How to Submit Proposals

One Call for All Proposals

Our enhanced proposal submission process—introduced in 2025—continues for 2026, offering key improvements designed to increase accessibility and support dynamic transdiciplinary dialogue:

1. Online Submission Portal: Save your work in progress through our online submission portal, and return as needed. Only complete submissions with all required fields and attachments will be accepted.
    
2. Concise Abstracts: By popular demand, abstracts remain limited to 500 words, making the submission process clearer, more focused, and more efficient for reviewers and submitters alike.
    
3. Unified Call for Proposal: We continue to use a single, unified call for proposals rather than multiple section-specific calls. You may still select up to three of NCFR’s 10 sections, and/or the NCFR Students and New Professionals (SNP) group that best align with your topic (This is for planning purposes only).
    
4. Refined Subject Areas: Subject area, population, and methodology options remain streamlined—from nearly 400 to approximately 50—supporting more curated sessions that integrate perspectives across NCFR sections.
    
5. Half-Day Workshops (NEW FOR 2026): NCFR invites proposals for in-person half-day (3-hour) workshops on Saturday, Nov. 21, designed for in-depth training or collaboration. We especially encourage topics related to professional development, practice, and policy.
    

Learn more about NCFR’s 10 sections and the NCFR Students and New Professionals (SNP) group

As in previous years, proposals for the Theory Construction and Research Methodology (TCRM) Workshop will be accepted through a different submission system.

Criteria for Proposals  
 

1. The proposal describes work that meets BOTH of the following criteria:
   (a) The work is sufficiently developed or will be sufficiently developed by the time of the conference.
   (b) Regardless of focus (e.g., research, practice, policy, and professional development), an appropriate, rigorous approach is used.
    
2. The proposal is written clearly, logically organized, and includes references.
    
3. Proposals can be qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods; or analyses of theory, pedagogy, or policy, and must include:
   (a) A strong connection to existing research
   (b) A strong connection to theory
   (c) The potential to stimulate new knowledge and/or innovative practices

Frequently Asked Questions
 

1. May I submit a previously published/presented paper?
   No. Papers that have been published or previously presented are not accepted.
    
2. Do I need to submit a paper as part of a symposium?
   No, you may submit as either a standalone paper or part of a symposium with others.
    
3. Is there a fee to submit proposals?
   No, proposal submissions are free.
    
4. May I submit more than one proposal?
   Yes! Submit as many proposals as you like.
    
5. When will I know if my proposal has been accepted?
   You will be notified by June 15, 2026.
    
6. If my proposal is accepted, what is expected of me?

• At least one author of accepted proposals must attend the conference in person, register, and pay the registration fee to present.
• Upload your bio, headshot, and the PowerPoint slides you will be using at least one week prior to the conference.
• If your presentation is accepted as a paper, symposium, or lightning paper, a copy of your presentation must be sent to the session facilitator and/or discussant by October 30. You are also required to upload your presentation PowerPoint slides.