FAQ

• How do I submit a paper?

• How do I know if my paper is appropriate for submission? How long should my submission be? Can I submit a paper I’ve written for class, or is a colloquium paper different in some fundamental way?

• Can I submit a paper now even if I think it may be a better fit for a later colloquium session?

• Can graduate students from other departments submit papers?

• How soon after I have submitted my paper will I know whether it has been accepted?

• I want to submit my paper, but I am also actively trying to publish the paper. Is this a problem?

• I have another engagement scheduled for later the evening of the colloquium, but I want to submit a paper. Is there any way for me to read my paper first so that I can leave?

• Do faculty come to these events and do they usually comment on the student papers?

• How can I get involved if I don’t want to submit a paper?

Who is the colloquium for?
See the Mission Statement.

How do I submit a paper?
Refer to the Call for Papers (CFP) each session for more information regarding submission deadlines. All submissions should be placed in unmarked envelopes and dropped in the English Department office.

How do I know if my paper is appropriate for submission? How long should my submission be? Can I submit a paper I’ve written for class, or is a colloquium paper different in some fundamental way?
First, read the Call for Papers to learn more about this colloquium’s theme and to judge whether your paper fits with the particular session. Paper length varies, but each should be near conference length, or between fifteen and twenty minutes long when read aloud. We encourage paper submissions that were originally written for a graduate class, and we also encourage potential submitters to attend the Colloquium Paper Workshop for more information and specific advice on the submission process.

Can I submit a paper now even if I think it may be a better fit for a later colloquium session?
We cannot accept papers for future colloquium sessions, but papers that have not been accepted can certainly be resubmitted for a future session.

Can graduate students from other departments submit papers?
Yes, the colloquium is open to paper submission from other graduate departments at Boston College.

How soon after I have submitted my paper will I know whether it has been accepted?
We try to let everyone know within a couple of days of the deadline whether or not his or her essay has been accepted.

I want to submit my paper, but I am also actively trying to publish the paper. Is this a problem?
The Colloquium Committee does not have a problem with this, but if your paper has already been accepted for publication, you might consider asking the publisher just to be safe.

I have another engagement scheduled for later the evening of the colloquium, but I want to submit a paper. Is there any way for me to read my paper first so that I can leave?
Not only does the Colloquium Committee strongly discourage attending only part of the event, we also make no guarantees that a given session will follow the same itinerary as past sessions.

Do faculty come to these events and do they usually comment on the student papers?
Several faculty members attend each colloquium session, and while some of them do comment on student papers, this participation is supportive and in no way evaluative.

How can I get involved if I don’t want to submit a paper?
We welcome student help and support. Please Contact Us.