About the Research Colloquium

In 1998, The University of Tulsa established the first annual Student Research Colloquium in order to provide TU students with an opportunity to gain public speaking experience, learn about student research from fields outside their own academic discipline, and experience judging methods used by professional organizations for national and international meetings. The event is held during the Spring semester and is open to all TU undergraduate, graduate, and law students.

The Research Colloquium is organized by a committee of TU students, in conjunction with the Graduate School. Student Co-Chairs and Graduate School administrators help facilitate the submission of abstracts, solicit donations from campus administrative offices and organizations, organize session schedules, compile event programs, secure student and faculty/professional judges, and coordinate sessions during the event.

The Annual Student Research Colloquium has grown from a one-session event with 6 participants into a week-long event and an average of 175 student presentations a year. The Colloquium website is at http://www.utulsa.edu/research-colloquium and all inquiries can be emailed to research-colloquium@utulsa.edu.

Presentation topics may contain anything from original research or scholarship that a student may be conducting to work that has already been submitted for a classroom project over the previous fall semester. Some students have also used the Colloquium as an opportunity to present research proposals or scholarship in which they are contemplating doing an in-depth study, although topics do not have to cover experimental research. Departments are also encouraged to organize subject-specific symposia for inclusion during the Colloquium, to highlight particular student research topics from previous classes or encourage research into a topic of particular interest to their field.

To give students experience with judging methods typically used for national and international meetings, submitted presentations are judged according to criteria commonly used at scholarly professional meetings. Each session is overseen by a team of judges that includes faculty or professionals and students, plus a student serving as the session chair. Winners are announced at the Student Research Colloquium Awards Banquet and all the participants, as well as the advising professors for the student presenters, are invited to attend. There are cash awards for first, second, and third place, as well as awards for honorable mention, plus awards for the Community Service and Video sessions.

From start to finish, the Colloquium is an amazing opportunity for students to gain a real understanding of what goes into a professional meeting, encouraging them to actively pursue interdisciplinary areas of research. The Colloquium continues to grow in size and scope, allowing TU students to expand their knowledge base of other fields and enabling the TU community to actively support our students in their endeavors.