Established in 2011 to increase the number of undergraduates completing their own research projects or collaborating with faculty on their research, the annual Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Arts (URSA) symposium provides an on-campus venue for Benedictine students to present work they have done as part of their university careers.
While undergraduate research is often most associated with the natural and social sciences, URSA interprets the category of scholarship in the broadest possible terms and strongly encourages participation by undergraduates who have undertaken significant research in a humanities discipline. Students working in the fine arts are also urged to take part by, for instance, displaying artwork or preparing a presentation on a musical composition.
A secondary goal of URSA is to encourage students to expand their participation in similar off-campus events, such as the ACCA Student Symposium. Presenting at URSA offers students an excellent opportunity to do a “dry-run” for larger, regional conferences they may plan to attend.
URSA 2024 is scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, April 11, from 12:00 pm to 4:30 pm. All URSA events are scheduled to take place in Goodwin Hall. The poster display will be held in the lobby of Goodwin Hall (i.e., the main atrium), while oral presentation sessions will take place in Goodwin Hall rooms 211 and 212. You’ll be able to check the URSA program to find out where your session has been scheduled.
›› How do I apply to participate in URSA 2024?
Applications for URSA 2024 will be accepted at the URSA website starting in mid-February. The submission deadline will be Monday, March 18.
›› When should I arrive for URSA?
Students doing oral presentations will be notified by email of the time and location of the session to which they have been assigned. Presenters should plan to arrive at least 5 minutes before their session is scheduled to begin.
Students displaying posters will need to check in and set up their posters in the Goodwin Hall atrium between 11:45 am and 12:15 pm, as the poster session will begin at 12:30 pm sharp. Poster students will also need to make themselves to explain and answer questions about their poster for most of the afternoon.
›› How long should I spend at URSA?
As long as you want! We encourage presenters to visit the poster session and hope students displaying posters will also attend one of the presentation sessions. Refreshments will be available.
Note: presenters are required to be present for the entire duration of their assigned panel. Similarly, those displaying a poster are required to stay with it for the full duration of the poster session (12:30-2:30 p.m.).
›› What should I wear for URSA?
While formal attire is not required, opting for overly casual clothing may cause your audience to take you and your presentation/poster less seriously. We recommend wearing neat, clean clothing that’s comfortable: think business casual.
Information About Posters
›› What requirements do posters need to follow?
Posters to be displayed at URSA are REQUIRED to meet professional research poster standards. This means that all URSA posters must be printed as one large sheet of paper (size: 36″x48″). Posters will NOT be accepted for display at URSA if they:
consist of typed material and/or images glued on to poster board
are handwritten, even in part
We recommend using PowerPoint to create a poster that can be printed, although it’s also possible to do this by using programs like Publisher and Photoshop.
›› What guidelines should I follow in designing my poster?
Your poster should also adhere to these basic design principles:
aim for clarity, both in terms of content and layout
ensure that your text is large enough to be read when viewed on a computer screen
use a neutral color (preferably white) as the background color for your poster
limit the number of different colors and fonts you use
include your name(s) and institutional affiliation (department; Benedictine University)
employ graphs, charts and illustrations where appropriate
Using a PowerPoint research poster template can help you follow these guidelines. You can download a number of good templates HERE (be sure to download the 36×48 size).
Once you have finished designing your poster in PowerPoint, save it as a pdf file.
›› How can I get my poster printed?
URSA will assist students with printing posters, though they are also welcome to make their own arrangements for printing at locations such as Office Depot and FedEx Office.
URSA will provide foam board, binder clips, and poster stands so students will be able to properly display their posters.
Information About Oral Presentations
›› What will happen during URSA oral presentation sessions?
All presentation sessions will be moderated by a faculty member who will introduce student presenters, assist with technology, and ensure that presenters don’t exceed their allotted time (12 minutes). Audience members will have the opportunity to ask students questions about their presentations. Faculty volunteers will also evaluate each presentation; this feedback will be provided to faculty sponsors, who will in turn share it with their students.
›› What if I need to use technology as part of my presentation (e.g., PowerPoint, etc.)?
Students planning to use PowerPoint or some other software package are required to bring a copy of all files needed for their presentation on a flash drive. If special software or media elements are used in the presentation, students should arrange to test out their presentations on campus systems ahead of time in order to make sure that there are no problems on the day of the event.
Please note that, due to time constraints, presenters will not be able to access PowerPoint and other files stored in e-mail accounts or in cloud storage (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive, Box.com, iCloud, etc.).
›› Other tips for presenters
URSA presenters can find a very useful list of tips on how to prepare for and give an effective presentation: 15 Strategies for Giving Oral Presentations. Item #3 on this list is especially crucial: be sure to practice your presentation and also time it in order to make sure that you do not exceed your allotted time (12 minutes).
Posters to be displayed at URSA are REQUIRED to meet professional research poster standards. This means that all URSA posters must be printed as one large sheet of paper (size: 36″x48″). Posters will NOT be accepted for display at URSA if they:
