To recognize the academic accomplishments of students and to highlight Wittenberg’s diversity of experiential learning opportunities, the inaugural Connections Symposium will debut on Friday, April 21, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The symposium will utilize several locations across campus throughout the day, including Blair Hall, Thomas Library, the Joseph C. Shouvlin Center for Lifelong Learning, and the Benham-Pence Student Center.
Inspired by the Connections Curriculum, which Wittenberg launched in Fall 2021, the Connections Symposium “will help foster a sense of community and encourage interactions across disciplines for both faculty and students,” said Billy Davis, associate professor of psychology and coordinator of the event. “It is also a chance for students to share their experiences and talents with other students, faculty, staff, and visitors, as well as an opportunity to network, present, and learn from others,” he added. “In recent years, there have been few opportunities for our students to share the results of their research, creative projects, and other academic accomplishments with the broader campus community. The Celebration of Learning once served this purpose, but was discontinued after moving online for COVID in the spring of 2020.”
Students interested in participating can submit information about their presentation by Friday, March 31, online here: Connections Symposium Submission Form
“We have opportunities for a variety of presentation formats, including, but not limited to, poster sessions, artistic performances or exhibits, paper presentations/talks, topical panel sessions, and brief presentations/talks,” Davis explained. “In addition to presenting their academic work, students will have opportunities to share and discuss experiential learning opportunities they have participated in such as internships, study abroad, FIRE Week, or First Year Research Award projects. This symposium also gives prospective students a chance to see the experiences they could have as a future Tiger.”
The Connections Symposium is scheduled near the end of the spring semester to make it more feasible for students to present semester-long projects that are wrapping up in the final weeks of the academic year.
Members of the Connections Symposium working group include Davis, Mike Mattison, associate provost and professor of English, Kristin Cline, the John W. Barker Professor of Chemistry and director of general education, and Katherine Horstkotte, academic affairs program support coordinator.
For more information on the Connections Symposium, click here.
