topics of particular interest across all functional areas include but are not limited to: 

• Equity, justice, inclusion, and belonging 

• Expanding programs and portfolios

• Global publishing perspectives 

• Library and society publishing 

• New publishing tools and technologies 

• Open access and accessibility 

• Professional development, recruitment, and retention  

Misconceptions About Proposing an Annual Meeting Session

I need to have a fully formed proposal and need to have all of the panelists lined up before I can submit a proposal. Not at all! Please send us your best ideas. If accepted, the committee can help you develop your proposal further and/or put you in touch with like-minded others, including potential panelists.

I don’t know enough about this topic to propose a session. Sure you do! Chances are others have the same questions. Knowing that you want to know more about something is a great place to start. Perhaps you might propose a beginner session. If you have ideas about who could answer your questions about the topic, then you have a start to gather a great group of panelists. You can lead a discussion as chair of the session, be a participant, or both.

I don’t know anyone in the AUPresses community so I shouldn’t propose a session. Not true! This is a great way to learn more and meet people in the UP community. If there is a committee that focuses on your panel topic, they may be able to help. Likewise, the Annual Meeting Committee is happy to help you, too. 

It is going to take so much time to put together a panel. The work is spread throughout the year, making it more manageable. Of course, you should talk with your manager or supervisor before agreeing to do it, especially if you have any concerns. 

I need to be a tech expert to use the AUPresses conference platform. Not at all! You will be guided through the process by AUPresses staff and there will be tech support backing you up. Your focus will be on sharing your knowledge and expertise with the community.

I work in Finance or Business Operations and I usually don’t see any sessions that appeal to me so I won’t submit a proposal. Please do! This is a perfect opportunity to propose sessions that would be beneficial to people in similar positions.

The only idea I have is for possibly a keynote or plenary speaker. Great! Please submit via the submissions form or send an email to committee co-chair David Famiano, dfamiano@ucpress.edu. 

Other Things to Keep in Mind

• All sessions will be recorded. Moderators and speakers will be required to sign a speaker waiver form that addresses consent to be recorded. 

• Pre-recorded presentations will be allowed, but AUPresses will need to know well in advance of the actual meeting which speakers will be providing recordings. Ideally, all speakers in a given panel should make themselves available for live Q&A during the scheduled session. 

• If you are considering break-out rooms in a session, please be sure to indicate that in your proposal. 

• All moderators and speakers are expected to register for the conference. Waivers and professional development grants will be available. Please review the Speaker Waiver Policies. 

Again, please submit your proposal by NOVEMBER 5, 2024. 

Sponsorship and vendor opportunities will be announced in the coming weeks.