Interest Groups

What is an Interest Group?

Interest Groups are grassroots initiatives that arise as ASLE members wish to organize. These groups can form around any topic of interest be it disciplinary (e.g., Ecomedia Studies), geographic (e.g., Southwest Literature), institutional (e.g., Undergraduate or 2-year colleges) etc. Interest groups serve to encourage networking and fellowship, as well as to provide support for pedagogy, scholarship, and mentoring within these particular areas.

How do Interest Groups form?

Any group wishing to be an Interest Group should:

• Form organically in the organization.
• Submit a description, including the group’s rationale and purpose, an agenda with plans and goals, and contact information for a designated member of the interest group. This information should be submitted to the Professional Liaison Coordinator (see our Leadership & Staff page for current contact information).

What privileges will this designation provide?

Interest Group privileges include the following:

• Guaranteed one panel acceptance at the conference. Panels must still be submitted through regular process, and identified as sponsored by an approved ASLE Interest Group. More than one panel proposal per IG can be submitted, but only one is guaranteed.
• Publishing articles online in ASLE News.
• Being listed on the ASLE Interest Group Page, which enables links to other Interest Group pages.
• Sponsoring meetings, receptions, and panels at the Biennial Conference, subject to existing policies and procedures.
• Applying to host an off-year symposium, subject to existing policies and procedures.

These privileges do not include:

• Receiving funds from the organization.
• The ability to collect membership dues.
• Guaranteed slots on ASLE boards, committees, and/or task forces.
• The ability to select conference plenary speakers.