Call for Participants

CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS 2025

Hello, student scholars! Are you doing great work in one of your English & Communication classes? Get feedback on your projects at the Student Research Conference, a high-energy affair of panel discussions and poster presentations by UMass Dartmouth students. The English & Communication Department invites submissions to this eighth annual conference on Thursday, April 24, 2025 from 3:30–5:30 pm.

To be considered, submit your proposal by Tuesday, April 15 We will announce the conference schedule by April 18.

PRESENTATION FORMATS  |  To participate, choose from one of these formats:

  • Panel Discussion: In a panel discussion, presenters give a 5-minute overview of their work and ask for feedback from the audience. Before the conference, you will be grouped by topic into a session. To prepare, draft your paper and then revise it as a draft meant to be read aloud. Remember the goal is to work through your ideas and to elicit feedback from the audience.
  • Poster Presentation: In a poster presentation, presenters develop a digital infographic or poster about their projects. During the poster session, all presenters stand in front of their digital infographics or posters. Attendees circulate, ask presenters questions, and discuss ideas. For more info on the Poster Presentation, review these guidelines.

With both panel discussions and posters, remember to engage people actively —getting feedback on your ideas is your main purpose. Use these resources for inspiration:

CRITERIA  |  Please note the following criteria for acceptance:

  • Each student is limited to presenting one panel discussion or poster presentation
  • Undergraduate presentations should be for a course that counts towards the English & Communication degree
  • Work presented should be scholarship-based, incorporating primary or secondary resources to ground analysis and arguments
  • Graduate student projects should be completed for a course in the MPWC program (ENL 501 and above)

SUBMISSIONS  |    To submit a proposal, go to the Proposal Submission Form. You will be asked for the following:

  • Title of presentation
  • Format: Panel Discussion or Poster Presentation
  • Short description of your project that includes the following:
    • Guiding question and/or working thesis statement
    • Concise description of your goals for the project
  • Affiliated course and instructor’s or advisor’s name

TIMELINE

  • April 15: Proposals Due
  • April 18: Conference Schedule Announced
  • April 24: Conference