On May 29th, 2008,Western Oregon University will celebrate student academic excellence. The entire day will be dedicated to the presentation of student scholarly activities, including original research papers, projects, artwork, performances, and upper-division course projects, presentations, and papers. The showcase will again be organized by the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences (PURE). To demonstrate the importance of student scholarly pursuits at Western, the Faculty Senate is encouraging the faculty to cancel their classes, while at the same time requiring students to attend their peers' presentations. The primary objectives of the Showcase are to provide an opportunity for presenters, giving them experience that will be useful in furthering their education and careers, and to expose the entire student body to the breadth and importance of the scholarship that is being conducted across campus.
An Academic Excellence Showcase Planning Committee, including faculty and staff from across campus, is organizing this event. In order to ensure the highest level of participation the Showcase Planning Committee has enlisted faculty volunteers, representing academic disciplines across campus, to serve as Session Chairs. Follow the links from the menu to the left for suggested session formats and session chair responsibilities.
President John Minahan,
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University’s Academic Excellence Showcase
encourages students to demonstrate their research
and scholarship, and allows the campus community to
experience the varied scholarly and creative interests of our
undergraduate students.
The abstracts of student presentations included
in the Showcase Proceedings are a representative sample of the
achievements of our student body. These presentations
are from a range of disciplines throughout the College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences and the College of Education, but
they all celebrate the pursuit of learning and knowledge.
I want to thank the students who have chosen to share
their work with us, and the faculty for nurturing and
guiding the pursuits of our students. Western Oregon
University commends your dedication and we are proud
of all you do.
Sponsored by:
The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi
& The Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences
The Academic Excellence Showcase Planning Committee gratefully acknowledges the generous support of this program provided by President John Minahan, the Provost's Office, the Western Oregon University Foundation and the Office of Public Relations. Thanks are extended to Deans Stephen Scheck (College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) and Hilda Rosselli (College of Education), whose support during the planning process has been unwavering. Support from William Kernan, Director of Computing Services, is also gratefully acknowledged. We are especially indebted to the faculty session chairs and sponsors, without whom this event would not be possible.