Frequently Asked Questions

I submitted a Proposal. When will I know if it was accepted?

Students and their Honors Directors will be notified via e-mail in late March regarding the status of their proposal.

How can I be sure my Proposal was successfully submitted through the website?

The Head Presenter and the student's Honors Director should have been sent an automatic e-mail with all the contents of their successfully submitted proposals. If neither of you received this, you need to contact BHC President Jennifer Saito ASAP.

My confirmation e-mail had missing data! What do I do?

If you notice that any information (such as your talk title, or parts of your abstract) were not in the confirmation e-mail you received, this means the Proposal Committee does not have this information. If this applies to you, contact BHC President Jennifer Saito ASAP.

How are proposals selected?

A Proposal Committee made up of Honors Directors and Counselors screens all proposals and selects those that will be presented at the Symposium. This is an anonymous process meaning that your name and college are kept secret until the selection process is completed.

How many proposals will be chosen?

Based on this year's facilities, the Bay Honors Consortium estimates that up to 80 different proposals will be chosen. The selection process is competitive; last year about 60% of submitted proposals were accepted. Therefore, you should be sure that your proposal is of the highest quality and that it is clear to the Proposal Committee exactly what your research entailed, what your methods and resources were, and what conclusion you reached. Proposals with intriguing subject matters that demonstrate excellent research methods will do well in this process.

Is it too late to submit a Proposal?

Yes.

Can I attend the Symposium even if I'm not presenting?

Absolutely! We have room for approximately 300 attendees, and as noted above, only about 80 of those students will be presenting.

I'm not currently an Honors Student. Can I attend?

While this Symposium is primarily for Honors Students and faculty/staff, in special circumstances non-Honors Students will be allowed to attend providing space is available. For example, if you are about to join the Honors Program, you might be allowed to attend. Contact your college's Honors Director for information about how to obtain permission to attend.

How do I pay my Symposium registration fee?

The $20 registration fee must be paid to your Honors Director according to the deadlines and procedures they have determined for your campus. This fee can be waived for students experiencing financial difficulties. Contact your Director for more details.

What kind of AV equipment will be available for presenters?

Every room will have an LCD projector, and a white board. You need to bring your own laptop, connector cables and white board markers.

What is the suggested dress?

For attendees we suggest business casual. This means slacks and a button-down shirt for men and similar attire, or a professional skirt/dress for women.For presenters, you may want to go up one notch and dress as if you were going to an interview -- ties for men, and a nice pants/skirt suit or dress for women.

I have more questions. Who can I contact?

For questions regarding PROPOSALS & PRESENTATIONS, contact Katharine Harer

For GENERAL questions, contact Jennifer Saito