Before you begin, you should:

• Take advantage of information provided on the NCFR website.
• Utilize the Call for Proposals which outlines criteria for proposals and provides a very useful “Checklist for Submitting a Proposal.”
• Do not procrastinate. Give yourself adequate time to prepare your proposal.
• Ask a fellow student, colleague or mentor to review your proposal prior to submitting.
• Follow the instructions provided on the Call for Proposals regarding proposal length and elements that should be included in the proposal.

The proposal should:

• Begin with a summary of the thesis of your proposal.
• Articulate a strong connection to existing research and theory.
• Describe the research or practice methodology employed.
• Discuss results, as well as the potential impact and implications.
• Write clearly and organize logically with complete references provided.

Proposals submission

Proposals are submitted to a specific section of NCFR. Make sure that the content of your proposal is a good fit for the interests of the section you submit to. For example, SNPs should not submit their proposals as SNP sessions unless their proposal addresses the professional development of students and new professionals.

Volunteer to be a Conference Proposal Reviewer

• Who: Students and new professionals can serve as conference proposal reviewers!
• What: Volunteer to serve as a reviewer. Each section (including the SNP section) will solicit proposal reviewers so pay attention to the section listservs for the call for reviewers, which typically go out in February. If you are a member of multiple sections choose one section to review for and respond to the reviewer request email providing the requested information.
• When: Conference Proposals are due the first of March so the review process typically occurs during the middle to end of March. You will receive an email containing a link to the proposals you are responsible for reviewing. Reviewers are typically given a few weeks to complete the reviews, which take only a few hours to complete.
• Where: In the comfort of your own home or office! You just need a computer, internet access, and an email address!
• Why: Serving as a conference proposal reviewer is a great way to become more involved in NCFR. It is also a great CV builder as your contribution to a professional organization shows potential employers that you are committed to the field. Additionally, the experience of reviewing can benefit your own future proposal submissions as you gain a better sense of what reviewers consider when they score proposals.
• How: Review and score proposals . . . reviewers will review submitted annual conference proposals via NCFR’s online review system. A reviewer may expect to review an average of three proposals (though this may vary). Read the abstract, use the criteria provided by NCFR to score the proposal, and enter your score into the online system.

Skills of an effective reviewer

A good critical eye, an analytical frame of mind, familiarity with the subject, and a willingness to provide constructive criticism are key skills necessary to produce a high caliber review.