TCCC Endorsement

The TCCC endorses meetings in support of IEEE ComSoc technical cosponsorship. Please see the ComSoc website for their procedures on applying for ComSoc technical cosponsorship. TCCC reviews applications for ComSoc technical cosponsorship as a regular part of that process, but we will also provide early feedback for applicants in advance of their submitting formally to the ComSoc.

Note that TCCC endorsement by itself is never provided; we provide early intent to endorse meetings submit through the ComSoc process. TCCC endorsement must not be indicated until ComSoc technical cosponsorship has been granted.

Rules for TCCC endorsement:

• like the ComSoc technical cosponsorship, TCCC endorsement is granted to events on a per-instance basis; repeated events (e.g., of a series) must reapply for each new instance

• like the ComSoc, TCCC does not permit meetings to identify themselves as "pending" TCCC endorsement, nor should they use TCCC or IEEE logos until endorsement and in-cooperation with the ComSoc has been granted

• like the ComSoc, TCCC expects requests for endorsement to be made in sufficient advance of the meeting.

• TCCC endorsement is intended for meetings whose primary focus is computer communications (including meetings bridging computer communications with disparate fields)

• TCCC reiterates the purpose of endorsement, which, as noted on the ComSoc sponsorship application, include:
  
  "The endorsement helps to ensure that the technical program falls within the committee's scope, that there is a quality, independent peer review process for paper selection, and that three members of the ComSoc TC will be active members of the event's technical program committee."
  

As a result, TCCC determines responses to requests for endorsement based on the following criteria:

a) the meeting is in-scope for TCCC

b) that the meeting has a peer review process in which every submission* receives at least three substantive and independent reviews

*excepting only those declined due to process (format, late, etc.) or scope (widely out of scope, or widely out of context for a technical meeting)

b) the meeting has an appropriate TPC

c) the meeting is demonstrably non-profit

d) the meeting has an acceptance rate and acceptance rate history (where applicable) appropriate to the meeting type

e) the request is made in advance of all aspects of the meeting TCCC shall specifically require the application be received at least two months prior to the deadline for the initial due date for responses to the call for participation for any part of the meeting (papers, posters, panel chairs, track/symposium topics, tutorials, etc.)

f) TCCC shall be permitted to select or appoint three TPC members to monitor and report back on the above points, (or shall approve three existing TPC members who are TCCC members, at the TCCC's discretion)

• The requirements for submitting a request for TCCC endorsement consists of sending a copy of the following information to any TCCC officer:

  • date and location information

  • info on the two most recent meetings

    • number of submissions

    • accept rate (percent accepted)

    • amount of time on reviewed submissions vs other i.e., invited papers, speakers, panels

    • number of reviews per paper

    • names, affiliations, and locale of the following:

      • general chair

      • program chair

      • TPC members

    •  description of the focus of the meeting (1 paragraph or a draft call for papers)

      •  description of the components of the meeting i.e., fraction of the meeting time on each of:

        • reviewed submissions

        • invited submissions

        • panels

        • invited speakers

        • co-located workshops, demos, etc.

      • description of the review process
        number of reviewers, paper length, approx.
        intended acceptance rate
        - description of the budget overheads of the meeting
        i.e., non-profit status, extent of support to parent/sponsoring entity
        - brief description of why TCCC endorsement is requested

• If endorsement is granted to an event, we offer:

  • The meeting may indicate TCCC endorsement ("Endorsed by TCCC") on the primary meeting web pages, the proceedings, and other promotional material (e-mails, paper announcements, etc.), after the meeting receives ComSoc in-cooperation status.

  • The meeting site / publications may include the TCCC logo, after the meeting receives ComSoc in-cooperation status.

  • TCCC will cross-list info on the meeting on our web pages, and note our endorsement at our meetings

  •  (As of March 2010) TCCC will, through its conference monitor in communication with the meeting's TCCC representative, ensure the following:

    •  The meeting included mostly peer-reviewed papers

    • The peer review process was rigorous, e.g., three detailed reviews for each submitted paper

    •  Selection of accepted papes was determined by the technical program committee through email discussions and/or a program committee meeting

    • Most paper presentations where made by an author of the paper - Invited papers were included in conference proceedings

• During the period of TCCC endorsement of an event, we expect the following:

  • The meeting shall notify the TCCC on any significant changes to info provided in the application (at which point the application will be re-reviewed)

  • The meeting shall allow for 3 TCCC members on the TPC, to be confirmed after endorsement is determined. TPC members already in TCCC may, at the discretion of TCCC, be selected for this purpose. The appointed members will report back to the TCCC on the paper review process and file a brief (1 paragraph) report to the email list.

Regarding any changes to a meeting once endorsed:

• Once a TC endorses a meeting, the representatives to that meeting should be tracking and reporting back on substantive changes to process
  or organization (large increase/change in the TPC, large number of additional side-meetings, etc.)

• It is understandable to add workshops, tutorials, or other side meetings after endorsement/support is determined, but these should be commensurate with being ancillary (side meetings shouldn't overtake the core meeting goals), and related to the core meeting

• If proceedings of the side meetings is intended to be available via Xplore, that general decision needs to be made at the time of endorsement/support.

• If details of such meetings are known at the time of endorsement, then the decision of endorsing the meeting will be contingent on endorsing its side meetings.

• If the details of such meetings are to be decided post endorsement, then the TCCC reserves the right to decide on endorsement of side meetings on a per-side-meeting basis, and the endorsement of the core meeting is made agreeing to this right.

• Any changes that result in ComSoc withdrawal of technical cosponsorship will result in TCCC withdrawal of endorsement. Any changes that result in TCCC withdrawal of endorsement will result in a report to the ComSoc and recommendation that they withdraw technical cosponsorship.