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Information for Presenters

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Who is eligible to present and compete for prizes?

• Southern Miss undergraduate students who have engaged in significant research or creative activity either by themselves or as a team project lead may submit an abstract to the UGS.
• Students who performed their work as an undergraduate student but graduated in December prior to the UGS may submit an abstract.

Why should I consider presenting?

• The UGS is an opportunity to share your work with the Southern Miss Community.
• You gain the experience of presenting at a professional conference.
• You can list this presentation on your resume/CV; experience of this kind is highly valued by prospective employers and may give you a competitive advantage for admission to graduate and professional programs.
• There is substantial prize money to be won!

How are submissions judged and what are the prizes?

• A team of faculty judges determines which submissions to accept for presentations and for the ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ Showcase. Creative works are judged on their aesthetic value, meaning, and significance.
• For students presenting research, oral presentations are organized into panels according to common themes. There is one session for all accepted poster presentations.
• Each oral and poster presentation is assigned to a prize category so that all presenters have an equal chance (typically between one in three and one in four) of winning a prize. 
• At the UGS, all oral and poster presentations are judged by multiple faculty members using the following criteria in a seven-point rubric:

Research Presentation Judging Criteria

Category	Considerations
Purpose and Content	articulation and support of central idea/purpose
Project Design	understanding and justification of methods and/or interpretation
Findings and Conclusions	identification and discussion of the project’s scholarly contributions
Questions and Answers	ability to answer questions from the audience
Language	use of standard English and technical language
Presentation Structure	content, design, layout, use of visual aids (if applicable)
Presentation Style	vocal delivery, eye contact, body language, attire

 

The averaged judges’ scores determine the winner(s) in each research presentation category. Typically, the presenter in first place receives $500 and the one in second place $300. Prize winners are recognized on the UGS website and through other publicity.

What are the submission rules?

Each student may submit only one abstract as presenter or co-presenter; however, a student may submit an abstract and a creative work or series of works for the ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ Showcase.

The research involved in a research or creative presentation does not need to be completely finished, but conclusions or results must be presentable by the time of the UGS.

The work must have the support of and/or have been guided by a faculty mentor (name and contact information are part of the submission).

How do I submit an application?

• You must submit your application by 11:59 pm by March 3, 2026. Please note that you will need to create a free Submittable account in order to apply. 
• Your faculty mentor may need to provide some information for and assistance with the submission. The Southern Miss Writing ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ can help with your abstract or artist statement.
• When writing your application materials, please keep in mind that faculty from different backgrounds will judge your abstract or ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ Showcase submission.
• Here are samples of successful research presentation abstracts.
• Here is a template of the research presentation application as a Word doc.
• Here is a template of the ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ Showcase application as a Word doc.

Guidelines for Poster and Oral Research Presentations

• Poster Guidelines
• Oral Presentation Guidelines
• The Southern Miss Speaking ºÚÁÏÊÓƵ has great tips and resources available to help you with your oral presentation! You can also make an appointment to practice and receive face-to-face feedback for your presentation. 

Do I have to register if I submit, or is that automatically done?

Once your application has been accepted, you and all of your co-presenters will need to register by March 24. You must register so that we know who will be attending the UGS and attend the (free!) lunch and keynote address and receive a free t-shirt and program.

Once you have received notification that your abstract has been accepted to UGS, simply complete the online .

What if I have additional questions or need help?

Please contact a member of the UGS Planning Committee in an area related to your discipline, or email Dr. Rebecca Tuuri (rebecca.tuuriFREEMississippi) or Dr. Sabine Heinhorst (sabine.heinhorstFREEMississippi).