Aug. 21-24, 2025 • Oregon State University • Corvallis, Oregon

International Attendees

This year’s conference theme is “Risk,” and we have been excited to review the many ways that our members have engaged with this subject in important paper, panel, roundtable, and stream proposals. As our CFP notes, the significance of risk as an idea “capable of perpetuating cycles of injustice and immiseration” has been thrown into relief by recent dizzying changes in U.S. policies regarding international relations, university research, climate change, DEI, and LGBTQ+ rights, to name only a few. These changes have raised understandable anxieties for our international colleagues, who may be wondering if attending a U.S. conference during these times is worth the risk. The SLSA organization and conference organizers respect and share your concerns, which is why we have decided to offer two different options for our international colleagues and friends:

  1. For those international colleagues who are not comfortable attending the conference in person, we offer a virtual option for presenting your work. Should you pursue this option, you will be able to attend all panel and keynote sessions via Zoom, enabling you to join the conversations that will take place during our four days in Corvallis. If you decide to pursue this option, please email the conference organizer, Raymond Malewitz, at [email protected] with this request. Please include “Virtual Option” in the subject line of your email. He and other conference organizers will work with you to ensure that your panel chair is prepared for your virtual presentation and will communicate with you closer to the conference date on how to access all talks at the conference. Please note that given the additional costs of adding a hybrid component to the conference, virtual registration rates will be the same as in-person registration rates.
  2. For those international colleagues who are considering attending the conference in-person, please be assured that Oregon is a safe and welcoming place that is committed to upholding the rights and dignities of all people. SLSA and the conference committee have reached out to leadership of a sister organization’s summer conference, the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment, to help to assemble a set of best practices for our own international, in-person attendees. Accordingly, we offer the following information and recommendations:
  • SLSA will provide an official invitation on organizational letterhead. Please email [Conference Email Address TBD] to receive this invitation.
  • We suggest that you carry this letter and your passport on you at all times.
  • We also suggest that attendees delete social media apps from all their devices before departing from their country.
  • Please remember that all of your belongings may be searched.
  • Upon passing customs, please send a quick email to [Conference Email Address TBD] so we know you have arrived safely.

International students traveling to SLSA from within the U.S. should consider carrying:

  • A valid passport
  • A valid F or J visa (required)
  • Valid travel signatures on your Form I-20/DS-2019 (required)
  • For F-1 students: a I-20 travel signature on page two that is less than 1 year old
  • For J -1 students: a DS-2019 travel signature on page 1, bottom right corner, that is less than 6 months old
  • Proof of connection to a U.S. university (course registrations and transcript copies would be helpful)
  • Evidence of funding

Some additional information for international travelers:

Regardless of which of the two options you choose, please know that we are committed to supporting you and your work before, during, and long after this year’s conference has passed. We are grateful to be a part of such a vibrant group of scholars and students and look forward to seeing you in-person or virtually in August!