An important part of conducting undergraduate research and creative inquiry is sharing your accomplishments with the broader discipline and academic community. At Western Carolina, our undergraduate research students routinely take advantage of opportunities to disseminate.
Undergraduate students are strongly encouraged to consider opportunities to share their research and creative accomplishments. Participating in a professional conference gives you great opportunity to build experience you can transfer to your career.
Take advantage of the benefits of disseminating your research and creative contributions by building academic and career networking skills, adding to your level of experience and resume, and enjoying growth in professional skills.
Western's showcase academic event is hosted by The Office of the Provost, The Graduate School and Research, and the Brinson Honors College. It is a combined 2-day event bringing together the Annual Undergraduate Exposition, the Graduate Research Symposium, and the Faculty Scholarship Celebration.
The Undergraduate Research Exposition, part of WCU’s 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 working with more than 60 faculty sponsors.
The 2024-2025 Research & Scholarship Conference will be held March 19 - 20, 2025. Registration for the Undergraduate Exposition as part of the Research and Scholarship Conference is open to all undergraduate students engaged in research or creative inquiry with a faculty mentor.
Each year, Western Carolina University supports a limited number of students in applying for and attending the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR).
Students accepted to NCUR have the opportunity to present their undergraduate research along with peers from across disciplines. Since 1987, NCUR has been a flagship conference for undergraduate researchers to share, celebrate, and promote their research achievements.
Western Carolina University has established itself as a national leader in undergraduate research having ranked in the Top 10 for the number of projects accepted to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research annually since 2006.
The State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS)
SNCURCS – State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research and Creativity Symposium is held each November at a host institution within the UNC and NC Independent Colleges and Universities systems. This statewide symposium started at NC State University and now rotates among public and private institutions of higher learning in North Carolina.
It has grown to be a large event for any undergraduate student in North Carolina to be able to present their research or creative work. Presentations can be posters, oral presentations, exhibits, or performances.
All undergraduate students enrolled in North Carolina colleges, universities, or community colleges and high school students who have completed a mentored research project through an accredited university or other Summer Ventures or research program are eligible to participate in SNCURCS. Presentations include Poster, Oral, Exhibit and Performance options.
Dates for this year's SNCURCS is still being determined.
The Southern Conference (SoCon) Academic Exchangem hosts the annual SoCon Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) each fall on the campus of Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC.
This multidisciplinary conference brings together approximately 150 student presenters from all ten colleges/universities of the SoCon for a two-day event that features projects in the arts and humanities, as well as the STEM disciplines.
SURF is an awesome opportunity for all students involved in research and creative activities, particularly for those involved in these activities over the summer, to display their accomplishments in a variety of small, welcoming venues.
Please note that there is no registration fee, expenses may be covered by the university upon an application being accepted, and that the SoCon will provide meals for most of the conference.
This year the SURF conference will be held October 4 - 5, 2024 at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
The application form is now open! Click on the grey button below.
Application form closes on September 9, 2024.
Students will be notified of acceptance to present at SURF 2024 by mid-September 2024.
For questions and inquiries about this conference, please contact Dr. Robert Youker, Associate Professor of Biology, at rtyouker@wcu.edu or Suzanne Melton, Research Programs Coordinator, at scmelton@wcu.edu.