Whitman Undergraduate Conference
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
Welcome to the 28th annual Whitman Undergraduate Conference—a celebration of the scholarship, critical thinking, self-driven exploration and creativity of Whitman students.
It’s time to start thinking about the Whitman Undergraduate Conference on April 14, 2026. Built into the spring semester academic calendar, this is a day when all students are released from their regularly scheduled class obligations in order to attend the conference. The conference is a showcase of student knowledge and creative production shared via a program of posters, presentations, performances and panel discussions.
Proposals should be submitted using the online conference registration form. In order to participate, each proposed conference submission must have a Whitman-affiliated staff or faculty member sponsor. The sponsor agrees to help the student(s) prepare for their conference contribution. The submission deadline for consideration is Tuesday March 3, 2026. The conference is a great way for us to learn about and celebrate the intellectual pursuits and interests of our students and community.
While there is some flexibility in the kinds and lengths of presentations possible, here is a guide to help you understand the different options available:
Poster (1 hour)
A student or group of students create a large poster describing their topic; the poster is mounted on a panel; the panels are collected together in the library; visitors walk along aisles of posters, read them and ask questions of students as they stand near their posters. This event usually lasts around one hour, with dozens of posters and hundreds of visitors strolling through.
An individual piece of art (e.g. painting, sculpture) may also be displayed in this venue.
Individual Presentation (10 minutes)
A student prepares a slide deck or notes about their topic and presents it to a classroom of visitors. Typically, a presentation is about 10 minutes with five minutes for questions.
Performance (10 minutes)
A student or group of students will perform a musical or dance piece about 10 minutes in length with five minutes for questions. The piece does not have to be exactly 10 minutes. Since we only schedule in 10+5 minute blocks, if your performance is less than 10 minutes, that’s totally ok. If you think it will need more time, ask for more time.
Panel Discussion/Presentation (30–60 minutes)
A group of students might lead a moderated discussion on a topic they’ve researched. For example, a group of 5 students would sit at the front of the room and introduce themselves and the topic and then run a discussion with visitors.
Other Options
These are just a few examples of different possibilities. If you have some other idea in mind, please reach out to the organizers. We welcome all ideas and would love to work with you as much as we are able.
Questions?
Reach out to Albert Schueller, the Mina Schwabacher Professor of Mathematics.