Questions and Answers
In order to better serve the students participating in the Student Conference, a list of the most commonly asked questions has been compiled below. For questions not addressed in the responses below, please contact Teresa Andrews at tandrews@iu.edu.
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate students
- Recent graduates (i.e., December graduates)
Yes, graduate students are welcome to participate in the student conference. Most graduate students present virtually on Wednesday evening or in-person on Thursday evening.
Student who graduated the previous December are welcome to participate in the conference.
There are many reasons to participate in the student conference, including the opportunity to showcase your academic achievements and contribute to the scholarly community. Participating in the student conference allows you to apply theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom to a real-world context, enhancing your understanding of the research process. It can enhance your resume and be impressive for graduate schools or future employers. In addition, there is potential for awards and additional recognition of your achievements.
We will accept nearly any project that showcases your best work during the academic year. Students often share the information in a paper or presentation completed for a class or the work that was the outcome of independent projects. They have also presented artwork, creative writing, dramatic readings, and musical compositions.
The conference is always scheduled the last full week of classes in the spring semester. Typically, this is the Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday of the third week in April.
Typically, the Wednesday and Thursday evening sessions are in the 5 pm to 8 pm time range, and the Friday morning session is typically from 9 am to 1 pm. See the schedule for exact timing.
The deadline is in mid-March, but view the website for specifics.
See the page titled Formats for more detail.
Each format has 12 minutes to present with a 3-minute question and answer session.
The student conference uses both internal and external judges. Internal judges include IU Southeast faculty and staff leaders. External judges are members of the local community or faculty members from other schools.
The judges are looking at content, format, ability to answer questions, and professionalism. For more complete information, view our Judging page.
An academic conference is a professional event. Arrive early and engage with others. Introduce yourself to the judges and fellow presenters. In the oral presentations, please stay for the entire session. Be an active audience member for fellow presenters. Feel free to participate in the question-and-answer session. Leaving after your presentation is inconsiderate to other presenters.
Presenters should wear professional attire. Either business professional or business casual attire is acceptable.
Yes. In the oral presentations, arrive early and plan to stay for the entire session. In the poster or display sessions, engage with those around you.
Exposure to research and researchers…
- Can provide an opportunity to learn about latest developments in their field of study.
- Can generate interest in pursuing research goals.
- Can bring awareness to diversity in topics and perspectives.
- Can help understand different approaches to problem-solving and research methodologies.
- Can build confidence in engaging in conversation with other students.
- Can provide insights into potential career paths.
- Can help understand practical application of course work and academic pursuits.
- Can be included on a resume to stand out to potential employers or grad school admission committees.
- Can provide a preview or inspire them to present at the spring IU Southeast Student Conference and Showcase