Student Symposium

General Information

On a Saturday in the spring, usually mid to late April, students from STEM and social science disciplines at an ACCA member institution are invited to present the results of research conducted as part of their academic experience. Up to 100 student poster presentations and 40 oral presentations occur during the day. The event is anchored by a distinguished guest who gives an engaging presentation on a topic relevant to students in STEM and social science programs. Past speakers have addressed issues in decoding AI, scientific integrity, and researching race. Faculty are encouraged to attend to support students from their institution and discipline. Lunch is provided.  There is no cost to attend this symposium; expenses are paid out of the dues of member organizations.

59th Annual ACCA Student Symposium, April 2027

Save Saturday, April 17, 2027, on your calendars for the 2027 Student Research Symposium. The University of St. Francis will be hosting the event.

58th Annual ACCA Student Symposium, April 2026

The 2026 ACCA Student Symposium will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at Lewis University’s Romeoville campus (campus map). Serving as a premier showcase for undergraduate scholarship within the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA) consortium, this year’s event is particularly significant as it coincides with ACCA’s 60th anniversary.  The Symposium will be hosted in the St. Charles Borromeo center (building #1 on the linked map – also known as North Campus).  The symposium offers students from the 14 member institutions a professional platform to present their scholarship through either a 12-minute oral presentation or interactive poster session. The day will begin with a distinguished plenary address, followed by breakout sessions and poster sessions.  Participation is free. You can submit abstracts for a poster or oral presentation here. 

Our keynote speaker is Prof. Steven Keith Platt. 

Title: Decoding AI

Summary: This presentation will focus on the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), from its conceptual origins to the sophisticated algorithms that power our world today. We will unravel the intricate inner workings of AI, exploring the fundamental structures that enable machines to learn, reason, and create. Furthermore, we will delve into the practical applications of AI that are reshaping industries, from optimizing business strategies and navigating the complexities of tax systems to revolutionizing medical informatics. This speech will provide a comprehensive overview of how AI is not just a futuristic concept, but a present-day reality that is already defining the next frontier of human innovation.

Please note that ACCA is hosting a competition to design a commemorative T-shirt, with each student symposium participant receiving a free T-shirt sporting the winning design.  Click here for details.

Coffee, tea, and snacks will be provided, as well as a free lunch.  We will do our best to accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, but can’t promise that we can accommodate everyone.  

Need answers ASAP?  Reach out to our event planning team at cwhite10@lewisu.edu for info and more.  

Faculty and students must register to attend. Both registration and student presentation requests will be completed using the SCHED system at https://accastudentsymposium2026.sched.com/.  The deadline to register or to request to present is 11:59 PM on April 10, 2026.

To register for this FREE event and/or submit your research for presentation, you will need to create a SCHED account at https://accastudentsymposium2026.sched.com/. Student presenters should be prepared to provide the following

  • The name and email of the attendee/primary presenter
  • The name of the ACCA college/university
  • The type of presentation you wish to make* (select no, if just attending)
  • The discipline that best represents your presentation*
  • The title of the presentation* (leave blank if just attending)
  • The names of any additional co-presenters* (leave blank if presenting alone or just attending)
  • The name and email for of the faculty advisor* (leave blank if just attending)
  • A concise (200 words or less) abstract describing the talk* (leave blank if just attending)

The registration system will also invite attendees (faculty, students, and presenters!) to select a size for a t-shirt. 

We look forward to seeing you at the ACCA Student Symposium this year!

57th Annual ACCA Student Symposium

The 57th Annual ACCA Student Scholarship Symposium will be Saturday, April 5, 2025, 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Lewis University.

The plenary address will be given by Dr. Stephen A. Martin, Jr., who serves as the Executive Director of CPASS Foundation. The title of Dr. Martin’s talk is “STEM in the Crosshairs: Navigating Scientific Integrity, Policy Shifts, and Career Resilience in an Era of Disruption”.

The Symposium will be held in the Academic Science Center (bldg #12) on the Romeoville campus of Lewis University.   The event will begin with a plenary talk, followed by oral sessions where students can present a 12-minute talk, followed by a poster session.  Parking for the event is free; no permit is required to park (lots C, D, or G are closest to the venue).  Participation for students and faculty from ACCA schools is free!  Coffee and tea will be available throughout the day.  Lunch is included.  

Students from ACCA institutions are invited to present their work in STEM and Social Sciences as an oral presentation (12 minutes) or a poster presentation. This year we request that each student to be lead presenter on at most two projects, though lead student researchers are welcome to be co-presenters on other projects. Research groups should select a lead presenter to submit the title and abstract for the presentation; other co-presenters should register to attend separately but need not submit a second request to present.  

Faculty and students must register to attend. Both registration and student presentation requests will be completed using the SCHED system at https://accastudentsymposium2025.sched.com.  The deadline to register or to request to present is 11:59 PM on March 31, 2025. The final schedule will be available on April 2, 2025.

To register for this FREE event and/or submit your research for presentation, you will need to create a SCHED account at https://accastudentsymposium2025.sched.com. Student presenters should be prepared to provide the following

  • The name and email of the attendee/primary presenter
  • The name of the ACCA college/university
  • The type of presentation you wish to make* (select no, if just attending)
  • The discipline that best represents your presentation*
  • The title of the presentation* (leave blank if just attending)
  • The names of any additional co-presenters* (leave blank if presenting alone or just attending)
  • The name and email for of the faculty advisor* (leave blank if just attending)
  • A concise (200 words or less) abstract describing the talk* (leave blank if just attending)

Students who are the lead presenter for a second presentation should be prepared to submit the same information (see items marked with an asterisk * above) for the second talk. The registration system will also invite attendees (faculty, students, and presenters!) to select a size for a t-shirt. 

We look forward to seeing you at the ACCA Student Symposium this year!

56th Annual ACCA Student Symposium
Saturday, April 13, 2024 at Lewis University

Lewis University is proud to host the 2024 Student Scholarship Symposium on behalf of the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA). The goal of the symposium is to give eligible students of ACCA schools the opportunity to present their research to their peers.

This year’s symposium will be held on April 13, 2024 – 9:00 – 2:30.  Students are enthusiastically encouraged to present their work as an oral presentation or a poster.

The plenary speaker this year is Dr. Stephen Maynard Caliendo who is Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at North Central College.  The title of Dr. Caliendo talk is “Challenges with Researching Race: Focus on the 2024 US Elections”.  Dr. Caliendo’s research expertise is in political psychology, political communication, and race and ethnicity studies. Dr. Caliendo is co-founder and co-director of The Project on Race in Political Communication and is often asked to provide media commentary on national and local political news programs. 

The Symposium will be held on the Romeoville campus of Lewis University.   Registration is free.  Individuals can register at: https://accastudentsymposium2024.sched.com. Students who are not presenting are also welcome to attend to support peers or to explore future participation. Faculty planning to attend are also reminded to register so that an appropriate quantity of food is prepared. Registrations for this FREE event are accepted through 11:59 PM on Friday, April 5, 2024.

2024 ACCA Student Symposium Save the DateDownload

Partial List of Host Institutions and Years Hosting

  • Lewis University 2024, 2025, 2026
  • North Park University 2022, 2023
  • Covid Gap Years 2020, 2021
  • Benedictine University 2017, 2018, 2019
  • Concordia University Chicago 2014, 2015, 2016
  • Elmhurst University 2011, 2012, 2013
  • Lewis University 2008, 2009, 2010
  • University of St. Francis 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
  • Unknown 2002, 2003
  • Elmhurst University 2000, 2001