The AIS Conference
Hosting
an AIS Conference - An Overview
This section offers a detailed account of the proposal and planning process to give you practical assistance in bringing a conference proposal forward and in acquainting you with the kinds of needs your planning committee will face.
The
Hosting Institution: A Profile
Institutions of varying sizes, physical settings, programs, and student
populations have hosted AIS conferences over the years. However, certain
characteristics make up the profile of most host institutions. Some practical
concerns enter into this profile due to some of the factors that affect
Association practice. Most host institutions have interdisciplinary and/or
integrative curricular emphases in place or in development. They typically
can provide conference leadership and committee and/or staff support sufficient
to handle the details of conference administration. Even though one individual
may take the lead, the tasks involved are such that assistance is a necessity.
Conference planning must be sustained through the peak periods of academic
life and during periods of individual emergency. Administrative support
is key to facilitating many aspects of campus coordination and plays a
fundamental role in providing a welcoming atmosphere for attendees. Additionally,
hosting institutions are asked to provide administrative support for subvention
of some conference expenses in the form of a minimum contribution of $5000
toward the running of the conference. A larger subvention may be needed (e.g. $8000).
It is important, therefore, to consider area partnerships with other institutions to increase the subvention and create collaboration within your geographical area. All other expenses will be paid for through the registration fees of the
conference. Under normal circumstances, the host institution should succeed in taking in sufficient income to be able to return some funds to AIS, and the budget should include an annotation to that effect. Other considerations for hosting institutions include
finding a mutually workable date for the timing of the conference in early
fall and identifying a location that is generally accessible to airports,
meets the logistical needs of the conference in size, layout, and price,
and has access to some special attractions that take advantage of the
geographical location of the conference.
Impact
on the Hosting Institution
Hosting institutions have universally celebrated the benefits of hosting
an Association for Integrative Studies conference. While in the short
term there is much to organize and there are many roles to balance, the
process has also proven to be exceedingly energizing and renewing for
the departments, programs, and campuses involved. The opportunities are
substantial: to assess, affirm, showcase, and publicize the special features
of a campus' interdisciplinary teaching, research, and programs; to engage
different sectors of the campus community in a shared intellectual and
organizational enterprise: staff, faculty, administrators, graduate students,
undergraduate students, community members, alumni and Trustees; to develop
working relationships with hundreds of scholars and practitioners from
across the country; to work with AIS members who have been at the forefront
of interdisciplinary publication and consulting.