October 21-22, 2021 Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI.

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 BY 5PM (EST)

*To complete your abstract submission, you must also include a pdf copy of your abstract to neacsmfreecomm@gmail.com by the deadline stated above.

*If you are a student, to complete this form you will need an attestation from the Faculty Sponsor (see below).

There are 2 general categories for submission, STUDENT and PROFESSIONAL:

STUDENT submissions are from original research, case studies, or experiential learning completed in a Bachelors, Masters, or Doctoral program. Students have one year from graduation from a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral program to present in that category.

PROFESSIONAL submissions are from faculty, researchers, practitioners, and clinicians (e.g. PhD, MD, DO, PT, OT, Athletic Trainers, Physical Trainers). Professional submissions may be from original research or case studies.

GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS (Student and Professional): Please carefully read over the instructions listed here and then complete the 2021 NEACSM ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM, providing the information requested in the next section.

1. The primary focus and substance of the submitted abstract must be novel. The abstract must not have been published or presented as an abstract or a full paper in a retrievable or readily available scientific, medical, or professional publication. Abstracts presented first at the NEACSM meeting may later be presented at another meeting, as abstracts will not be published.

2. Each individual is permitted to be first author on only one abstract, but may co-author several abstracts. The first author should be the applicant and must present the abstract.

3. If multiple abstracts are being submitted from the same study/project, in order to be eligible for presentation, each abstract should be uniquely written for title, purpose, methods, results, and conclusion, and relate directly to the stated purpose.

4. Only electronic submissions will be accepted. Late applications WILL NOT be accepted.

5. Upon receipt by the Free Communications Committee, the applicant will receive a "submission received" notification.

6. Detailed guidelines for the abstract, including a checklist and sample abstract are found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lgvoYQ1nEoR9vQMnj8Ic33r3e3nFbVic/view?usp=sharing

7. Abstract presenters will have the option of selecting a poster or oral/slide presentation (preference can be indicated on the abstract submission form); please note that students who are selected to present as part of the Student Investigator Award competition will be required to deliver an oral presentation.

The Free Communications Committee will do their best to accommodate preference, however, they will make the final determination of format.

STUDENT INVESTIGATOR AWARD COMPETITION INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES:
In addition to the following guidelines, review the participant eligibility checklist at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_swH6ILEMc4ISRMctnvfSIO5RuRVRhXp/view?usp=sharing

1. If you would like your abstract to be considered for the Student Investigator Award Competition, you must denote this on the abstract submission form.

2. Students competing in the Student Investigator Award Competition (Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral) must be a member of, and in good standing within (i.e., dues are paid through Oct 2021) NEACSM.

* Important: NEACSM membership is separate from a National ACSM membership. Please verify the status of your NEACSM membership by logging onto your ACSM profile at https://www.acsm.org/ and by clicking the "My Chapters" tab. Your active regional chapter membership will display here, and the expiration date is located in the left most column (directly below the National membership expiration date).

3. Participants must be willing and able to attend the NEACSM Fall 2021 Conference.
IMPORTANT: The NEACSM Fall 2021 Conference will be held in-person.

4. The student competition category (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral) should be based on the academic program the student was enrolled in when the work was completed. If currently a Master’s student and presenting work done while in a Bachelor’s program, the competition category chosen should be Bachelor’s. This is true for Doctoral students presenting work done in a Master’s program or a Doctoral graduate presenting work done while a Doctoral degree student. Students have one year from graduation from a Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctoral program to present in that category.

5. Students who have previously received a Student Investigator Award in a specific category (e.g., Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral) are NOT eligible to compete for an award again in the same category (a previous Master’s winner may compete for Doctoral award but not a Master’s award).

6. Student Investigator Award Competition submissions must represent the student’s ideas and work.
a. Complete the “Student Description of Research Contribution and Faculty Attestation” (Note: To be eligible for the competition, a student must have initiated the research questions, objectives and/or aims). If more information is needed, please complete the optional description of the student’s specific role (no more than 100 words).
b. Both the mentor/advisor and the student must confirm the student contribution to the research described in the abstract and sign the application form.
c. If this section is not complete, the student will be ineligible for the Student Investigator Award Competition.

7. The Free Communications Committee will assign each submitted abstract to the Abstract Review Committee, who will judge each abstract based on a standard criteria (listed below).

Written abstracts will be scored 1-5 (5 being highest possible score) on the following criteria:

I. Significance and Innovation: How well the project relates to the mission statement of ACSM; novelty and use of new methodologies, under-investigated populations, addressing emerging problems, etc.

II. Research Design: Ability of the methodologies used to address research question and hypothesis; appropriate use of design and statistics to test hypothesis

III. Results: Appropriate selection and presentation of critical key data

IV. Interpretation/Translation: Appropriate and clear conclusions from findings

8. Notifications of the abstract judging results are expected to be sent out by Friday, October 1, 2021.

9. The top 3 highest rated written student abstracts in each competition category (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral) will be selected to present oral/slide presentations as Student Investigator Award Competition finalists at the NEACSM Fall Meeting occurring from October 21-22, 2021.

10. The Student Investigator Award Competition finalists will each perform a 15 minute oral/slide presentation, evaluated by a panel of judges. The winner for each category (Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral) will be determined from the highest rated oral/slide presentation score.

Oral/slide presentations will be scored 1-5 (5 being the highest possible score) on the following criteria:

I. Presentation Content: Description of the research project is clear and includes intro/background, methods, results, summary/conclusion

II. Presentation and Communication Skills: Clarity, elocution, and projection

III. Quality of visuals: Clarity of the figures and tables to explain methods and results as appropriate

IV. Ability to answer questions: Ability of the student to articulate and explain knowledge as well as demonstrate critical thinking

11. Winners of the student competition will be awarded $500 in the Doctoral category, $500 in the Master’s category, and $500 in the Bachelor’s category.

12. Students who are not selected as finalists will be provided with the opportunity to present in a moderated oral poster session (similar to the “thematic” poster sessions at the ACSM National meeting) or a traditional poster session.

PRESIDENT'S CUP COMPETITION INFORMATION:

1. If you are a graduate student in the Student Competition and you would NOT like to be considered for the President’s Cup Competition, you must OPT OUT on the abstract submission form.

2. Students must be a currently enrolled graduate student at the time of the 2021 Fall NEACSM Meeting and must be willing and able to present in a poster competition at the 2022 ACSM National Annual Meeting held from May 31-June 4 in San Diego, CA.

3. The top rated written abstract presented by a graduate student will be awarded the President's Cup.

Note: The President’s Cup winner may not necessarily be the same as the winner in the Student Investigator Master’s or Doctoral Master’s or Doctoral category due to different scoring criteria and eligibility. See NEACSM President's Cup Competition Participant Eligibility Criteria Checklist here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_swH6ILEMc4ISRMctnvfSIO5RuRVRhXp/view?usp=sharing

4. The winner of the President's Cup competition will represent the New England chapter at the 2022 ACSM National Annual Meeting in a poster competition held May 31-June 4 in San Diego, CA. The winner will be awarded a $1,200 travel allowance and registration fee waiver for the ACSM National Annual meeting.

Please direct questions to the Free Communications Committee at
neacsmfreecomm@gmail.com