February 5, 2021
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Shawnee State University will still host its 2021 Celebration of Scholarship (CoS) virtually. CoS is a peer-reviewed research conference that features academic presentations and exceptional projects which showcases SSU students in baccalaureate and graduate programs from different colleges across SSU's campus.
Historically, CoS would begin at the end of March or beginning of April in the Morris University Center and classrooms across campus, but with COVID-19 restrictions, the entire conference has moved online. There will be no in-person presentations in classrooms or lecture halls, and all presentations will be uploaded to the Digital Commons at the Clark Memorial Library and viewable asynchronously. There will also be no poster session or guest presentations for 2021's CoS. Posters will be adapted and converted into oral presentations.
“In order for students to be involved in the conference, they first will need a faculty mentor,” said Erik Larson, Chair of the Organizing Committee for CoS. “Presentations usually stem out of a class or research project. It's a great opportunity for staff, faculty and all students to see what other students are doing in our various departments.”
Students will typically present works related to research in their field, creative works in the visual and performing arts, community service and study abroad.
The regularly occurring Thursday night CoS dinner has been cancelled, along with the open-invitation Friday afternoon picnic for students, staff, and faculty. Both will hopefully return in 2022 when regular events on campus can safely resume.
There will be no Poster Awards or Excellence in the Humanities Award for CoS 2021. However, the Library Research Awards of $400 will still be awarded for excellence in research for a student paper or project. Up to three $100 Deans’ Awards will be given to undergraduate students, with awards for different class standings, and one $100 award may be given to a graduate student.
The Trustees’ Awards are presented by the Board of Trustees to up to two students. The award is given to students who showcase outstanding research that is investigative, project-based, inquiry-based, open-minded and/or exploratory. Students nominated for a Trustees’ Award will give their presentations live on Blackboard Collaborate.
“Online presentation is still a great communication tool - students should not shy away from participating in this year's conference because of the changes,” said Larson. “Thier work will be preserved in a portfolio for future career prospecting.”
The SSU CoS is a great opportunity for students to learn to present academic work in a formal setting and receive feedback from faculty and scholars in the field. It is also an opportunity to share their work, see the work of others in the same field and/or other areas of study, and to exchange valuable feedback.
Information about SSU's CoS and the nomination forms for the different awards can be found at shawnee.edu/cos.