Student Participation
Undergraduate Scholars Conference
Competitive Graduate Posters
Student Ambassador Program
James C. McCroskey and Virginia P. Richmond
Undergraduate Scholars Conference
2027 USC Call for Papers Submissions
118th Eastern Communication Association Annual Convention
Hyatt Regency, Reston, VA
March 30 - April 4, 2027
USC & GRADUATE POSTER DEADLINE: DECEMBER 18, 2026, 11:59 PM PST
For the first time in 16 years, the Commonwealth of Virginia will host the ECA Annual Convention. The 2027 convention will be held at the Hyatt Regency Reston in Fairfax County — an area where discourse shapes national dialogue, diverse communities converge, and history unfolds. The theme, "Full Circle," invites reflection on the cyclical processes of knowledge development and intellectual journeys, wherein we often reach back to our foundations or prior conceptions to support growth and guide new ideas into fruition. It will also mark a return to the origin of the Undergraduate Scholars Conference, first held in 2011 in Arlington, Virginia.
The 2027 USC will incorporate the convention theme, Full Circle. We encourage submissions that directly and creatively engage with this theme. We also encourage exploration of the following:
- How have communication practices, technologies, or theories cycled back to earlier ideas in new forms?
- What early lessons in your communication studies have "come full circle" in shaping how you see communication research and scholarship today?
- How can undergraduate researchers help the field revisit foundational questions with fresh perspectives?
- What emerging trends in your area of study reflect patterns that have appeared before in the discipline?
There are two submission options for this year’s conference: paper submissions and poster presentation submissions, which are explained below. All submissions, whether a paper or a poster presentation, will be blind reviewed as part of the selection process for the USC. You can submit a maximum of one paper and a maximum of one poster presentation.
Paper Submissions
Paper submissions may be a finished paper or a work in progress. Submitters proposing a work in progress must submit a completed version of their paper no later than February 15, 2027 (at least six weeks prior to the conference). Accepted paper submissions will require a 10–12-minute oral presentation delivered at the conference and will be scheduled as part of a panel consisting of 4–5 papers. These presentations will be followed by a brief question/answer discussion or a response from a communication scholar who has reviewed the accepted papers.
- Maximum 25 double-spaced pages (not including references and any tables or figures).
- Typed in Times New Roman, 12-point font, with 1-inch margins.
- Follow American Psychological Association (APA) style for reference citation.
The ECA-USC Top Paper award will recognize the paper with the highest ranking attained through the review process leading to acceptance. Additionally, in conjunction with the National Communication Association, the USC will recognize the Lambda Pi Eta Top Paper Award. Created in 2017, the Lambda Pi Eta Top Paper Award recognizes the outstanding research of undergraduates at the regional level. This award will be presented to the highest-ranked student paper authored by a current member(s) of Lambda Pi Eta.
Poster Presentation Submissions
Poster presentation submissions can be a finished research paper or a research project currently in progress. Poster presentations are ideal for research projects that would benefit from a visual display. Accepted poster presentation submissions will be scheduled as part of a poster session of 15–20 posters.
The ECA-USC Top Poster award will recognize the poster with the highest ranking attained through the review and presentation process in the poster session at the conference. Additionally, in conjunction with the National Communication Association, the USC will recognize the Lambda Pi Eta Top Poster Award. The Lambda Pi Eta Top Poster Award recognizes the outstanding research of undergraduates at the regional level. This award will be presented to the highest-ranked student paper authored by a current member(s) of Lambda Pi Eta.
For all submissions, make sure that any identifying information (i.e., your name, school, faculty mentor or course instructor, contact information) is not contained anywhere within the document. Be sure to also inspect the document and remove all personal information from the document properties, including file names, before submitting for review. This information is, of course, encouraged to be on the poster you bring to the conference.
Submission Guidelines
All submissions must be uploaded through Attendee Interactive, which can be accessed at https://ww4.aievolution.com/eca2701/. If you do not already have an ECA Attendee Interactive account, you will be prompted to create an account with a new User ID and Password to submit your work.
When submitting a paper for consideration through Attendee Interactive, the following fields must be completed:
- Title (select Undergraduate Paper as the option)
- Author(s)
- A 100-150 word abstract of your paper, followed verbatim by the ECA Statement of Professional Responsibility: In submitting the attached paper or poster presentation, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this paper or poster if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
- Categories, where you indicate whether you (and/or any coauthors) are members of Lambda Pi Eta
- Presentation Requests (e.g., projector, Internet access, audio capabilities). Please note that any technology request is not guaranteed; see the Technology Note below.
