Every year the SSSP meets in the same city and at the same time as the American Sociological Association (and a number of other organizations) in order to make it easier for members to attend multiple meetings if they wish. Important business of the Society is conducted at this time, but the primary purpose of the meeting is to:

• Give participants the opportunity to share their research,
• Foster collegial relationships,
• Mentor young scholars,
• Recognize important contributions by members,
• Provide selected members, but especially graduate students, with financial awards for their research, and
• Honor and provide financial support to local social justice service agencies 

Program Themes

The president selects the theme of the meeting. Recent themes have included, Service Sociology (2011), Social Justice Work (2010), Race, Ethnicity and The Continuing Problem of the Color Line (2009), Crossing Borders: Activist Scholarship, Globablization, and Social Justice (2008), Research Matters: Creating Knowledge, Policy and Justice (2007), Building Just, Diverse and Democratic Communities (2006).

Types of Sessions and Meetings

Plenary Sessions - All members are invited to the two plenary sessions held every year. The Business Meeting typically is held on the second day, followed by the Presidential Address. Because these two sessions are considered so important to the membership and the structure of the organization, no other sessions are scheduled concurrent with these sessions.

Thematic Sessions - Topics covered in thematic sessions reflect the theme of the annual meeting.

Special Sessions - Special sessions are typically developed by members of the Program Committee.

Roundtable Sessions - Roundtable sessions are usually comprised of several tables, each with a different theme. Discussion proceeds simultaneously at all tables listed on each session. At each table the discussion leader(s) will introduce the topic and facilitate discussion among all the participants at the table.  

Regular Sessions - These sessions consist of presentations of four to five research papers that relate to the theme of the session, and time for feedback and discussion. 

Committee Meetings - While Divisional Meetings and Receptions are open to all members, committee meetings are only open to members of that particular committee unless stated otherwise in the in the program or by invitation by the committee.

Submitting a Paper Proposal

• You are free to submit papers to any session and attend any paper session 
• A person may appear in the program as sole author only once unless he or she is a student paper competition winner 
• Student paper competition winners may appear in the program as sole author twice 
• Look through the Call for Papers sessions and choose a 1^st choice session for the closest fit for your paper/extended abstract and then a 2^nd choice session for the next closest fit for your paper/extended abstract 
• If you cannot find two suitable sessions, the Program Committee may be able to place your presentation in the annual program.  

You should also study the Annual Meeting program announcements to see where you might submit a paper or initiate a session of your own.

• Typically, session proposals are submitted in the fall preceding the Call for papers deadline
•  Presenters must pre-register for the conference
•  Submissions are completed online through the association’s website
•  The deadline for submissions is January 31^st.

Attending the Annual Meeting

If you will be presenting a paper at the annual meeting,

• You will be required to be a member of the association and pre-register for the meeting
• Generally, pre-registration opens in the early spring and extends through the end of May before the annual meeting, which is typically held in August each year 
• Information on the meeting, the hotel, and other information can be found on our website 
• Payments are generally made online by credit card or forms can be printed from the website and submitted with a check 
• Travelers from outside the United States who are required to obtain a visa before entering the United States should plan accordingly and begin making arrangements well in advance 

Presenting a Paper at the Annual Meeting

While presenting an academic paper can evoke anxiety in even the most seasoned scholar, you will find SSSP to be a very hospitable environment while at the same time a place to obtain indispensable feedbackfrom experts in the field. SSSP encourages presenters to prepare their presentations for a heterogeneous audience that could include those who are visually or hearing impaired as well as individuals whose primary language is not English.