Call for Proposals for the
AAALGrads Newsletter Spring 2026 Issue
Call​ ​for​ ​Proposals ​for​ the ​AAAL​Grads​ ​Newsletter (Spring 2026)
We’re delighted to welcome submissions for the Spring 2026 issue of the AAALGrads Newsletter. If you’re conducting a new or ongoing research, reflecting on your graduate school experience, or love to share your perspectives on current issues in our field, we’d love to feature your work. The newsletter provides a great platform to connect with peers, showcase your ideas, and contribute to meaningful conversations within our community.
Please review the list of available submission formats below and consider sending in your proposal. Selected contributions will appear in the Spring 2026 issue, scheduled for publication in mid-March.
Possible Submission Formats
We extend our call to include Feature Articles, Resource Reviews (e.g., books and technological tools), Creative Corner pieces (e.g., poetry, art, and video), short “how to” or “what I wish someone had told me” blurbs for the Professional Development Corner, and opinion pieces on topics affecting the AAALGrads community. Please refer to the provided examples for each submission format, but note that submissions are not limited to the presented examples. Additional examples can be found in past issues of the newsletter.
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Feature Article. A feature article should be 750-1,500 words. It should address and critically develop a question or idea relevant to the AAALGrads community. Feature articles can report on empirical research, take a theoretical perspective, or share completed projects and administrative or service work.
Example:
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Professional Development Corner. Blurbs for the Professional Development Corner are 500-1,000-word “how to” or “what I wish someone had told me” reports by advanced graduate students. The format can take several shapes, such as, but not limited to: a short narrative of a successful strategy, a “do’s and don’ts” list, or a flowchart. The goal of this newsletter section is to give graduate students adequate support and guidance as they navigate their graduate careers. In that vein, please maintain a professional tone and positive outlook. Please, do not refer to institutions, departments, or individual people by name.
Example:
Ahmadi, S. A. (2023). Strategic Metacognitive Awareness of a Doctoral Student. AAALGrads, 8(1),
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Resource Review. A resource review should be about 500-1,000 words. It should critique material (e.g., books, textbooks, technological tools, or a website) that might be helpful to graduate students , especially ones published in recent years. You are expected to have read and/or used the material before you write your review. For your proposal, please include a brief summary of the resource and your opinion of its helpfulness for graduate students.
Example:
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Creative Corner. The Creative Corner is a section designed to showcase the creativity and diverse experiences of graduate students in our field. In addition to short essays, submissions in this section may include poetry, visual art/photography, and/or a high-quality video related to graduate student life. In your proposal, please be sure to describe the submission format (e.g., 25 MB .mp4 video). Reflections on personal experiences are encouraged. Taking a small step to acknowledge the current changes at the AAAL 2024 conference, we are pleased to announce that the Creative Corner now accepts submissions in languages other than English. If you choose to submit your work in a language other than English, please indicate the language used for the final submission and provide a brief explanation in English. Text-based creative submissions (poetry/essays) may be up to 1000 words. All submissions may be accompanied by a description of no more than 500 words.
Example:
Marino, F. (2023). Looking for my niche. AAALGrads, 8(1), 23-26.
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Trending Topics Forum. This forum gives you the opportunity to share your opinion on current issues, events, or topics affecting the AAALGrads community. Opinion pieces allow you to take a stance on a topic, share personal experiences, or issue a call to action. In your proposal, please be sure to describe the relevance of this issue to members of our community. Submissions to the Trending Topics Forum should be 500-1,000 words.
Guidelines for Proposals, Submission, and Timeline
Your proposal should...
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be approximately 300 words
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provide your name, department and institution, degree, and area of study
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identify the type of submission (Feature Article, Professional Development Corner, Resource Review, Creative Corner, or Trending Topics Forum)
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include an overview/description of your submission
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confirm your ability to commit to the timeline (provided below)
Proposals​ ​will be collected through this Google Form and are due by Monday, January 19th, 2026 @ 11:59 PM Eastern Time. You can submit a proposal if you are a current grad student or recent graduate. You do not have to be a current AAAL member.
Please review the timeline listed below to ensure that, should your proposal be selected for inclusion in the issue, you don't foresee any major issues following it.
Tentative Timeline for Spring 2026
Monday, January 19th
Proposals are due by 11:59 PM Eastern Time.
Wednesday, January 28th
Authors notified of acceptance.
Thursday, February 5th
The first draft of the manuscript is due.
Thursday, February 12th
Editors provide feedback to authors on first drafts.
Thursday, February 19th
Revised drafts are due.
Tuesday, February 24th
Editors provide additional feedback, if necessary.
Monday, March 2nd
Final drafts of manuscripts are due. Authors provide a short biography and headshot.
Thursday, March 5th
Editors return the final draft with proofs.
Wednesday, March 9th
Authors respond to proofs.
Kindly note that this schedule is subject to change if deemed necessary
For questions or inquiries, please reach out to the newsletter co-editors at aaalgrads@gmail.com.