- Documents (i.e., the paper; accepted file types are Word and PDF)
- Preview, which enables you to review the information you provided in the prior fields
- Finalize, which directs you to upload your submission
Technology Note
The 2027 Convention will be equipped with technology capabilities. A projector, screen, sound, wireless mouse and slide advancer, and Wi-Fi will be available in most breakout rooms. Submitters will be asked to request technology, if needed, as part of the submission. Presenters must supply their own laptop. Google Slides and PowerPoint templates featuring the convention theme and logo are available on the convention tab of the website. We encourage all attendees to take full advantage of these resources to create engaging presentations!
When submitting a poster presentation for consideration through Attendee Interactive, the following fields must be completed:
- Title (select Undergraduate Poster as the option)
- Author(s)
- A 100-150 word abstract of your poster, followed verbatim by the ECA Statement of Professional Responsibility: In submitting the attached paper or poster presentation, I/We recognize that this submission is considered a professional responsibility. I/We agree to present this paper or poster if it is accepted and programmed. I/We further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
- Categories, where you indicate whether you (and/or any coauthors) are members of Lambda Pi Eta
- Additional Information (e.g., any special request; please note that this request is not guaranteed)
- Documents (i.e., a 1-2 page outline of the major points you plan to display on your poster; accepted file types are Word and PDF)
- Preview, which enables you to review the information you provided in the prior fields
- Finalize, which directs you to upload your submission
You can donate to the USC Scholarship fund here.
Call for Competitive Graduate Posters
Submissions are now open for competitive graduate poster sessions at the 2027 Eastern Communication Association convention.
Submissions that relate to the conference theme, Full Circle, are especially encouraged. The theme reflects the conference’s location near the capital beltway and invites participants to reflect on how new ideas and current challenges connect with the past. Graduate students are encouraged to use their unique perspective as emerging scholars exploring the history of the communication discipline while pushing it forward into the future. Students should review the conference’s general call for further information and ideas regarding the conference theme.
Poster presentation submissions can be finished research papers OR research projects currently in progress. Poster presentations are ideal for projects that would benefit from a visual display. Accepted poster presentation submissions will be scheduled as part of a poster session of 15-20 posters.
All submissions will be blind-reviewed, so there should be no identifying information anywhere in the uploaded document (including names, school affiliations, faculty mentors, or contact information). Be sure to also inspect the document and remove all personal information from the document properties, including file names, before submitting for review. (Of course, you will include all of this information on the poster that you actually present at the conference!)
Submission Guidelines: All submissions must be uploaded through Attendee Interactive, which can be accessed at {insert link here}. If you do not already have an ECA Attendee Interactive account, you will be prompted to create one in order to submit your work.
You can submit a maximum of one poster presentation.
The following fields must be completed in your Attendee Interactive Graduate Poster submission:
- Title
- Author(s)
- Abstract: a 100-150-word abstract of your poster, followed verbatim by the ECA Statement of Professional Responsibility: In submitting the attached poster, I/we recognize that this submission constitutes a professional responsibility. I/we agree to present this poster if it is accepted and programmed. I/we further recognize that all who attend and present at ECA’s annual meeting must register and pay required fees.
- Categories: If this is your first conference presentation, please indicate it as a “Debut Paper.” If you are a member of Lambda Pi Eta, please indicate that as well.
- Scheduling and special requests: Please identify any accommodations associated with physical or religious needs that may impact scheduling. Special requests related to other needs such as weddings, births, etc., will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Documents: Upload a 1-2-page outline of the major points you plan to include on your poster. (Must be BLIND. Accepted file types are Word and PDF.)
- Preview, which allows you to review the information you provided in the prior fields
- Finalize, which directs you to upload your submission.
If you have questions about the submission process or the conference, please contact the 2027 Graduate Poster Sessions Planner, Scott Dunn, at swdunn@radford.edu.
Poster Guidelines and Examples
Application for Student Ambassador Program
Submission Deadline: February 15, 2027
The ECA Student Ambassador Program is designed to provide students with the opportunity to attend and participate in the ECA convention without paying registration fees and to gain academic service experience. It is a wonderful chance to learn about academia while adding a service element to the Ambassador’s résumé or graduate school application.
Student ambassadors can expect to work the convention for a few hours each day. Tasks can include greeting attendees, assisting attendees in finding rooms, poster session setup, registration assistance, photography, videography, etc.
This is a competitive selection process and a limited number of Ambassador slots are available.
Complete your application today!
The Submission Deadline: February 15, 2027
