Duties of session chairs at annual convention
Term of Office: Session Chairs shall be designated by Area Chairs (Third-Year Councilors); term of office shall begin at the start of the Spring Conference, and end at the finish of the Spring Conference.
- Contact the presenters ahead of time for biographical information and to confirm that they will indeed be present.
- Remind the presenters of the time allowed for papers, and hold them to it. The current Call For Papers stipulates 9-10 double-spaced pages, or 15-18 minutes’ reading time. In order to allow sufficient time for all presentations as well as for possible discussion at the end of the full session, Chairs of panels must be prepared and willing to politely but firmly interrupt any presentation that runs overtime.
- When the actual panel convenes at the conference, introduce each presenter professionally so that the session doesn’t become merely a “next” reader name and paper title. Introductions don’t need to be elaborate or overly time-consuming, but should give the session audience some sense of who the person is beyond what is already printed on the session program.
- No presentations may be given by proxy, according to current Executive Committee policy. Presentations must be given in person. Panel chairs should not allow anyone to read by proxy even if he/she comes to the session prepared to do so.
- If a presenter does not show up to present a paper, be sure to tell the Executive Secretary immediately following your session. According to current Executive Committee policy, the Executive Secretary will remove the presenter and presentation from the official program published in CCTE Studies.