Policies

Western Michigan University prohibits discrimination or harassment that violates the law or that limits opportunities of admission, employment, or education based on the protected classes of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, height, weight, or marital status. Retaliation against any person or group who makes a good faith complaint or participates in a grievance, investigation or related processes is prohibited by law and policy.

Western Michigan University encourages all members of our community to participate in the process of creating a safe, welcoming and respectful environment on campus. This policy prohibits sexual discrimination, harassment, violence, and stalking committed by or against WMU community members of any gender, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. It also provides redress for those who have been victims of such behaviors or who have been accused of such behaviors.

To report an incident, use the online reporting form. If you are in danger or in need of immediate assistance, call 911.

Western Michigan University is committed an environment of free speech. Presenters and attendees are encouraged to engage in the free exchange of ideas while refraining from disrupting sessions or preventing others from fully participating in them.

Original research

All papers are expected to present unpublished original research never before offered at a national or international conference.

Multiple submissions

You are invited to propose one paper (as a sole author or as a co-author) for one session of papers. You may propose a paper for a sponsored or special session or for the general sessions, but not both. You may propose an unlimited number of contributions to roundtables and poster sessions, but you will not be scheduled to actively participate (as paper presenter, roundtable discussant, poster author, presider, respondent, workshop leader, demonstrator or performer) in more than three sessions.

Paper presenter eligibility

All those working in the field of medieval studies, including graduate students and independent scholars and artists, are eligible to give a paper, if accepted, in any session. Enrolled undergraduate students, however, may give a paper, if accepted, only in the "Papers by Undergraduates" special sessions.

Rejected paper proposals

Papers proposed for but not accepted into sponsored and special sessions are automatically considered for inclusion in general sessions, unless the author explicitly requests that it not.

One paper per participant

Each participant may give only one paper (as sole author or co-author). Plenary and Reception of the Classics in the Middle Ages lecturers may give another paper in addition to their lectures, for a total of two papers.

Three appearances per participant

The Program Committee will schedule a person as an active participant (paper presenter, roundtable discussant, poster author, presider, respondent, workshop leader, demonstrator or performer) in a maximum of three sessions. Organizers may organize as many sessions as the committee approves.

Congress badges

Congress badges are to be worn at all times. Be prepared to show your badge when asked to do so.

Session participants

All sessions must include at least two participants, excluding presider(s) and respondent(s). Sessions of papers may include up to five authors; roundtables, workshops and demonstrations may include up to seven participants; and poster sessions may include up to ten poster authors. Allowances will be made for co-authored contributions.

Organizer and presider numbers

Each session must have an organizer and may have up to two co-organizer(s). Each session must also have at least one and no more than three presider(s). The organizer(s) and presider(s) may be the same individual(s).

Presider eligibility

No participant may preside over a session in which that person is listed as a paper author, roundtable discussant, poster author, workshop leader, demonstrator or performer.

Respondent eligibility 

No participant may serve as respondent to a session in which that person is listed as a paper author, roundtable discussant, poster author, workshop leader, demonstrator or performer.

The official hashtag for the 61st International Congress on Medieval Studies is #Kzoo2026. Real-time online interaction both opens conversations at the Congress to colleagues not in attendance and extends conference spaces for attendees. It can expand opportunities for networking and engaging wider academic communities within medieval studies and beyond. Social media offers space that can be a rich resource to strengthen intellectual communities both during and after conferences. 

We ask that ICMS registrants keep three fundamental principles in mind at all times: 

Consent: All speakers have both the right to request that their work, images, and/or any related material presented not to be publicly posted and the right to expect that their requests will be respected. Audio or video recordings of sessions should not be made or posted without express permission of all of the session's participants (these permissions should be secured in advance through the session organizer or presider). Photographs should not be posted without the consent of the subjects therein. 

Respect: The Congress hashtag is a representation of the conference online as much as it is a representation of those using it. Please remember that your comments are public and should be made in the same tone you would use in person: the medium in which professional activity is communicated does not change its professional nature and is as important to scholars' professional reputation as their academic work. Vulgar or profane language and language that is threatening or that includes personal attacks are inappropriate. 

Because social media posts can have the appearance of a direct transcript of spoken words, it is important to remember the potential for misappropriation (please attribute), misrepresentation (make sure your commentary is clearly identified as such), and misunderstanding (borne of removal of context). All powerful tools have the capability to injure, if mishandled.

Collegiality: Expressing appreciation and sharing links to useful/related information contribute to the conversation and strengthen academic connections. Disagreements and difficult topics are as integral to an intellectual community as scholarly generosity and should be handled with the same professionalism and respect online as face-to-face discussion.