By: Paul Kramer and Brian M. Card
Minnesota
State University Moorhead?s Student Academic Conference provides
student researchers from each of its four colleges with the opportunity
to present their work to faculty, administration, peers, and the
general public in a formal academic setting. The Conference has grown
exponentially over the past eight years to become one of MSUM's most
eagerly anticipated annual events.
The
Conference was conceived in 1998 through the collaborative efforts of
Political Science professor Andrew Conteh and his then
student-assistant Ryan Sylvester, who envisioned a forum for students
to present original research that would reflect the intellectual
vibrancy of the MSUM community. As the format of the proposed
Conference took shape, Dr. Conteh and Ryan jointly advocated its
relevance to the University's top administrators who expressed both
excitement and support for the concept. The enthusiastic participation
of both faculty and administration has been a hallmark of the
Conference since its inception and remains perhaps its most obvious
source of continued success.
Traditionally,
the Conference begins with a luncheon held in honor of its presenters,
headlined by a keynote speaker address delivered by an MSUM alumnus.
The speaker is chosen by the Conference's faculty advisory committee
with the goal of identifying MSUM "success stories" representing the
multiple disciplines and career orientations offered at the
institution. As part of the presentation, current MSUM students are
chosen as panelists who respond to the keynote speaker address and
present their own personal anecdotes regarding their individual
research experiences.
Following
the luncheon, students showcase their work in panel discussions,
workshops, multimedia presentations, displays, and demonstrations
throughout the expanse of the Comstock Memorial Union. The Conference's
ever-increasing popularity among students has necessitated moving some
of the presentations to Livingston Library in order to accommodate all
those who want to share their academic work with their community.
The
conference organizers remain committed to encouraging a
multi-disciplinary approach to research projects, allowing visitors and
guests to explore a panoply of different efforts showing the breadth of
opportunities presented in the campus environment. Most of the
presentations are limited to twenty minute time periods in order to
allow the conference attendees to gain a wide variety of perspectives
over the course of the afternoon's events. The Conference ends with a
brief reception that allows participants and attendees to relax,
unwind, and reflect upon a day of academic exchanges.
Without
the support of many different campus organizations and financial
contributors including faculty, administrators, support staff, and
students too numerous to mention individually, the Conference would
cease to exist. The organizers of this year's event also with to note
the expansion of support from the Fargo-Moorhead community at large as
the program expands and reinvents itself over time. As soon as this
year's Conference ends, planning for the next will begin, with new
lessons learned and optimism that each succeeding year will bring a
bigger and better experience for the MSUM community.
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