Undergraduate Humanities Conference

Overview

6th Annual Undergraduate Humanities Conference

January 23-24, 2025 | USF Marshall Student Center 3707

The USF Humanities Institute is planning the 6th Annual Undergraduate Humanities Conference taking place in January 2025. Check out the timeline below for important dates and deadlines. More information on the upcoming conference will be available in August. 

Open to all USF undergraduate students, this conference provides great experience for employment, graduate school, and to prepare for future conference presentations. Support from HI staff is available to help students prepare. Please view the Frequently Asked Questions for common questions and more details. Projects can be presented in three formats: 

Paper for Panel Discussion  
The classic presentation method for most us. 8-10 minute oral presentation on a research paper. 
Creative Projects
Original works of fiction, poetry, visual art, etc. to be presented in a panel session or on display at the poster session. 
Poster Session
Students provide a visual representation of their research to display during the entire 2-day conference. A 1-hour poster session will take place each day of the conference in which students will stand by their poster and discuss their research with conference attendees. We ask students to participate in at least 1 of the poster session days.

Conference presenters

Timeline

  • Applications Open

    October 1, 2024

    The online application will be available October 1. This is when students are asked to submit a brief abstract of their project. All application questions can be found in the FAQ section.

  • Early-bird Application Due

    November 8, 2024

    Submit your application early to receive a decision email within 2 business days.

  • Standard Application Deadline

    December 6, 2024

    All applications must be submitted on Friday, Dec. 6 to be reviewed for the conference.

  • Decision Emails

    December 13, 2024

    Decision emails to all applicants will be sent mid-December.

  • Preparation Sessions

    January 2025

    "Open-house" preparation sessions will be scheduled to give students the opportunity to ask questions about the conference.

  • Undergraduate Humanities Conference

    January 23-24, 2025

    2-day conference located on the 3rd floor of the USF Marshall Student Center. This conference is free and open to the public. Details will be available as the conference approaches.

    • frequently asked questions

    What information do I need for my application?

    When you're ready to apply, here's what we'll ask for in the application:

    • Name
    • Email
    • Major(s)
    • Campus
    • Presentation Format (Poster Session, Paper for Panel Discussion, Creative Project)
    • Research category 
    • Title of project
    • Are you eating lunch at the conference? (Free breakfast and lunch is provided to student conference presenters)

    • Student Scholar Biography (see "What goes into my biography?" for more details. ~100 words max./ 3-4 sentences)

    • Abstract (PDF file upload)
      • (200 words max.) This is where you submit a brief summary of your project or research. Even if your project is not complete yet, you can still submit a general overview for application purposes. Writing the abstract in future tense may help. Please include your name and project title in the abstract. 

    Do I have to be a humanities major to participate?

    No. All majors are welcome.

    Can I apply with a group project or paper?

    Yes. You can now apply to the conference as a group on one single application.  *Please only list the group members in the application who plan to attend the conference. You can acknowledge your group members in the project, but not all need to participate in the conference. If you are doing a panel presentation, please designate 1 person to present. If you are doing a poster, 2-3 group members may have room to stand by the poster. 

    How do I make a poster?

    You can design a 36" x 48" poster on Powerpoint (Design> Slide Size> Custom Slide Size> H: 36" x W: 48"). A poster layout example will be made available for reference.

    Print your poster at the USF Library (first floor) or the USF Print Center in the Marshall Student Center.

    Drop off posters at the Humanities Institute office (CPR 474 - Cooper Hall 4th Floor) by Tuesday, Jan. 21 or bring your poster to the conference to hang up. Velcro stickers are provided. 

    Does my project need to be complete at the time of application?

    No. An abstract is sufficient for the application, giving students plenty of time to complete their work before the conference. Students are encouraged to apply with an existing midterm or final project or research that may still be in progress during the Fall semester. By the time January comes, students will have a more developed or finished project to present. 

    I graduate in December. Can I still participate?

    Yes!

    What goes into my biography?

    The biography is a few sentences that describes your academics interests, course of study, and future plans. Please write your biography in 3rd person and limit it to 3-5 sentences (~100 words).

    Example: "Jane is a National Merit Scholar student studying English and Sociology. She is involved in Club Volleyball and is president of the no name club. Jane is a Junior and plans to attend graduate school in North Dakota."

    I've never participated in a conference before and am not sure if I should apply. How do I know if I'm ready?

    You’re ready! Nearly everyone will be presenting their research for the first time, so you’re in good company. The Humanities Institute staff is here to help you plan and prepare if you need help. The conference is designed to be professional, but supportive and fun for new scholars.

    I'm from the St. Petersburg or Sarasota-Manatee campus. Can I participate?

    Yes! Undergraduate students from all campuses are invited to apply. If transportation is an obstacle to participating in the conference in-person on the Tampa campus, please contact Liz Kicak.

    If I have a class scheduled, should I miss it to attend the conference?

    If your presentation time conflicts with a class, you should inform your instructor right away to see if they can support you in this opportunity to present at the conference. For further assistance or if you cannot present at your original scheduled time, please contact Liz Kicak. 

    I can no longer attend the conference. Who do I need to notify?

    If you are unable to attend the conference, please contact Liz Kicak as soon as possible so we can adjust the conference schedule and remove you from the program. 

    Will there be food at the conference?

    Yes, conference presenters are provided FREE breakfast and lunch both days, including coffee and tea throughout the day. Please indicate in your application if you plan to eat at the conference so we know how much food to order. Also indicate any dietary restrictions in your application submission. 

    what's next?

    Students who present at the Undergraduate Humanities Conference often go on to present at other USF conferences, the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference, and the Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium hosted by Johns Hopkins.

    Interested in receiving funding to present at one of these conferences? Contact Liz Kicak to receive more information on how the Humanities Institute can support your research.

    Please direct any further questions or requests to Liz Kicak.