Dear Members of the SACP,

I email you on behalf of the SACP Board of Directors. We solicit proposals for hosts for both our 2027 and 2028 annual conferences. Though we are open to proposals of all kinds, we especially invite proposals from these regions: the Americas for 2027 (i.e., North, Central, and South America), and Europe for 2027.

Here are some important bits of information to consider before volunteering to host an annual SACP conference:

• The conference should take place over the span of 3-4 consecutive days, and ideally between late-May and mid-August
• Expenses for the annual SACP conference can range from $12,000 to $25,000 USD. The SACP can cover some but not all of these costs.
• The SACP Board will work with the location hosts and make every effort to highlight speakers and topics that are of regional interest, as well as make other accommodations (such as running panels in the local language, spotlighting the work of graduate students and young scholars from the host country and region, etc.).
• While we will work together with the local host (as just described), the SACP reserves the right to make final decisions regarding the conference program, such as keynote speakers, the managing of the final program, and so on

Here are some key things that the Board will prioritize in making its decision for our conference locations.

• Essential Items:
  • provide rent-free space for our conference (including 3-5 rooms for concurrent panels)
  • provide a large space for keynote events for up to 125-175 audience members (depending on the number of conference participants and special guests)
  • provide other basic facilities (bathrooms, a room or hall for setting up registration tables, etc.)
  • provide some volunteer support (often students) to help run the conference (e.g., to direct conference participants to the correct locations, to set up and manage tech devices in presentation rooms, etc.)
  • provide print-outs of conference programs, tables for registration activities, and other basic needs
  • provide information for how to properly welcome conference participants (e.g., maps about the local area, advice on accommodations and places to eat, etc.)
• Bonus Items (not necessary, but much appreciated):
  • offer or help to facilitate free or affordable housing (e.g., dormitory rooms, local hotels) for conference participants
  • pay for 1 dinner (e.g., the Farewell Dinner) for conference participants
  • pay for 1 opening reception (to include drinks, finger foods, etc.)
  • organize social events that allow conference participants to appreciate and enjoy the local culture, arts, and other distinctive features of the host location and surrounding areas
  • provide basic advertising to the local area
  • provide free catering for coffee and snacks (in the early morning, late morning, and the afternoon)
  • provide free catering for lunch on one or more days of the conference

If you or someone you know is willing and able to host one of our upcoming conferences, and you believe that your host institution can provide the above “Essential Items” (and possibly even some of the “Bonus Items,” though this is not necessary), then please notify us prior to the start of our upcoming 2026 conference in Manipal, India, May 19-22. I request that you respond to the questions listed below at the end of this email, and send to me your reply at your earliest convenience, but not later than the start of our next annual conference.

At our in-person Business Meeting for the upcoming SACP conference, the Board will announce the nominated hosts, and we will discuss your concerns, questions, and other comments. If you cannot attend the Business Meeting in person but would like your views to be taken into account, then please email me prior to the start of our conference. Shortly after the conference ends, the SACP Board will then make a final decision about our 2027 host, and will begin more serious discussions with our candidate hosts for 2028. We will also discuss the theme for the 2027 conference at the upcoming Business Meeting.

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me or one of the other members of the SACP Board of Directors.

My best wishes,

Geoff Ashton
President, SACP 2025-2026
Professor of Philosophy, University of San Francisco

 

If you are able and interested to host an upcoming SACP annual conference, then please respond to the below questions:

 

Where is your university or institution located?

 

When would you be able to host the annual SACP conference? Our preferred rotation by year is as follows (though we may make some exceptions to this rotation, depending on various factors): 2026: Asia / 2027: the Americas / 2028: Europe / 2029: Asia, etc.

 

Do you have experience hosting major international conferences?

 

Are you able to host the annual SACP conference over a 4-day period between late-May and mid-August?

 

Expenses for the annual SACP conference can range from $12,000 to $25,000 USD. Would you have access to funds in this range, for putting on the conference?

 

While we will work together with the local host and appreciate their hospitality and hard work to help put on our annual conference, the SACP reserves the right to make final decisions regarding the conference program, such as keynote speakers, the managing of the final program, and so on. In the event that you are selected to host the SACP conference, do you agree to this?

 

Are you able to provide rent-free space for our conference (including 3-5 rooms for concurrent panels)?

 

Are you able to provide a large space for keynote events for up to 125-175 audience members (depending on the number of conference participants and special guests)?

 

Are you able to provide other basic facilities (bathrooms, a room or hall for setting up registration tables, etc.)?

 

Are you able to provide volunteer support (often students) to help run the conference (e.g., to direct conference participants to the correct locations, to set up and manage tech devices in presentation rooms, etc.)?

 

Are you able to provide print-outs of conference programs, tables for registration activities, and other basic needs?

 

Are you able to provide information for how to properly welcome conference participants (e.g., maps about the local area, advice on accommodations and places to eat, etc.)?

 

If necessary, are you able to assist with participants who need to obtain a VISA?

 

Are you able to assist with transportation to and from the local airport or train station?

 

Are you able to offer free or affordable housing (e.g., dormitory rooms, local hotels) for conference participants?

 

Are you able to provide or pay for 1-2 dinners (such as the Farewell Dinner) for conference participants?

 

Are you able to provide or pay for 1 opening reception (to include drinks, finger foods, etc.)?

 

Are you able to organize social events that help conference participants to appreciate and enjoy the local culture, arts, and other distinctive features of the host location and surrounding areas?

 

Are you able to provide basic advertising to the local area?

 

Are you able to provide free catering for coffee and snacks (in the early morning, late morning, and the afternoon)?

 

Are you able to provide free catering for lunch on one or more days of the conference?