February 2023

New to the 2023 Annual Meeting this year, all AERA division, and SIG business meetings will be accessible to all unit members, whether they are attending in Chicago or virtually, or not attending at all. In-person business meeting attendees will have the same opportunities for networking as at previous meetings.

“We are very pleased to be able to expand inclusiveness at business meetings while still giving units the opportunity to hold social events for informal interaction and networking with new and old colleagues at all career stages,” said AERA Executive Director Felice J. Levine.

This innovation of open access to business meetings for all members, first announced in the September 2022 issue of Highlights, is maximally inclusive and will be covered by AERA resources at no additional cost to any unit. It provides all divisions and SIGs with ungated access to and engagement, via Zoom, with all of their respective members whether or not they will be present at the place-based meeting.

At the meeting in Chicago, SIG business meetings will be held throughout the four-day Annual Meeting schedule during regular session time slots in one of AERA’s headquarter hotels. Because SIG business meetings will be held during the day, they have the option to hold a separate reception in the evening. This scheduling change also works to eliminate conflicts with division business meetings (which will be held in the evenings) and to reduce the number of conflicts among SIG business meetings.

Division and SIG leaders who have not yet arranged a reception, but would like to, should contact catering@aera.net by March 3.