Annual Graduate Research Symposium
The Graduate Research Symposium, part of WCU鈥檚 campus-wide Research and Scholarship Conference, provides students with the opportunity to work with faculty to present their research to an engaged audience on campus. The annual expo features over 200 student presenters from any discipline who are engaged in research, creative projects, or scholarly inquiry.
Visit for this year's program.
Graduate Symposium Registration Directions
All Graduate Students who are interested in participating in the Graduate Symposium portion of the Research and Scholarship Conference (RASC) (March 25, 2026) will need to register using the form provided below by February 16, 2026.
Registration is open until February 16, 2026.
The 2026 Research and Scholarship Conference will be held March 25 - 26, 2026 across various locations on Cullowhee Campus.
- Develop your project and choose a faculty mentor(s).
- Choose your presentation format - Poster Presentation, Oral Presentation, Performance, or Fine Arts Exhibit. You are welcome to participate in multiple formats, but you can only submit one project per category.
- Review the instructions/expectations below and register by midnight on February 16, 2026.
- Complete your project. For a poster presentation, upload in the Graduate Research Symposium Team's Classroom before midnight on March 16, 2026.
Instructions:
- You will be assigned to a Team's Classroom once registration closes.
- On the Assignment tab in the Team's Classroom find the Poster assignment.
- Upload your poster in the Team's Classroom before midnight on March 16, 2026. Not sure how to upload in Teams?
- Print your poster if you plan on attending the Poster Competition - The recommended poster dimensions are 3 feet (36 inches) tall by 4 feet (48 inches) wide.
- Drop your poster off on the Ramsey Concourse Level on March 25, 2026 between 9:00am and 3:00 pm so we can display your poster.
- Be ready to find your poster (posters will be organized by college) and discuss your
research with your peers and colleagues by 6:00 pm on March 25, 2026 on the Ramsey
Concourse Level. We encourage you to tune into our Keynote Address that will happen
before the Poster Presentations in the Ramsey Arena at 4:55 pm.
Expectations & Poster Presentations
Expectations & Poster Presentations:
- Students must submit their posters in the Team's Classroom before midnight on March 16, 2026. The Team's Classroom will be available to you once you register. Late submissions will not be included in the Conference.
- Students are highly encourages to attend our in-person Poster Presentation on the Ramsey Concourse Level on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 from 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm. Posters must be printed and dropped off on the Ramsey Concourse Level on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 by 3:00 pm.
- 5 additional points will be added to the final score for students appearing in person.
Resources:
Poster Awards:
Graduate posters will be judged by a faculty panel. First place and second place winners
will be awarded with cash prizes after RASC.
Prizes:
- 1st Place: $300
- 2nd Place: $200
Conditions apply. More details about the cash prizes and how a poster will be judged will be provided to students once registration closes.
Instructions:
- Setup your exhibit in your designated space on the Ramsey Concourse Level on March 25, 2026 between 9:00am and 3:00 pm.
- Be ready to discuss your research with your peers and colleagues by 6:00 pm on March 25, 2026 on the Ramsey Concourse Level. We encourage you to tune into our Keynote Address that will happen before the Poster Presentations in the Ramsey Arena at 4:55 pm.
For Exhibit Presentations:
Consider creating a more dynamic exhibit or gallery of images by using a technology platform that suits your needs. By expanding beyond submitting individual JPEGs or TIFFs an artist can showcase more of who they are and what their exhibit means to them and the world.
Create a website using:
- Google Sites
- Wix
- Wordpress
Create an image gallery using:
- Flickr
- Google photos
- Padlet
Create a video or audio file using:
- YouTube
- Zoom
- Vocaroo
- VoiceThread
Create a social media profile (for your exhibit) using:
Instructions:
- Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 9 am- 3 pm.
- After registration closes on February 16, 2026, the Graduate School will schedule oral presentations & performances for the rooms in the UC (via email).
- Oral presentations: Prepare to present your project for 15 minutes, with a 5 minute
Q&A session at the end.
You can use a PowerPoint or a static slide, but your presentation should focus on your ability to effectively communicate your research, plans, and ideas with others. - Performances: Be sure to include any needs on your registration form. All performances will be scheduled in the UC Theater.
- Go to your scheduled UC room and present!
Prizes:
Oral Presentation participants will vote for the top presenters in their session. The top presenter from each oral presentationsession will be entered to win a $250 award.
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