Friday, April 10, 2026
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Russell House University Union
The Honors Thesis Symposium will be comprised of hour-long student panels organized by theme, with two to three 15-minute student thesis presentations on each panel. Time for questions will be allotted for each session. Five to six panels will run concurrently throughout the day.
The Honors Thesis Symposium is an opportunity to present your thesis research to a public audience and network with peers and faculty.
Your participation and your thesis work will be highlighted on the Honors College website, social media channels and promotional materials.
The symposium presentation can be used in lieu of your thesis defense as long as the presentation complies with the required stipulations (see next question).
To have the symposium presentation satisfy the defense requirement, the following conditions must be met:
- Permission from your thesis director
- Both the thesis director and second reader MUST attend the symposium presentation
- Participation in a follow-up meeting with the thesis director and second reader after the panel presentation to privately discuss thesis paper. Students will have the opportunity to sign up to use a meeting room in the Russell House on the day of the symposium for this purpose.
Certainly! If your thesis director and second reader cannot attend, the Symposium cannot be used in lieu of your defense, but you are still highly encouraged to participate.
Members of the SCHC thesis team will review all proposals and organize panels based on possible thematic connections between presentations. The committee will assign panel times based on availability/preference for A.M. or P.M. sessions as indicated on the application. You will be asked to confirm your acceptance no later than March 18, 2026.
The Honors Thesis Symposium is a free, non-ticketed event. All friends, family and colleagues are welcome to attend. We hope you will invite as many guests to hear your presentation as you wish.
The Honors Thesis Symposium is designed to be an in-person event, and the technology configurations in the Russell House meeting rooms are not designed for live-streaming. As such, the Honors College does not offer video links for Symposium presentations at this time. Student presenters are free to record their sessions with the permission of the other panelists and provided that the recording does not impede the participation of those in attendance.