Frequently Asked Questions
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the Butler Undergraduate Research Conference and some basic answers to these questions. Please read through these questions and answers to see if you can find what you need here. If you still have not found the information you need here, please email Robert Holm at urc@butler.edu and we will try to get you the information you need.
- Are all submissions for presentations accepted?
- Can a presentation have more than two authors?
- Do you have poster sessions?
- Can I submit more than one paper or poster for presentation?
- Do I need to submit a full paper of my research to the conference or just an abstract?
- Can I submit a figure with my abstract for inclusion in the program?
- Do you have sample abstracts I can view?
- Can I do my presentation in a foreign language (e.g., Spanish or German)?
- Can I request a specific time for my presentation or change my time once it is scheduled?
- How will I receive my registration confirmation?
- Can I submit my abstract by e-mail or on a disk by mail?
- If I request a PC presenter, can I do a PowerPoint presentation?
- Can the Butler URC provide internet access for my presentation?
- Can I change my topic and talk after I have submitted my abstract?
- Can I withdraw my presentation after submission?
- I found a typographical error in my abstract after I submitted it, can I fix it?
- The URC website is not accepting new registrations or other requests. What should I do?
- I was unable to attend the conference. Can I get a copy of the program?
1. Are all submissions for presentations accepted?
Yes, providing that you have a faculty sponsor, all submissions are accepted for presentation. If the conference starts to grow beyond our ability to handle all submissions, we may have to review this policy. Non Butler students who submit presentations must pay their $25.00 registration fee by April 4, 2008.
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2. Can a presentation have more than two authors?
Although a project may have any number of authors identified with a submitted abstract, only two students are allowed as presenters per submission. If more than two students wish to present work from a larger study, the project should be broken into parts and a second abstract should be submitted by the additional student(s).
When the primary student submits an abstract, he or she should list all the authors of the presentation (not just the students speaking) on the abstract submission form. If the presentation has a second speaker, that student registers separately as a co-presenter, but does not submit an abstract. If additional authors of a presentation wish to attend the conference, each student should register as a non-speaking conference attendee.
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3. Do you have poster sessions?
We will have a limited number of poster sessions available. However, the primary mode of presentation will continue to be the 15 minute oral presentation. Submitters should indicate their preference for either a poster session or paper (oral) presentation session. While every attempt will be made to accommodate students' preferred format, submitters must agree to present their work in either format.
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4. Can I submit more than one paper or poster for presentation?
Yes, but no student may make more than two presentations and each presentation must be submitted to different content (topic) areas. The purpose of the conference is to give as many undergraduates as possible the opportunity to do a research presentation so we want to be able to have as many open slots as possible. For now, however, students may submit for up to two presentations.
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5. Do I need to submit a full paper of my research to the conference or just an abstract?
We only require that an abstract of your presentation be submitted to us. We do not require students to send us a full paper. Your faculty sponsor may ask you to submit a paper to them, however, so you should check with them.
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6. Can I submit a figure with my abstract for inclusion in the program?
Many years ago we accepted figures and graphs but as the number of submissions increased and program printing costs increased, we could no longer afford to include figures in the program.
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7. Do you have sample abstracts I can view?
Yes, we have actual ones! We have complete programs available in public document format (pdf) from prior conferences. On the Program page, you can find links to download all prior conference programs since 2002. Feel free to use them as guides for writing your abstract.
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8. Can I do my presentation in a foreign language (e.g., Spanish or German)?
Yes, presentations may be presented in a variety of languages. If you wish to make a presentation in a language other than English, please select "Modern Foreign Language" as your desired topic area on the abstract submission form.
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9. Can I request a specific time for my presentation or change my time once it is scheduled?
Scheduling more than 400 presentations is a very complex task. We try to arrange papers by topic within areas, but can not always do so successfully. We have certain rooms available only at certain times. We have equipment requests that require specific rooms. We have faculty sponsors who need to attend sessions for all their students. Because of these and other constraints we can not accommodate individual requests for specific schedules. If you are not available during some part of the day that the conference is scheduled, please do not submit an abstract for presentation.
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10. How will I receive my registration confirmation?
You will receive an e-mail confirmation from the system. In the e-mail will be a registration confirmation number.
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11. Can I submit my abstract by e-mail or on a disk by mail?
We no longer accept registrations nor abstracts for the conference via email or by diskette. If you do not have Web access at your school, most public libraries have the facilities available for public use.
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12. If I request a PC presenter, can I do a PowerPoint presentation?
Yes, and we try very hard to accommodate all of these requests. Butler has more rooms with the technology available to do such presentations now than ever before, but not currently enough to accommodate all the requests we receive.
If the room in which your presentation is scheduled has the appropriate equipment, you may use it for your presentation. Students who wish to do a PowerPoint presentation, should have their presentation ready by BEFORE arriving on campus and submit it using the online file upload system.
NOTICE: Even if we have indicated to you that the equipment requested will be available (once papers are scheduled) and you have submitted your file to us on time, you should bring a "low tech" alternative to the conference with you (e.g., printed overheads) in case of equipment failure.
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13. Can the Butler URC provide internet access for my presentation?
Most rooms are wired for Internet access. You may request this, but you should plan on having an alternative if it is not available or not working that day.
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14. Can I change my topic and talk after I have submitted my abstract?
As you finish your study and get it ready for presentation, you may learn that something you indicated you would do or say in your abstract is not true or not possible. Please tell your audience of the change when you give the presentation.
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15. Can I withdraw my presentation after submission?
Submitting an abstract for presentation is a professional commitment. If you submit an abstract, you are agreeing to present it at the conference on that day. If you are, for reasons beyond your control, unable to attend, you should first try to get an undergraduate colleague to present the paper for you. If you can not find someone to replace you, send an email to urc@butler.edu to inform us that you are unable to attend and are unable to find a replacement. We will inform the session chair that you will not be able to present. We are sorry, but we are unable to refund registration fees for any reason.
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16. I found a typographical error in my abstract after I submitted it, can I fix it?
Session chairs do make some effort to proofread submitted abstracts before printing, but may not be able to catch all errors. You should write your abstract before submission and have the text approved by your faculty sponsor. You can type the text into a word processor and then when you are ready, copy and paste the text into the abstract form field. Be sure to use the preview function to check your abstract before you submit it to us.
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17. The URC website is not accepting new registrations or other requests. What should I do?
During peak times, we try to check the functionality of the website several times per day. Less frequently at other times. If the site is down for more than a day, please send an email to urc@butler.edu. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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18. I was unable to attend the conference. Can I get a copy of the program?
We are very sorry, but we do not have the staff or budget to mail copies of the program out to people who can not attend. The nominal registration fee does not entirely cover the cost of these items and it would be very difficult to accommodate such requests. If you want someone else to pick up a copy of the program for you at the conference, be sure you give them a copy of your paid receipt with a signed note from you that the person is authorized to receive your program.