Giving Opportunities in English Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship
More than 500 strong, Virginia Tech’s undergraduate English majors pursue a rich array of academic interests within the department’s Literature, Language and Culture, Professional Writing, and Creative Writing tracks. In 2006, at the inaugural Undergraduate Conference, which was funded on a shoestring out of one-time operating funds, they proved their mettle as apprentice scholars, creative writers, and web and document designers presenting before an audience of faculty, visitors, and peers. It was an exciting exchange of ideas celebrating the breadth and depth of the new English major, and it provided opportunities for our students to develop and refine original work of genuine value while polishing their presentation skills and preparing for the professional expectations of graduate school and the workplace.
Following the department spring 2007 undergraduate research conference, students were accepted to the university's research conference and won research grants, establishing that research in English can take a proud place beside research in science, engineering, and business.
We would like to establish the Undergraduate Conference as an annual event. We would also like to make it possible for our most promising students to attend and present occasionally at academic conferences elsewhere—in the company and with the support of faculty who have closely mentored their work. To do so will require more substantial, secure, and dependable funding.
Gift Possibilities
A gift of |
would enable the Undergraduate Program to |
$1,000 |
sponsor a competition in the undergraduate document and web design classes to develop the website, publicity materials, and program for the Undergraduate Research Conference. |
$1,000 |
pay for the production and distribution of promotional and publicity materials, folders, name tags, etc. |
$1,000 |
develop and staff pre-conference workshops. Examples:
|
$2,000 |
provide a catered lunch and break refreshments for the conference. |
$1,000 |
award prizes for the best presentation and poster session. |
$1,000 |
fund travel to a regional conference for one undergraduate and faculty mentor. |
$2,000 |
fund travel to a national conference for one undergraduate and faculty mentor. |
An endowment of |
would enable the Undergraduate Program to |
$100,000 |
establish a permanent fund for undergraduate conference travel. |
$250,000 |
secure the future of the Undergraduate Conference as an annual event and provide a naming opportunity for a company or an individual. |
Developing and showcasing undergraduate research is one of the most effective ways universities can help students make the transition from being passive consumers of knowledge to active participants in an engaging world of ideas, solutions, and new understandings. Nationwide, individual and corporate sponsors have recognized the value of this kind of experience. Outside sponsorship contributes significantly to Undergraduate research at Scripps College, Wayne State, University of Albany, Indiana University, and University of Washington, to name just a few examples. At Virginia Tech, such support could make a vital difference in the professional development of our students with attendant benefits for the future they shape.
Undergraduate Conference: 2007: Comments from the Assessment
From faculty
“I am absolutely blown back by the professionalism and level of work
in the conference. It is wonderful to be here among such great students and
teachers.”
“I gained even more respect for our students and the work they do and the bravery it took to get up and read out loud in front of fairly packed rooms.”
“I loved meeting parents and friends of the presenters. I know they were so proud, and they said a lot of good things about our department.”
“I love students. I love teaching. This was an opportunity to celebrate their successes, to give them confidence, and to let them show us (and the community) what they can do.”
“I gained a real appreciation for the intelligence and thoughtfulness of undergraduate students. In several cases I also learned that my former students are even more articulate, poised, and sophisticated than I thought.”
“It’s nice to be on the other side of the exchange. It made me contemplate a great many things. I felt like a graduate student again in a good way.”
“I thought is was incredible to see material evidence of what is going on in our department. The posters, presentations, and the conversations they sparked all confirmed how vibrant our department is. So much of what we do is invisible, so it’s nice to see all of this.”
“I enjoyed the feeling of connection and celebration with colleagues centered on students. It was wonderful to hear/see the students perform and take the “expert” positions.”
“I loved hearing the students’ voices as they read papers, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. I also thought that Nikki’s lunchtime reading was wonderful. It was a treat to see the parents, and there were some sessions (e.g., the one that Fred moderated) which were absolutely amazing—very moving indeed.”
“I was impressed at the professionalism of the presentations. Everyone I heard adhered to time, showed respect for other members of the panel, and answered questions with firm conviction. I was equally impressed by the students’ attendance and engagement at other panels. The students not only asked questions but made sophisticated comments on the papers as well.”
From parents
“I gained an inside look at the department, the faculty, a taste of the
academic process in writing, the layers that are involved in the creative process,
a great appreciation for the wonderful faculty, a new appreciation of poetry.”
“As an audience member and a parent, I was quite impressed with the coordination and the presenters. I learned more about what my daughter does in school and how she is prepared for the real world. I gained a very good idea of the high quality of education she is getting at Tech!”
From students
“It was as I thought it would be, but better too! Everyone was so welcoming
and friendly and very encouraging. The conference as a whole was an inspiration
to me to keep writing and stay involved with the English department because
all the professors and administrators are so helpful, sincere, and encouraging.”
“The conference was wonderful, and certainly will aid in building camaraderie among students and staff, as well as giving students always needed confidence in their abilities. I left with so many ideas about current projects bubbling in my head, and that would be the purpose of this learning thing, after all, wouldn’t it?”
“I gained the experience of seeing how professional conferences are conducted. I also like having my professors in the position of listening to what I had to say.”
“I loved how professional the entire day felt. And the meals were fabulous!”
“I had the opportunity to share my paper with people outside the context of ‘something to turn in,’ which made it seem bigger and more complete. It was a rewarding last step to working on this piece.”
“I heard some interesting new perspectives on how students write, what it means to them, and the way they go about it.”
“I was a poster presenter, so I learned how to make a poster. I also gained experience in talking with other people about my project.”
“I loved hearing Nikki Giovanni read her poetry. That was such an amazing experience.”
“I really liked the idea of ‘performing’ the piece to give it the depth of being read aloud to an audience. This brought something out of the piece that might not otherwise have made it out into the world. Then getting feedback on it in a friendly environment that promoted conversation was really nice. It was an academic conversation outside of class by people who WANTED to talk instead of doing it for a grade.”
“I had never known that presenting and answering questions could be so challenging and so scary.”
“The best thing about being there was getting to hear from my classmates. I was so impressed b their work and especially by their enthusiasm about their work. This truly has transformed my outlook on the power and importance of human interaction in exploring big ideas.”
“The English faculty was made very visible to me as a result of the conference and I received a lot of support.”
“It seems like English majors don’t get together a whole lot, because of our introverted nature. So it was cool to interact with other English students. It allowed me to see the similarities between all of the options in the English major.”
For more information, contact
Professor Nancy Metz, Associate Department Chair, 540.231.8467, nmetz@vt.edu
Professor Carolyn Rude, Department Chair, 540.231.8466, Carolyn.Rude@vt.edu