Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference
Friday, March 21, 2025, 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
In Person - Student Center, 3rd Floor
Please check out the Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference Program!
2024 Keynote Speaker - Shavonne Coleman
This year, Shavonne Coleman will be our luncheon keynote speaker. Professor Coleman graduated from EMU with an MFA for applied drama/theatre for the young. Currently she is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theatre & Drama at the University of Michigan. She has received the Emerging Leadership in TYA Fellowship, the Teaching Innovation Grant and President’s Staff Award, and the Anne K. Flagg Multicultural Award.
Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, KCP Visiting Professor Program
2025 GRCAC Dates and Deadlines
December 9, 2024 - The application portal opens
January 31, 2025 - Application submission deadline
February 7, 2025 - Faculty mentor approval deadline
February 14, 2025 - Acceptance response notification date
March 7, 2025 - 3 Minute Thesis Competition
March 14, 2025 - Presentation Upload due
March 21, 2025 - Graduate Student Conference
3 Minute Thesis Competition - In Person
March 7, 2025 from 10:00-12:00pm
In person - Student Center Room 310B
The 3 Minute Thesis Competition asks thesis and dissertation students to present their research in under three minutes using only one PowerPoint slide. The top three contenders will present again during the GRCAC. Additionally, the student who earns first place will compete at the Midwestern Association of Graduate Schools (MAGS) 3MT Competition in Clayton, Missouri, on Friday, April 5, 2024.
GRCAC Eligibility
- Be enrolled in an EMU graduate program or have graduated in 2023.
- Engage a faculty advisor/mentor in your conference application (application below).
- Be available to present at the GRCAC on Friday, March 15, 2024 between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- Fill out the online proposal application in its entirety.
- Sample Abstracts [PDF]
Please be aware that the information provided in the application will be considered a final draft and used in event programming. Additionally, you should work with your faculty sponsor prior to application submission, as application approval by your faculty sponsor is required for participation.
- Applications must submit their applications electronically.
Support for graduate student research and the GRCAC
The Graduate School can help identify resources for you to aid with the following topics:
- Training to support research with human subjects
- View the Training Schedule.
- Questions can be directed to the Office of Research Compliance at 734.487.3090 or [email protected].
For information on how to access resources or to be connected to a faculty/staff member that can assist you, please email [email protected] or call 734.487.0042.
Presentation Formats
Oral Presentations
Oral presentation sessions will be from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15th. Each session will be 1 hour long featuring three to four student presenters. A moderator will facilitate each live oral presentation session.
Presentations can be either Google Slides, PowerPoint, or Prezi Presentation. Presenters should aim for 10 minutes of content presentation and 5 minutes of questions. Presenters will be required to upload their presentation by Friday, March 8th at the link provided to them in their email.
Poster Presentations
The poster sessions will occur on Friday, March 15th.
Presenters will be required to upload their poster by Friday, March 8th at the link provided to them in their email. Poster presenters may use the logo and template below.
Please visit the Poster Printing Website for information on how to print your poster. Posters should be printed at least a week before the Conference.
Arts Front
What is Arts Front?
Arts Front is a session platform to support and highlight art-based (music, creative writing, performance, interactive drama, visual art, etc.) presentations as part of the Graduate Research and Creative Activity Conference (GRCAC). Arts Front presentations will take place on Friday, March 15th, 2024 at the Student Center.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the GRCAC team at [email protected] or by phone at 734.487.0042.