Academic Festival

The annual Academic Festival, held at the end of every academic year and organized by the Committee for Undergraduate Research, is the culmination of all the activities related to undergraduate research at the University.

Academic Festival

The 2025 Academic Festival was held on April 25, 2025. Visit the Festival's Digital Commons webpage to see the 2025 student research projects.

Awards

Awards and prizes will be given in the following categories:

Best Writing

For the best-written paper (analysis of existing research; experimental project; interview, survey, or ethnographic project; creative work or portfolio; or textual analysis). Criteria include: purpose, performance of language, adherence to standard writing expectations and rhetorical practices, accuracy of citation style (APA, MLA, Chicago).

Best Multidisciplinary Research or Collaboration

For projects that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries with regard to the question or problem it considers, the methodology it employs, or its conclusions or implications, especially for groups of students from different Colleges or major areas of study.

Best Visuals

The most visually appealing poster, especially related to the sense of scale in the elements, breathing space and color palette.

Most Creative

For projects that are unique or innovative with regard to their research questions, method or approach, suggested applications and presentation or style.

Most Scholarly Impact or Potential

Criteria include: how the study fills the gaps in the literature, the quality of the research design or question, and the likely implications for the field or field of study. Special consideration will be given to research that has been presented at or accepted for a conference or submitted to or accepted by a journal.

Best Technology Prototype

Prototype needs to be functional either physically or electronically. Examples include but not limited to phone apps, websites and contraptions.