RIT to Host Conference for Undergraduate Research in Communication

Annual conference will result in a book featuring a collection of research papers

Rochester Institute of Technology is hosting its fourth annual Conference for Undergraduate Research in Communication March 22. And this year the students aren’t just presenting their research papers—they’re having them published.

All presenters, who are representing 11 colleges and universities from across New York state, will have their papers published by RIT. Thirty-one papers will be published in the book, on topics ranging from the social impact of MTV to educational podcasting.

Sponsored by RIT’s Department of Communication in the College of Liberal Arts, the conference gives students a platform for exchanging ideas with peers from other colleges.

Students from the communication departments at RIT, Albany University, Hamilton College, Ithaca College, Marist College, New York University, St. John Fisher College, SUNY Brockport, SUNY Geneseo, Roberts Wesleyan College and Utica College will participate.

“Undergraduates probably don’t get enough opportunity to show off their research work,” says Patrick Scanlon, professor of communication at RIT and conference coordinator. “Students really don’t have a forum where their work is valued in a public way. RIT is probably ahead of the curve on this in valuing undergraduate research and billboarding it.”

The book is being published “on-demand.” Those who wish to can order a copy online and have it delivered to their doorsteps within days.

The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Fireside Lounge of the Student Alumni Union with a continental breakfast and remarks by Glenn Kist, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, and Bruce Austin, chair of the Department of Communication.

Presentations will take place in the Student Alumni Union throughout the day, with the conference concluding at 4:45 p.m.

For more information on the conference, visit www.rit.edu/curc.


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