Scholars Week 2020 Goes Virtual

Western will celebrate Scholars Week, an annual campus event showcasing the best of student scholarship, as an online event this year for the first time.

An online gallery will feature a virtual poster session of outstanding scholarly research and creative works by Western students. The event is intended to honor student success while reaffirming the university’s commitment to academic achievement despite the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

The Scholars Showcase will take place from May 18 through May 22. Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit scholarly or creative work via the Scholars Week Registration Form from April 27 until May 13.

The Scholars Week Committee Chair, Associate Professor of Journalism Maria McLeod, said the decision to proceed with an online event came in response to enthusiastic support from students, faculty and staff, who hoped to continue the 20-year tradition of Scholars Week despite the closure of campus spring quarter.

“As an online event, Scholars Week 2020 is a means of celebrating what we can’t witness in the physical — our students researching, creating, and dedicating themselves to academic achievement, discovery and success,” said McLeod. “I’m especially happy we’re able to provide a platform to honor their scholarly pursuits.”

Scholars Week is open to graduate and undergraduate students at WWU who are interested in sharing their research or creative work with the university community at large. Submissions should include a poster as a digital image accompanied by an abstract or written description of the work. Options also are available for other media, such as audio recordings and videos.

Scholars Week was created by a unanimous resolution of the Faculty Senate in November 1999. Originally envisioned as “Scholars Day,” the event quickly transformed into “Scholars Week” to accommodate a diverse series of events highlighting the scholarship and creativity of Western students across a variety of disciplines. Financial support for Scholars Week is provided by the President's office, Provost's office, Office of Undergraduate Education, Offices of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Graduate School, the Western Foundation, and academic colleges and departments.

For more information about the event or how to participate, contact scholars.week@wwu.edu or visit the website at wp.wwu.edu/scholars/.