Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the International Congress on Medieval Studies. Please check to see if there is an answer to your question before contacting us. Your question may also be answered in one of our other sections, such as The Hybrid Experience, On-Site Logistics (including lodging), Policies and Guidelines, Registration or Travel. If you still have questions, please contact the Medieval Institute.
No. The registration fee is the same no matter whether you attend sessions in person, online, or both.
At this time, we are unable to offer any hardship waivers. However, we offer a discounted rate for students and anyone with an annual income below $45,000.
As part of Western Michigan University, the Congress follows University policies and guidelines regarding COVID-19. WMU’s campus guidelines are aligned with the public health guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the state of Michigan and Kalamazoo County.
WMU recommends all members of the campus community get fully vaccinated against COVID-19. We encourage Congress attendees to do the same.
For everyone’s health and safety, we encourage Congress attendees to wear a well-fitting face covering in indoor public spaces.
Hybrid sessions are scheduled in classrooms with large screens, cameras, and microphones. Participants in these sessions may present on the ground in Kalamazoo (livestreamed for remote attendees) or online (displayed on the screen for in-person attendees). During the discussion period, remote attendees will be able to ask presenters questions directly, or join the conversation over text by using the chat box. A presider will be present in the classroom to take questions from in-person attendees.
Our staffing and our classroom technology are both limited. We want to ensure that the hybrid sessions run smoothly rather than try to host more than we are capable of at this time. Future Congresses may be able to support additional hybrid sessions.
Confex tech support personnel will monitor all virtual and hybrid sessions. They will be able to help troubleshoot issues like having problems logging on to the meeting site or sharing slides over Zoom. Congress personnel will be available to help in-person attendees connect to wifi and use classroom A/V technology.
If all participants in a virtual or hybrid session agree, the session will be recorded and made available to Congress attendees for a limited period of time after the Congress. In-person sessions will not be recorded.
Yes! We expect that most in-person attendees will wish to participate in one or more virtual sessions. To attend a virtual session, you will need an internet connection and a device such as a laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Free wifi will be provided on the campus of Western Michigan University for all registered attendees.
Attendees without laptops can attend virtual sessions in the Waldo Library computer labs (bring your own headphones). Please be considerate of others in your vicinity and use headphones whenever listening to virtual sessions.
Learn more about the hybrid Congress experience and see key dates for attendees.
All papers are expected to present unpublished original research never before offered at a national or international conference.
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.
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.
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. You may appear 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.
Learn more about our other policies and guidelines for Congress participation.
The Medieval Institute sends Congress programs beginning in February to all U.S. addresses on its active mailing list via bulk mail but limits the initial international mailing of programs (including Canada) to individuals whose names appear in the program for that year. In-person attendees registering after Apr. 15 and international attendees who did not receive a program in the mail will be able to pick up a copy of the printed program on site.
Additional print copies of the program are available for purchase at registration for $15 per copy while supplies last. The program can also be downloaded as a PDF.
The Medieval Institute provides designated lactation rooms. More details will be posted as they become available.
Arrangements for child care are the responsibility of the parent(s). We recommend that you go directly to Care.com, which background checks its caregivers. Account creation is required.
Congress locations are located on the hilly campus of Western Michigan University. Medieval Institute shuttle buses provide transportation among Congress locations.
The Goldworth Valley complexes have a limited number of wheelchair accessible rooms, assigned upon request and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please include your request for an accessible room in the notes field when registering for the Congress. The Western Heights complex is fully wheelchair accessible. Find more about on-campus housing options here.
Find out more about on-site logistics, including lodging and dining options.
Kalamazoo is located at the crossroads of Interstate 94 and US Route 131 in Southwest Michigan, roughly halfway between Chicago and Detroit. Learn about your travel options here.
The Medieval Institute provides shuttle service to campus and back from the Radisson/downtown.
Parking for Congress attendees is available in selected parking lots near Congress venues on campus for all registered participants. Please do not park at meters or in prohibited areas.
The Medieval Institute provides shuttle service to Congress locations.
Explore your options for air travel, ground transportation from the airport, train and bus travel, and driving to Kalamazoo.
We understand that you may need written confirmation of your planned participation in Congress to support a visa application or a request for travel funding, or to meet other requirements from your university or other institution. We are happy to provide official letters confirming that your paper or other contribution to the Congress has been accepted; please contact the Medieval Institute to request a letter.
There are several ways you can support the Congress!
Make a gift to the Medieval Institute or to one of the endowments that fund the travel awards and the Reception of the Classics in the Middle Ages Lecture.
Nominate yourself as a contributing reviewer to evaluate proposals for sponsored and special sessions. Contributing reviewers hold two-year terms and we accept self-nominations each year in the spring.
Volunteer to preside over general sessions. You do not need to be delivering a paper at the Congress in order to preside over a general session. We solicit offers to preside over general sessions each year in the fall.