What is the schedule for the day?
Registration opens at 9am and the Symposium begins at 10am sharp! CLICK HERE for the full schedule of the day.
Where are the Symposium events?
Registration and all presentations are at History Corner, located adjacent to the Stanford Oval. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies are in the Hewlett Teaching Center Room 200, a 7-minute walk from History Corner. CLICK HERE for a map.
Where shall I park? Is it free?
Parking is free on the Stanford campus on Saturdays. We suggest parking on The Oval, Museum Way or in the Roth Way Garage adjacent to the Cantor Arts Center. CLICK HERE for a map and more details.
Is the Program available?
Yes. CLICK HERE for the full schedule of every presentation and the day’s activities.
I’m a presenter. What time should I arrive?
We recommend that presenters, especially those in Session I, arrive no later than 9am so you will have time to get your name badge and test your equipment in your classroom. If you are presenting in Session II or III, we recommend arriving at least 1 hour in advance, though of course then you’ll miss the wonderful Opening Ceremony and other Symposium activities.
I’m not presenting. What time should I arrive?
The Opening Ceremony will start at 10am sharp. It will be in the Hewlett Teaching Center which is a 7-minute walk from registration at History Corner. We recommend arriving no later than 9:30am as we expect crowds.
I am only attending one session as a guest. When should I arrive and how can I check in?
Presenters are each allowed two “unpaid guests” to attend their session. Upon arrival at History Corner, guests should sign in at the registration tables and receive a guest nametag. We highly recommend guests plan to arrive at least one hour in advance of the presentation session as parking, checking in, and locating the correct classroom will take some time. Please note that if you arrive late and the session has already started, you will not be able to enter the presentation room as this is disruptive to the other speakers. Guests are welcome to stay for the Closing Ceremony.
I didn’t register in advance. Can I show up on May 6 and still attend as a walk-in?
Yes. We have walk-in spots available for the same $35 registration fee, although we cannot guarantee lunch for you as the catering order has been placed. We recommend walk-in attendees arrive at Stanford by 9am on May 6 to give yourself time to complete registration.
I will be a walk-in registrant. How can I pay the $35 registration fee?
You can pay using credit/debit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay on May 6. We also accept cash, though we encourage electronic payments.
I’m a presenter. Can my friends and family watch my talk? Must they register and pay?
Every presenter may have up to two unpaid guests watch their presentation, however guests may not attend any other sessions and they will not receive lunch or a program. If you have more than two people who want to watch the talk, they will need to register themselves for the conference. Paying attendees of course can attend the entire day, and will receive lunch and other conference materials. We recommend guests arrive at least one hour in advance.
Does the Symposium have prizes?
Yes. There are three prizes: The Heslet Scholar Award, the Katharine Award and the Klaschus Honors Faculty of the Year Award. CLICK HERE for details.
What’s for lunch?
All attendees who registered in advance by the April 17 deadline will receive a box lunch with a choice of either turkey, roast beef, chicken salad, roasted vegetable/tofu or a mozarella & roasted tomato sandwich. Gluten free attendees will receive a salad.
I’m an Honors Director/Coordinator. How can I pay for my college’s attendees?
Most colleges pay via check directly to the BHC Treasurer, Joyce Lee of Skyline College. She can also generate an invoice for your school if needed. Contact her at leej@smccd.edu with questions.
What does the $35 registration fee include?
The registration fee grants entry to all Symposium events and includes a delicious lunch, a Symposium tote bag and all Symposium materials including the program and a Stanford folder. If you plan to be a walk-in, lunch is not guaranteed.
Are scholarships available?
Yes. Please contact your Honors Director/Coordinator first to determine how your college is handling payments. Some colleges have money to pay for their student attendees. If not, your Honors Director/Coordinator should send an email to Symposium Chair jsaito@losmedanos.edu to request a scholarship for you.
Where and when is the Symposium?
The 2023 Symposium will be at Stanford University on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
What is the format for my presentation?
If chosen to present, you will give a 15-minute talk at the Symposium followed by a 5-minute question & answer period. Typically you will be grouped with two additional proposals in a session which will last about an hour long. CLICK HERE to see the program from 2019 to get a good idea how the day works.
How many proposals were submitted and accepted this year?
For 2023, we received 187 proposals and we accepted about 90.
Why wasn’t my proposal accepted? Can I get feedback?
Unfortunately, we cannot give feedback on individual proposals, however it’s likely your Honors Director/Coordinator can provide constructive criticism. Proposals which involved original research, had academically solid methodologies, utilized high-quality current resources, and which were well written and interesting to a general audience were prioritized by the Proposal Committee.
Can I still submit a proposal to speak at the Symposium?
No. The deadline was February 14, 2023. We are no longer accepting proposals.
Who can present at the Symposium?
Any student who is a member of their California Community College Honors Program during the 2022-23 academic year may present.
What kind of research projects are eligible to be presented?
The research can be in any academic discipline, but the project should have been done at the student’s community college either in the 2021-22 or 2022-23 academic years.
Can a team of students present?
Yes. If the project was collaborative, up to three students total can present if selected.
What information is part of the proposal?
- Title and 1-sentence description
- 150-word abstract which summarizes the driving question & results
- 50-word methodology which details the process used in the research project
- Up to 5 resources in MLA or APA format
- Associated paper or essay (Optional, though strongly encouraged)
CLICK HERE for sample proposals.
Was the selection process competitive?
Yes. This year we received 187 proposals and selected about 90 to present. There are many resources on this site to help you submit a high-quality proposal in the future . CLICK HERE for tips and sample excellent proposals.
Who selected presenters & what process did they use?
A committee made up of honors faculty from diverse colleges and disciplines reviewed all the proposals to choose this year’s presenters. These proposals were screened anonymously, meaning that any identifying information was not seen by the selection committee.
Can I attend the Symposium just to watch presentations?
Absolutely. In a typical year we have around 90 presenters, and 200-250 additional attendees who enjoy watching all the great presentations.
I have a question. Who can help me?
General Symposium Questions: Professor Jennifer Saito, Symposium Chair, Los Medanos College, (jsaito@losmedanos.edu)
General Proposal Questions: Professor Eva Moe, Modesto Junior College, (moe@yosemite.edu)
Specific Questions about Writing Your Proposal: Your Honors Director/Coordinator