Guidelines for Submitting Proposals

For technical issues with submission, contact Robin Redmon Wright (robin.wright@utsa.edu) or Donna Chovanec (donna.chovanec@ualberta.ca).

Allow 1-inch (2.5cm) margins and use at least 10 pt type. Please do not include author names or institutional affiliations in the abstracts. PLEASE NOTE: Only one proposal per 1st author may be submitted for review.

All proposals must be submitted via email as a Microsoft Word attachment to the addresses on the first page of this call. In the body of the e-mail message, include the following:

• Title of the paper
• Contact information for all authors to include, name(s), address(es), telephone number(s)and e-mail address(es)
• Warrant Statement for all proposals:

I [we] warrant that if my [our] paper [roundtable or symposium] proposal is accepted, I [we] will submit a formally written summary for inclusion in the conference proceedings. I [we] agree that the summary will be typed, single- spaced, and [two pages for roundtables, six pages for papers, eight pages for symposia] long.

I [we] understand that if this summary is not submitted by March 15, 2011, my [our] presentation will not be included as part of AERC/CASAE 2011 printed proceedings.

For PAPER Proposals:

Submit a two-page abstract, not to exceed 2 pages (1200 words). State the paper title at the top of the first page and identify your paper as (a) empirical, (b), model or theory development, or (c) theorizing from the literature. Remove all identifying information from the abstract. A list of references is not required. Any paper proposal extending beyond the two pages will be excluded from consideration.

• Empirical paper proposals should adequately describe:
• Purpose of the study. What does the study contribute?
• Perspective or theoretical framework including relevant literature.
• Research design (including rationale for choice of methodology, research questions, modes of data collection, and means of analysis).
• Findings and conclusions.
• Implications for adult education theory and practice.


• Model or theory development paper proposals should address:
• What practical void or theoretical void will this model or theory fill with respect to adult education?
• What are your bases for proposing this model or theory (experience, literature, your own empirical research, etc.)?
• What are the elements of the model or theory and relationships among its elements?
• What is its relationship to existing theory?


• Theorizing from the literature paper proposals can be either explorations based on literature (reviews and/or critiques) orapplications from one field to another that give us new insights about adult education. The following should be addressed:
  • What is the purpose of this exploration or application?
  • What fields of study, disciplinary perspectives, or bodies of literature are being analyzed?
  • What are the implications for the development of adult education theory and practice?

For ROUNDTABLE Proposals:

Submit a one-page abstract, not to exceed 600 words. State the roundtable title at the top of the first page. Remove all identifying information from the abstract. A list of references is not required. Any paper proposal extending beyond the one-page limit will be excluded from consideration.

Roundtable proposals will be reviewed based on the importance of the research or issues they address, their relevance to adult education, and their potential to generate lively discussion and debate at the conference.

For SYMPOSIA Proposals:

Submit a one-page abstract, not to exceed 600 words. Remove all identifying information from the abstract. A list of references is not required. Any paper proposal extending beyond the one-page limit will be excluded from consideration. An additional half-page abstract (maximum of 300 words) from each presenter should provide details to the symposium abstract. Submit all abstracts with the symposium title at the top of the first page.

Organizers must have the consent of all participants before submitting the proposal. Organizers not wishing to chair the session must indicate a chairperson. Symposia proposals should address the following:

• What is the controversial issue or topic being addressed? Why should adult educators care about this matter?
• What are the competing perspectives (including related bodies of literature from which this issue will be addressed?
• On what basis does each panelist hold his/her perspective (experience, literature, one’s own empirical research)?
• What action plan or policy implications are likely to emerge from this examination?

Notification and Submission of Papers:

Authors whose proposals are accepted will be notified of the specifications for preparing and submitting papers.

Papers: If your paper is selected for presentation, you will be responsible for submitting a formally written six-page (single-spaced, typed) paper for inclusion in the conference proceedings. Such papers must be received by March 15, 2011. Papers received after this date will NOT be included in the conference or proceedings.

Research Roundtables: If your roundtable proposal is accepted, you will be responsible for submitting a formally written two-page (single-spaced, typed) summary for inclusion in the conference proceedings. This summary must be received by March 15, 2011. Summaries received after this date will NOT be included in the conference or proceedings.

Symposia: Only the organizer will be notified of the acceptance of a symposium and is responsible for notifying other participants. If the symposium proposal is selected, the organizer is responsible for submitting a formally written eight-page (single-spaced, typed) paper for inclusion in the conference proceedings. Such papers must be received by March 15, 2011, or the symposium will not be included in the conference or proceedings.

Should unforeseen circumstances prevent a symposium participant from attending, it is the responsibility of the organizer to: (1) find a suitable replacement and (2) notify the AERC or CASAE proposal receiver, all other participants, and discussants involved in the session, to enable them to have prior access to abstracts of each presentation so they may formulate their remarks in the context of what the others plan to say.