Tower Day 2023

Columbus State University's Tower Day Undergraduate Research Conference is an annual celebration and showcasing of student academic and creative endeavors. Participants from all majors present, discuss, and network about research and artistic productions.

Tower Day will be held at the Cunningham Conference Center, located at 3100 Gentian Blvd, Columbus, Georgia, on Friday, April 26, 2024.

Any current undergraduate student or recent graduate of CSU may submit an abstract to present at Tower Day. Faculty mentors may also submit to Tower Day to present alongside their students. The main criteria for submitting is that the academic or creative work took place while the individual was a CSU student.

You will need to submit the following information during the online process, much of which may be cut and pasted from text documents:

Required Information:

• Abstract Title
• Abstract (250-word limit)
• Mode of Presentation (e.g., Poster, 15-minute presentation, short film, performance, visual art display)
• Equipment needs (e.g., DVD, PowerPoint)
• Full names, email addresses and academic level of all student collaborators
• Full names and email addresses of all co-presenters (2 maximum)
• Full names of all faculty mentors

Other Information (the following responses will not impact whether or not your project is selected for Tower Day):

• If the project originated as a class assignment, you will need the course name and number (e.g., PSYC 4125)
• If the project has been previously presented, published, or received an award, you will need names, dates, and/or journal citations
• If the project was funded by a grant, you will need source, type, and amount

Presenters can use this Tower Day Application Guide (PDF) to prepare.

Abstract submission will open on November 1, 2023 and will close February 2, 2024 on the Tower Day website. Students may also navigate to the application in their MyCSU account by accessing the "student" tab and then the "student records" menu. Then select the "CSU Tower Day Application" under the ‘Applications' column.

Application coming soon!

If a student is presenting work that they did for your class or as independent research with your guidance, you are considered the faculty mentor and should be listed as such on the student's abstract submission. You will then be responsible for reviewing and signing off on the student's submission before it goes forward for committee review.

The primary faculty mentor will be copied on all correspondence and will be the first mentor listed. If several faculty mentors have assisted you, discuss this issue with them. In general, you should select a faculty mentor in the department the project is predominantly based, and one who devoted the greatest amount of time to the project. All faculty mentors will be recognized and formally thanked.

Student abstracts must be submitted no later than Friday, February 2, 2024. The faculty mentor must complete their review and submit the application on or before February 10, 2024.

Important Dates

November 1 - Abstract Submission Opens
February 2 - Abstract Submission Closes
February 10 - Faculty Mentor Signoff Due
February 12-17 - Review of Applications
February 19-24 - Notification of Acceptance
April 8-12 - Presentation Materials
April 26 - Due* Tower Day

Student presentation options include poster presentations, oral presentations, demonstrations, film, performances, and visual art displays.

Poster sessions involve displaying a visual representation of the research project on a large poster board including a mixture of text with tables, graphs, and pictures to present your findings in a visually interesting and accessible way. This will serve as a tool to prompt discussion with colleagues during a 50-minute poster session. Students present their work on tri-boards or scientific poster and spend an hour talking to small groups who circulate throughout the room. This is a great way for students to interact personally with their audience and ideal for those who are hesitant to talk in front of a larger group. Students stand by their posters to discuss their work with conference attendees and answer questions. Items typically included: Title, Authors, Abstract, Introduction, Materials & Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgments, and References.

These are traditional presentations where students present their research findings or projects to an audience using slides or other visual aids. Presentations may take the form of 15-minute lectures or performances, often utilizing PowerPoint technology. Students are typically paired with two other presentations and the presentation set is facilitated by a moderator. Typically, each presenter is allotted a specific time slot for their talk, followed by a Q&A session. These talks are scheduled in a series of other presentations with a 12-minute presentation (to include sharing of the film) with 3 minutes Q&A for a total 15-minute presentation.

If you are not sure whether a poster or a presentation is right for you, follow up with your faculty mentor.

To purchase a poster, you can go through the Cougar Copy Center located on the ground floor of Davidson Student Center. You can also purchase a poster at a local office supply store.

Presenters are encouraged to be dressed in business casual attire. For more information about professional attire, please refer to the Center for Career Design's website.

Applications will be reviewed February 12-17, 2024. Notifications of Acceptance will be sent February 19-24, 2024.

Students accepted to present at Tower Day will receive a letter of acceptance that includes the scheduled time commitment. Students are encouraged to share this letter with their faculty members as an excuse from class. Students wishing to attend the Tower Day event to support their peers should discuss this directly with the professor of the class where the conflict(s) occurs.

We would love your help as a faculty judge or reviewer! A form will be made available through the Kuali platform.

The event is open to the university and general public.