Submission Guidelines and FAQs
Submission Guidelines
Submitting Your Project Proposal
Submissions for the 2024 conference are closed. Thank you to all who submitted to the 2024 conference! For those planning for next year's conference, proposals will be accepted between mid-January and mid-February.
Required Information
- Your name and BYUH email address.
- The name of your faculty mentor.
- The type of project that you are proposing.
- A 200-word abstract that describes your project or panel.
- Keywords related to your topic.
- Which field(s) of study best fit your project.
Abstract Criteria
All proposals should include a 200-word abstract that describes the project or panel. The conference committee will assess the abstracts and accept high-quality projects and panels that follow the content criteria outlined below.
For Panels
- Clearly describe the panel's focus, including the objectives and scope of the panel.
- Identify key themes and questions that the projects in the panel will explore.
- Explain how the panel contributes to conversations about your academic field(s) of study. Does it address a gap in existing knowledge? Present new perspectives? What is the significance and/or impact of your discussion?
- If applicable, conclude with a sentence that explains how the panel relates to the conference theme.
For Research Projects
- Clearly define a problem, opportunity, or debate in your field.
- Explain how your project addresses the problem.
- Define the specific material that you will examine in the project.
- Include a clear, original thesis statement/argument.
- If applicable, conclude with a sentence that explains how the project relates to the conference theme.
For Creative Projects
Students will be given an opportunity to perform, work in an art show, or read works of creative writing. Some selected works and performances will win prizes. To apply, please write a 200-word description of the work or performance you would like to do for the event. Your work doesn’t need to be ready until March 20. For now, all you need to do is submit a proposal. The theme of the conference this year is “He wa'a he moku, he moku he wa'a: The canoe is an island, the island is a canoe.” In your proposal, please describe the work or performance you would like to do and talk about how it relates to the conference theme. The conference theme is open to creative interpretation.
- If you are doing an art piece, please tell us the medium (paint, clay, digital, etc.), subject matter, size, and style in which the piece will be done. If your piece is selected you will be asked to create the piece and write a short (one or two-paragraph) written explanation of the meaning of the piece.
- If you plan on submitting a piece of writing, please include the genre (poetry, short story, essay), subject matter, and any other important information.
- If you are proposing to do a musical or dance performance please describe what the performance is about, if it will be performed by an individual or a group, and the length of the performance (5-10 minutes is preferable).
Creative proposals will be selected based on:
- Quality of the concept.
- How well does the proposed piece or performance align with the theme of the conference.
- How creative and innovative the proposed piece is.
For Performing Arts Projects
Students interested in performing arts projects should submit proposals that fall into one of the following categories:
- Traditional Research-Based Presentation: If choosing a traditional research-based presentation (e.g., musicology, theory, education, pedagogy, composition, technical theatre, directing, dramaturgy, playwriting), please highlight your research focus, methodology, and any significant findings. If applicable, mention how a live performance integrates with your presentation.
- Original Creative Work: If choosing an original composition, monologue, or play, please provide an overview of your piece and delve into the creative process. Discuss the themes, inspirations, and techniques employed. If your work will be presented through A/V clips or live performances, briefly describe this format.
- Performance with Spoken Program Notes: If focusing on performance, please outline the pieces you will perform and include insightful program notes for each. These notes should provide context, such as the history, significance, or personal connection to the pieces.
Students interested in entering their performing arts presentation for awards consideration can review the judging rubric on the CLAPA awards page.
Submitting Your Project for Awards Consideration
Each faculty unit on campus will present awards for excellent projects on all topics. Overall conference awards will also be given for projects that best address the conference theme.
To be considered for an award, your completed project must be submitted through the URC Canvas page by March 20. Awards will be announced during the conference closing ceremony at 4 pm on April 4.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do we have to have a faculty mentor and how do we get a faculty mentor?
A: Every student must have a mentor committed to working with them on their project and whom they will list on their proposal for the conference. They will not be accepted to the conference without listing a mentor who has agreed to work them on their project. Many programs have upper-level research projects that are led by a member of that faculty and so would be their mentor in this case. Otherwise, students need to talk to their professors, or a faculty member who has expertise in their topic to mentor them. Mentors can help students with their research, but primarily need to review the abstracts before submission and the student’s presentation before the day of the conference.
Q: Who are the faculty mentors for each unit and/or who can be a mentor?
A: Any adjunct or full-time faculty can be a mentor as long as he or she is willing to support students as they propose their abstract and to review their presentation before the day of the conference. Some students might require more help preparing for the conference than others so faculty should be mindful of this as they agree to mentor students.
Q: What resources are available to help me develop my proposal and project?
A: In addition to your faculty mentor, resources include a series of conference-focused workshops sponsored by the Joseph F. Smith Library.
Q: Do the proposals (abstracts) have to be about the conference theme?
A: No. While we are especially interested in projects that engage with the conference theme, we welcome proposals on all topics for the conference.
Q: What are project types?
A: Depending on your discipline, conventions for presenting academic work can look very different. Please consult with your faculty mentor and attend the library workshop series to decide on which project type best fits your topic and discipline.
- Paper presentations are 15-minute oral presentations of a research paper followed by five minutes of Q&A. Paper presentations will take place in groups of four during 75-minute panel sessions.
- Posters are 33"X44" visual representations of research that are displayed in a large room along with other posters during a poster session. Attendees ask presenters about their research as they browse the posters.
- Creative projects include visual arts displays, creative writing readings, multimedia, and performances (music, dance, theatre).
- Panels are 75-minute sessions that feature several individual presentations that all speak to the same topic, question, or theme. Usually, this looks like three or four thematically-related paper presentations followed by a discussion with the audience. However, alternative panel formats are welcomed pending discussion with the URC faculty representative in your academic area.
Q: What are keywords?
A: Academic keywords are words and concepts related to the topic of your project. They are usually nouns and can be single words or short phrases.
Q: What is the process that I can expect as a conference participant?
A: The general process for participating in the conference includes the following steps:
- Students decide on a project and secure a faculty mentor.
- Students develop and submit proposals before the February 21 deadline with help from their faculty mentor and the library workshop series.
- The conference committee reviews all submitted abstracts and sends an acceptance email to students with high-quality proposals on February 28.
- Students whose proposals are accepted are added to the URC Canvas course and work on completing their projects throughout the rest of February and March. Students should plan on reviewing their project with their mentor at least once before presenting.
- In early March, the conference committee publishes the conference schedule so that students know when and where they will be presenting their projects.
- Optional: for students who would like their project to be considered for an award, the completed project should be submitted through the URC Canvas course by March 20.
- In the days before the conference on March 30, students submit their projects and/or presentation aids through the URC Canvas course.
- On April 4, students attend their designated sessions to present their projects.
Q: What is meant by “current student”? Can recent alumni also participate? What about ITEP participants?
A: We allow submissions/participation from current students, current ITEP participants, and recent graduates (up to one year past graduation). However, only current students are eligible for awards.
Q: Is work done in previous semesters allowed?
A: Students can submit projects that they have also submitted to other classes in previous semesters; however, work submitted to past Undergraduate Research Conferences is not allowed.