Student Research Symposium
Share your research, creative work, or professional project with the whole campus. Get real feedback, practice presenting, and compete for a $500 scholarship.
Fall 2026 symposium
Monday, December 7
- Proposals due: Monday, November 2
- Sessions: 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., in buildings across campus
- Malcolm Center: registration and information table, welcome ceremony, and awards reception
- Awards: reception at 4 p.m., Bacon Conference Room
Why present
Get more out of work you’ve already done.
Twice a year, in fall and spring, undergraduate and graduate students share original research, reviews, scholarly essays, creative writing, performances, films, and artwork with students, faculty, staff, and guests.
- Get feedback and fresh ideas on projects you’re still working on.
- Earn recognition from faculty and classmates.
- Practice presenting your work in a professional setting.
- Give your essays, posters, and research a second life.
- Add a line to your resume or CV for graduate school and job applications.
What you can present
Pick the format that fits your work.
Submit one proposal per project, in one of three formats. Every session ends with a short Q&A.
Presentation
A 10-minute talk on critical, research, professional, or creative work. Original films count here too.
Creative work
A 10-minute performance of dance, spoken word, creative writing, music, or drama.
Poster
A 24 × 36-inch poster of research, professional, or artistic work. You’ll answer questions from visitors during the session.
How it works
From idea to awards in four steps.
Here’s how to go from an idea to presenting your work.
01
Choose your work
Pick a paper, project, performance, film, or artwork, and decide which format fits it best.
02
Submit a proposal
Send your title and an abstract (up to 150 words for undergraduates, 250 words for graduate students) through the online proposal form (opens in a new tab) by the deadline.
03
Present your work
Share your work on symposium day, then answer questions from the audience.
04
Celebrate
Judges score each presenter, attendees vote for People’s Choice, and winners are announced at the awards reception.
Fall 2026 proposals are due Monday, November 2. Submit one proposal per project. The proposal form usually opens each September for the fall symposium and each February for spring. Questions about your topic or format? Contact the symposium team.
Excellence in Student Research Awards
Compete for a $500 scholarship.
A panel of judges scores every presenter. Four Excellence in Student Research Awards come with a $500 scholarship: one in each undergraduate category and one for graduate research. Attendees also vote for a People’s Choice winner.
Best Presentation
Undergraduates · $500 scholarship
Best Poster
Undergraduates · $500 scholarship
Best Creative Work
Undergraduates · $500 scholarship
Best Graduate Work
Graduate students · $500 scholarship
People’s Choice Award
Chosen by attendee vote. The winner receives MVU gear from the Marketing office.
Key dates
Mark your calendar.
Proposal deadlines, symposium days, and awards. Classes don’t meet on symposium day.
Spring Student Research Symposium
Location: Malcolm Center for Student Life
Dates for future terms are posted on the campus events calendar and the Academic Calendar.
Part of your program
For some students, presenting is required.
A few programs build the symposium into the degree. Check your program’s requirements in the catalog.
Criminal Justice
Every senior completes an original research study and thesis, then presents the results at the symposium as part of CRMJ 485.
Honors College
Honors students present their HONR 492 project publicly, at an academic conference or at the symposium.
MA in Community Counseling
Your capstone literature review can be presented to program faculty or at the symposium.
See program requirements in the 2026–27 catalog ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Get involved
Not presenting? You can still take part.
There are plenty of ways to help out or join in:
- Session chair: help run a presentation session.
- Registration desk: welcome presenters and guests.
- Committee member: help plan and run the symposium.
- Audience: come watch, ask questions, and vote for People’s Choice.
To volunteer, email the symposium team at srs@moval.edu.
Symposium contacts
Questions about the symposium?
Email the symposium team with questions or information:
Faculty contacts
Jen Livengood
Associate Professor of Psychology & Community Counseling
In the news
Symposium stories and winners
Catch up on recent symposiums, award winners, and calls for proposals.
Scholarships Awarded at Research Symposium
More than 160 students presented May 4 at Missouri Valley College’s Spring Student Research Symposium. The symposium, now in its 9th year, featured…
Past symposiums
See what other students have presented.
Each program lists the presenters, their titles, and short abstracts. It’s a good place to find ideas for your own proposal.
Latest program: Spring 2026
Programs from 2021 to 2025
- Fall 2025 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Spring 2025 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Fall 2024 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Spring 2024 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Fall 2023 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Spring 2023 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Fall 2022 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Spring 2022 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Fall 2021 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- Spring 2021 program ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Ready to share your work?
Fall 2026 proposals are due Monday, November 2. All you need is a title and a short abstract.