Academic Submissions
Maximum Number of Academic Submissions Allowed
Students
Eligible students include: Sigma Tau Delta active members in good standing, Sigma Kappa Delta members, and Transfer Students as Provisional Members of Sigma Tau Delta.
one (1) paper in any of these categories: original critical essay, creative nonfiction, poetry collection, original prose (short story, flash fiction, drama, or screenplay);
one (1) additional paper submission on the Common Reader: Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward;
one (1) additional submission for a roundtable presentation session; and
one (1) additional submission for a Research in the Round table host.
Alumni Members
Alumni members are members of Sigma Tau Delta who have an undergraduate degree and are not currently pursuing an advanced degree in English or a related field at a school with an active Sigma Tau Delta chapter.
one (1) paper in any of these categories: original critical essay, creative nonfiction, poetry collection, original prose (short story, flash fiction, drama, or screenplay);
one (1) additional paper submission on the Common Reader: Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward; and
one (1) additional submission for a roundtable presentation session.
Faculty Members
Roundtables are the only type of presentation works faculty members may submit.
Submission Name
Due to software limitations, submitters cannot use pen names. Submitters must use the names associated with their membership.
Strategies and Tips
Hints for Successful Paper Submissions
Convention Submissions Portal
The Convention Submissions Portal will be added when submission open on September 22, 2025.
To gain access to the Submissions Portal for the 2026 Convention, you must first verify your membership status. Follow the link below to the Membership Verification screen, where you will be prompted to enter information about your affiliation with Sigma Tau Delta before you submit a critical or creative paper, roundtable proposal, or Research in the Round table host proposal.
Convention Submissions Portal
Convention Registration
Everyone attending the convention, including presenters and roundtable participants, must register for the convention. Convention registration will open Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Questions
Email convention staff at englishconvention@niu.edu with questions.