This list of questions and answers will be updated as we encounter more situations that need to be addressed. We ask for your patience while we work together to make the most equitable and inclusive decisions we possibly can.
Q: I already paid my registration fees. What will happen to my money?
A: Anyone who prepaid registration fees may request a refund, which will be returned to you in the method that you paid (e.g., check, credit card, PayPal, etc.). You also have the option of applying your registration payment to next year’s conference. If you choose this option, you will be able to attend the 2021 conference at this year’s rate—even if rates increase or your status changes from student to faculty. Finally, tenure-track faculty in the position to do so may consider donating this year’s registration fee to help offset the financial impacts related to cancelling. Any surplus could be used toward building more accessible and equitable options for remote participation in future ATTW conferences.
Q: How do I request a refund?
A: You should complete the ATTW refund preferences form by midnight (Eastern) on 3/31/2020. You will need to log in as a returning user with the email and password you established for your ATTW membership and conference registration. The form allows you to ask for a refund, move your payment to next year, or donate your fee to ATTW to offset this year’s costs–any surplus will be used toward building more accessible and equitable options for remote participation in future ATTW conferences. The form asks about conference registration, advertisements, sponsorships, the Women in TC luncheon, and research workshops.
Note: If you are making a request for an advertisement or sponsorship that was separate from any conference registration or member login, contact communications@attw.org with your request (refund, move to next year, donate to ATTW).
We are researching how long it may take to process these refunds, and we will update this information when we have it. Our service provider has notified us that our major contacts are out-of-the-office until April 1, 2020, so we appreciate your patience as we continue to follow up with them.
Q: What is the deadline for requesting a refund?
A: We ask that you fill out the request form by midnight (Eastern) on 3/31/2020. This will allow us to efficiently gather your information and get refunds out as quickly as we can.
Q: My institution purchased a program ad and/or sponsored conference events. Will we receive a refund?
A: You have the option of requesting a refund or applying your payment to next year’s conference. If you choose to apply this year’s payment, you will be guaranteed an ad in the 2021 program at the price you paid this year—even if prices increase between now and then. Please complete the ATTW refund preferences form to let us know what you prefer to do. If you are making a request for an advertisement or sponsorship that was separate from any conference registration or member login, contact communications@attw.org with your request (refund, move to next year, donate to ATTW).
Q: How do I get a refund for my research workshop?
A: Anyone who prepaid workshop fees may request a refund, which will be returned to you in the method that you paid (e.g., check, credit card, PayPal, etc.). You also have the option of applying your workshop payment to next year’s conference. Please complete the ATTW refund preferences form to let us know what you prefer to do.
Q: What if I prepaid to attend the Women in Technical Communication Luncheon?
A: You may request a refund or designate your ticket price as a donation to support future Women in TC events. Please complete the ATTW refund preferences form to let us know what you prefer to do.
Q:Can I still obtain the typical conference discount on books displayed at the conference?
Yes. Our partners at Routledge would like to offer members the same discount attendees at the conference would have received. Download this PDF for instructions on ordering your books at a 20% discount!
Q: What if I received the Graduate Research Award or Amplification Award for this year’s conference?
A: Congratulations! You will still receive this award. Brian Blackburne will be in touch to arrange payment. Your conference registration for next year’s conference will be waived and stay tuned for information on next year’s conference where you will be recognized at the awards reception.
Q: Can I request a refund for both the conference and the membership?
A: At this time, we are only processing refunds for conference registration. We are currently working on a process for providing refunds and gathering the information to do so. Thanks for your patience as we work on creating a method to handle this unexpected conference cancellation.
Q: When will all ATTW award winners be officially announced and recognized?
A: ATTW will officially announce the winners of the Graduate Research Awards, Amplification Awards, and Nell Ann Pickett Award, as well as the 2020 ATTW Fellows, via social media and listserv announcements on March 25, 2020. Formal recognition will transpire at the ATTW 2021 conference, along with the 2021 ATTW award winners and fellow(s).
Q: How will next year’s conference work? Will we need to re-submit our proposals next year or are we automatically on the program? Will we have the same research workshops?
A: We are currently prioritizing this year’s conference refunds. We don’t yet have specific information about next year’s conference or how programming will work. The Executive Committee will be working on these logistics in the weeks and months to come. All ATTW 2020 presenters and workshop participants will be notified when we have additional information to report. Thanks for your patience as we work on all of the logistics in response to this unexpected conference cancellation.
Q: If I choose to move my registration to next year, can I get a refund if I am not selected to present or am unable to attend?
A: Yes, you can. If you decide not to attend ATTW 2021, but you have applied your registration to it, you may request a refund by contacting communications@attw.org.
Q: Can I still include my acceptance for the 2020 conference on my CV? On my annual reviews/reports?
A: Yes, you can! You worked hard to write a compelling proposal in a highly competitive year (most proposals in history–we will work on an acceptance rate soon), so indicate on your CV that your proposal was accepted but that the conference was cancelled. We also encourage you to include this on your annual productivity reports; however, each institution of higher education has its own ways of valuing this labor.