Honors Research Symposium

While the Honors Research Symposium will not be held in 2026, UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College are co-hosting the 22nd annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS) right here on campus on Saturday, November 7, 2026. Visit the SNCURCS website at UNC Charlotte for more information.

22nd annual State of North Carolina Undergraduate Research & Creativity Symposium (SNCURCS)

All Honors College students (except for UHP first year students) are strongly encouraged to submit a research presentation abstract by the 11:59 PM, October 1, 2026 deadline. If you are a UHP first year student, you are required to attend SNCURCS as an audience member. First year UHP students must complete the register on Helper Helper and complete the UHP 1st Year Registration form by the October 28 deadline.

If you’re a sophomore (second year student) in North Carolina, you are eligible for the George Barthalmus Undergraduate Research Award and that award application is due by October 1.

Presenting

UHP students completing their capstone projects this semester are REQUIRED to present at SNCURCS. Other honors students are encouraged to present. Presenting at SNCURCS is an exceptional opportunity to share your inquiry projects and creative work with a statewide audience. Starting early gives you ample time to collaborate with faculty mentors, solidify your abstract, and gain valuable experience presenting your research alongside scholars from across North Carolina.

NOTE: UNC Charlotte honors students must submit an abstract by October 1, 2026 11:59 PM.

Volunteering

Even if you choose not to present your research this year, you can still participate in this major event by serving as a volunteer! Volunteering is an easy way to get involved and support more than 500 visiting student researchers. Students who volunteer for 2 or more hours at SNCURCS will be provided with a pizza lunch. Please note that lunches will NOT be provided for students who attend solely as audience members. Volunteers must complete the SNCURCS Volunteer Form by October 2. (UHP students must also register to volunteer via Helper Helper.)

Important Deadlines

UNC Charlotte Presenter Abstract Form: October 1, 2026, by 11:59 PM
George Barthalmus Award (Sophomores / 2nd year students): Due by October 1, 2026, by 11:59 PM
UNC Charlotte honors registration: Due by October 2, 2026, by 11:59 PM
SNCURCS Volunteer Form: October 2, 2026, by 11:59 PM
Submission Status Notification: October 16, 2026
Poster PDF Submission Deadline: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by 11:59 PM
1st Year UHP Student Registration (be sure to also register to attend in Helper Helper): October 28, 2026, by 11:59 PM
SNCURCS: November 7, 2026, in the Popp Martin Student Union and surrounding buildings

Presentation Formats & Abstract Requirements

Submission Format Options: Students need to choose their presentation type and then submit an abstract for a Creative Arts Presentation, Oral Presentation, or a Poster Presentation
Abstract Requirements: Submit your abstract by October 1 in the UNC Charlotte Presenter Abstract Submission Form. The abstract is a concise, single-paragraph summary of your presentation’s purpose, main points, method, findings, and conclusions. Please ensure your research advisor has reviewed and approved your abstract.

Poster Printing, Size & Display Logistics

Poster Printing: Poster printing is provided for free for honors students through the Honors College. You must be in an honors program to get your poster printed by Honors College.
Dimensions & Template: Posters must be no larger than 32 inches tall x 40 inches wide. Students should download and remix this 32×40 Poster Research Template. Carefully follow the instructions in the template and save your finished poster as a PDF.
Printing Submission Deadline: A poster submission form will be provided in mid-October. You must submit a PDF of your poster file by 11:59 P.M. on Tuesday, October 27, in order for your poster to be printed on time.
Mounting & Easels: Students are responsible for mounting their own poster on a foam board that can be placed on an easel. Easels, foam boards, and tacks or clips will be provided for participants on the day of the event.

The Honors College, in collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR), hosts the Honors Research Symposium during the Fall semester. This annual event is a unique opportunity for all honors students and OUR students to present the results of their inquiry projects to the UNC Charlotte community.

We also welcome Charlotte students, honors program directors, Honors Faculty, mentors, full-time and part-time faculty, administrators, staff, and other supporters of undergraduate student inquiry to attend this event to learn, ask questions, and provide feedback!

Student Resources

Students, it’s important for you to start looking for potential inquiry topics early! This gives you the opportunity to reach out to faculty and staff here at Charlotte that could help and guide you through this process. Establishing a community that can assist you in every aspect of your research is very important and can make this entire process a lot easier to manage versus doing it all alone. Even if you don’t have a definite grasp on what you want to research, bringing up your ideas to the staff here could help reduce any doubt or help you solidify your idea. Additionally, starting early gives you the time to get through all of your ideas and begin putting everything together so that you’re well prepared to present your work at the symposium.