📅 Application Opens: February 2026

Application Deadline: March 25, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT

📍 Convention: November 19-22, 2026 | New Orleans, Louisiana

CONVENTION RESOURCES

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The National Communication Association invites scholars, practitioners, and advanced graduate students to contribute to the success of our Annual Convention by serving as reviewers, session chairs, and respondents. Your participation helps ensure the quality and diversity of our academic program while advancing communication scholarship.

Applications will open Feb. 2026. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the reviewer application form by March 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. We welcome volunteers from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive process.

Service Opportunities

Reviewer

  • Evaluate cutting-edge research submissions in your area of expertise
  • Provide constructive feedback to help authors strengthen their work
  • Engage with the latest developments in communication research
  • Enhance your own critical evaluation skills

Session Chair

  • Moderate convention sessions
  • Facilitate engaging discussions between presenters and audience
  • Ensure smooth session flow and time management
  • Create an inclusive environment for scholarly dialogue

Respondent

  • Offer scholarly feedback on presented papers
  • Synthesize key themes across presentations
  • Foster meaningful academic discourse
  • Contribute to theoretical and methodological discussions

Benefits of Volunteering

  • Engage with cutting-edge research in your field
  • Develop critical evaluation and leadership skills
  • Expand your professional network
  • Receive a letter of completion upon request (useful for tenure/promotion documentation)
View Calendar

Commitment and Expectations

Review Workload: Reviewers typically evaluate 5-20 submissions based on their indicated capacity

Time Commitment: Plan for approximately 45-60 minutes per review. Total time commitment depends on the number of reviews you accept.

Review Period: You will have approximately 4 weeks to complete your reviews (April 1-29, 2026)

  • Chairs and respondents are assigned based on their expertise and availability
  • All volunteers must provide fair, constructive, and timely feedback
  • Conflicts of interest must be disclosed and avoided
  • Extension requests should be directed to your unit program planner as soon as possible

Review Platform Information

Platform: Reviews will be conducted through the X-CD Technologies online submission system

Access: Once program planners complete reviewer assignments in late March, you will receive email notification(s) with instructions to log in using your NCA credentials. Note: If you volunteered for multiple units, you will receive a separate invitation from each unit’s program planner.

Features: The system allows you to view submissions, submit reviews, and track your progress

Device Compatibility: The system is accessible via desktop, tablet, and mobile devices

Support: For technical assistance with the X-CD platform, contact convention@natcom.org

Review Guidelines & Resources

Unit planners select reviewers based on their background to evaluate submissions using the NCA Review Rubric.

📋 All submissions are evaluated on a 1-10 scale:

  • Relevance to theme and unit
  • Innovation and new ideas
  • Theoretical rigor
  • Methodological rigor
  • Analytical rigor
  • Writing quality

📖 Download NCA Review Rubric

⚠️ IMPORTANT: AI Use Guidelines for Reviewers

Reviewers may NOT input submitter content into AI tools. This includes manuscripts, abstracts, proposals, or any supplementary materials. All submitted materials represent unpublished research and must be protected.

Why this matters:

  • Submitted materials remain the intellectual property of submitters
  • AI tools may expose content to unintended audiences
  • Using submitter content in AI violates peer review confidentiality
  • Premature exposure could compromise publication opportunities

What you CAN do with AI:
✅ Draft general correspondence or emails
✅ Create organizational frameworks for your review workflow
✅ Brainstorm time management strategies

What you CANNOT do with AI:
❌ Input any part of submissions (manuscripts, abstracts, proposals)
❌ Use AI to analyze or evaluate submission content
❌ Generate review comments based on submission text

📄 Download Full AI Guidance for Unit Planners & Reviewers

📚 Reviewer Training Resources:

✅ Best Practices:

  • Be constructive and professional
  • Provide specific, actionable feedback
  • Complete reviews within 4-week period
  • Disclose conflicts of interest
  • Maintain confidentiality
  • Do NOT input submitter content into AI tools

How to Get Involved:

If you are interested in this service opportunity, please fill out the reviewer application form by March 25, 11:59 p.m. PT. We welcome volunteers from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive process. Unit Program Planners are responsible for accepting and assigning reviewers based on their areas of expertise.

Questions?