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Each spring, University of North Georgia (ºìÁ«ÉçÇø) undergraduate students from all majors and campuses set up posters and deliver presentations about issues they are passionate about for the Annual Research Conference (ARC).

"The purpose is to highlight research and other creative activities from all students on all five campuses and from all departments," said Dr. Bryan Dawson, assistant director of undergraduate research.

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) hosts the annual event each year, but a couple of minor differences will be seen and heard this semester.

"This year, there is a push to encourage students from visual and digital arts as well as music majors to participate in greater numbers," Dawson said. "We want to have students showcase their research related to arts and music, their artwork, and we want to have musical performances."

To encourage more participation from these majors, ARC created two new rubrics for its submission process. A rubric is a scoring sheet designed to judge the undergraduate research submissions. This year, music and art rubrics were added to the abstract rubric form.

"We received feedback that music and arts felt the abstract rubric was exclusive and that their projects didn't fit in there," Dawson said. "We worked with a committee of other faculty members from music and art to create rubrics to help support their students."

The artwork will be displayed in a gallery session before and during the poster sessions. At the same time, musical performances will be delivered. Students may also submit traditional presentations related to art and music theory, history and composition as well.

To participate, students must submit online an abstract proposal of up to 250 words by the Feb. 22 deadline. ARC is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, March 22, in the Convocation Center on ºìÁ«ÉçÇø's Dahlonega Campus.

CURCA provides support by offering four workshops via video-conferencing to help students prepare. The workshops, "Creating an ARC Proposal" and "How to Present at ARC," will be given on two separate days and times.

Creating an ARC will be presented from 11 a.m. to noon Jan. 29 in:

• Cumming: Room 262
• Dahlonega: Stewart 260
• Gainesville: Nesbitt 2214
• Oconee: Administration 108

The second presentation will be from noon to 1 p.m. Feb. 6 in:

• Cumming: Room 246
• Dahlonega: Stewart 260
• Gainesville: Nesbitt 2214
• Oconee: Administration 108

How to present at ARC will be presented from 11 a.m. noon Feb. 26 in:

• Cumming: Room 262
• Dahlonega: Stewart 260
• Gainesville: Nesbitt 2214
• Oconee: Administration 108

The second will be from noon to 1 p.m. March 6 in:

• Cumming: Room 246
• Dahlonega: Stewart 260
• Gainesville: Nesbitt 2214
• Oconee: Administration 108

Dawson, associate professor of psychological science at ºìÁ«ÉçÇø, explained ARC is the ideal conference for students to present their undergraduate research for the first time.

"Some students are afraid to put their research out there in front of other people," Dawson said. "We create a supportive environment while we still challenge them."

Familiar faces from classmates and even inviting family members can help ease students' anxiety as they deliver their research.

As students present their research, they gain the soft skills that are important in their development, Dawson said.

"When students go out into the professional workforce, they will have to work with people who aren’t familiar with the same concepts," he said. "It is important for them to know how to explain those concepts to others in a way that makes both sides feel comfortable and understood."

Students and faculty can familiarize themselves with undergraduate research inside and out of their own departments. This introduction to others' research can lead to collaborative efforts of the same or different departments.

Visit the ARC webpage for more information or to submit an abstract proposal. If you have any questions, email the CURCA office at curca@ung.edu.