ACC Meeting of the Minds Conference

Plenary sessions involve both reflections on the importance of undergraduate research, highlights of research methodologies by distinguished faculty from the host university, and reflections on paths to graduate school and research careers. The conference is fully funded by the ACC with all costs covered for the selected student delegates.

Each year, usually in late March or early April, 5-10 outstanding undergraduate researchers (accompanied by a faculty/staff member) from each ACC university gather at a host university to present their research, either verbally or as a poster. To be invited to the conference is a real honor. For additional conference specific information please visit the ACC Website.

University of North Carolina, March 20-22, 2020
University of Virginia, 2021

2020 Application Now Available!

APPLY NOW

UM undergrads from all disciplines are invited to apply! 

Application includes:

• 250  word or less abstract 
• Faculty mentor contact information
• Paragraph describing how attending will help in achieving your academic and career goals
• Unofficial transcript

Application deadline for the 2020 conference is  Monday, November 25th, 2019. Selected students will meet with the program director during scheduled evening/weekend sessions to prepare for the conference. Attendance at these meetings is a requirement for attending the conference. Students may also be required to change their presentation format based on conference needs.

At the conference, students are not be expected to provide a formal talk with their poster. Instead, students will stand with their poster and speak to other attendees about their work. For verbal presentations, the length of the presentation is approximately 10 minutes followed by a short question and answer period.

Please note: preference is given to students who have completed research spanning multiple semesters.

• Who will be in the audience?

  The audience will primarily be other participating ACC students from a large variety of disciplines; therefore, students should prepare to speak to students inside and outside their field. Students will not be expected to provide a formal talk with their poster. Instead, students stand with their poster for approximately one hour and discuss their research with conference attendees.

• Can students present research that was conducted at another university?

  Yes! If this is the case, the letter of support will be from the faculty member at the respective institution.

• Can students present research conducted previously?

  Yes, research from a prior semester is able to be presented.

• Are the pre-conference meetings required?

  Yes, all selected students are required to attend all of the pre-conference meetings with Dr. Gaines. Students that are unable to complete this requirement will not be allowed to travel to the conference.

• Are all student delegate expenses covered?

  Conference related expenses are paid by the ACC and UGR including: airfare, ground transportation, lodging, conference meals, and poster printing. Students may need to pay for expenses encumbered during transit such as meals and any additional baggage fees.