If you cannot find the answer to your question below, please contact your poster fair organizer or Ursula Fox-Koor at 1.202.737.3699, ext. 2570 or posters[at]nafsa.org.
When do I find out if my poster proposal was accepted? The Annual Conference Committee will notify poster proposal submitters by e-mail in mid-February.
My poster proposal was accepted. What do I do now?
- Review the terms of acceptance included in the acceptance e-mail from posters[at]nafsa.org and in the online form (link included in the acceptance e-mail), and agree to present using the online form by February 28, 2012.
- Begin planning your poster: what information, materials, and images would you like to include? How will you present the information effectively and in a visually appealing way?
- Update your poster fair organizer and NAFSA staff (posters[at]nafsa.org) of any changes to your presentation or copresenters by February 28, 2012. Changes after that date must still be reported to NAFSA staff but may not be reflected in printed promotional materials distributed on site.
- Register for the conference and reserve housing, available online beginning March 1, 2012, at 12 p.m. (EST).
- Create your poster and handouts and rehearse how you will explain the most important points of your display to attendees.
How many people can present a single poster? The Annual Conference Committee has determined that no more than three people can present a single poster.
How should I design my poster? Posters should be visually appealing and readable from a distance. Avoid large blocks of text and small fonts: visual representations of information (such as graphs, charts, pictures, and objects) are generally more effective than text in the poster format. Remember that you will be standing next to your poster during the fair and will be able to explain its content to attendees verbally. You may provide textual explanations in a handout that attendees can take home. Please print on both sides of the paper.
The following link provides lots of information to help you design an effective and attractive poster:
Creating Effective Poster PresentationsMicrosoft PowerPoint, Adobe Illustrator, or Adobe InDesign can all be used to create a professional quality display.
View instructions for making a poster using PowerPoint. How big should the poster be? The bulletin board to which you will pin your poster is 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide by 4 feet (1.2 meters) tall. You should try to use as much of that space as possible.
When will my fair take place? The poster fair schedule will be available in late January.
Where do the poster fairs take place? All of the fairs except the Unique Uses of Technology and Social Media in International Education Fair will be held in the Expo Hall at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
How will the space be set up? The room will contain several rows of tables with bulletin boards standing behind them. Each poster is allotted one table and one bulletin board. The technology fair will be set with high tables and will not have bulletin boards.
Learn more about the set-up of the Technology Fair (370kb
)
Do I need to register for the conference? All poster presenters are expected to register for the conference.
I will need a visa to attend the conference. Can I get a letter from NAFSA to support my application? Yes. If you need an invitation letter to obtain a visa,
request your letter by April 30, 2012. Please check with your local U.S. Consulate to allow sufficient time for visa processing.
Your request for a letter of invitation to attend the NAFSA Annual Conference does not guarantee that you will receive a visa. I won't be able to present my poster. What do I do? Notify your poster fair organizer and NAFSA staff by e-mailing posters[at]nafsa.org.
It is imperative that you notify NAFSA at the e-mail address above if you will be unable to attend your fair so that we can adjust plans accordingly. No changes can be made to the printed fair programs distributed on site after March 1, 2012. (However, changes should still be sent to posters[at]nafsa.org, so that the correct names will be listed online.)
When will general instructions be sent to me? In the spring your poster fair organizer will contact you via e-mail with general instructions about what will happen on site and what you'll need to do. S/he will answer any outstanding questions you may have. You should always feel free to contact your poster fair organizer should you have any questions about your poster content at any time.
What do I need to bring with me? What will NAFSA provide? NAFSA will provide you with a standing bulletin board behind a rectangular-draped table. You should bring your poster, pushpins or tape to secure it to the bulletin board, a table covering or drape if you choose, and any materials you plan to hand out.
Can I ship my materials to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston? No. If you wish to ship materials, please send them to the hotel where you will be staying.
Where can I make copies of my materials? There is a business center located on the second floor of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
Can I plug in a computer or other electrical device for my poster? No. Electrical outlets will not be available for use.
Will Internet access be available during the fairs? Wireless internet access will not be available in the Expo Hall.
