Scholars Week, an annual celebration of student research and creative activities at Western, was created by unanimous resolution of the Faculty Senate in November 1999. What was originally envisioned as “Scholars Day” quickly became “Scholars Week” to accommodate a diverse series of events highlighting the scholarship and creativity of Western students.
From art to engineering technology, students and faculty work closely together to explore the boundaries of knowledge. Scholars Week, which occurs annually each May, has become a highlight of the academic year, celebrating the contributions of students as they enrich the intellectual environment of Western and society in general.
Scholars Week has evolved from the inaugural celebration in May 2000 that involved 100 students participating in 11 events to a week-long event of more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students from 50 different disciples participating in one of four different presentation formats in 2023. These four main Scholars Showcase presentation formats feature research and creative work from students from across the university: The Poster Session, the Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®), Graduate Student Creative Writing Presentations and Faculty/Student Group Collaborations. In addition, many Western departments, colleges, and programs concurrently host their own Scholars Week activities specific to their discipline.
The University Scholars Poster Session and Reception, which was first held in 2005, presently serves as the centerpiece of Scholars Week. In 2019, graduate students were invited to present posters concurrently with undergraduates, adding the “Graduate Student Symposium.” In 2020, Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) presentations were added as another presentation opportunity for graduate students. This presentation format challenges participants to explain their research to a general audience in three minutes or less, using a single PowerPoint slide.
Due to Coronavirus restrictions on social gatherings, Scholars Week 2020 and 2021 were held virtually. Scholars Week 2022 was offered as a hybrid event, with both a virtual gallery and in-person events, including the Faculty/Student Group Collaborations, a new Scholars Week category for 2022. This presentation category featured a series of 30-minute presentations, each including a professor and a group of students who had engaged in a collaborative form of research, creative project, or similar endeavor. Scholars Week 2023 was held entirely in person, adding yet another presentation category, the Graduate Student Creative Writing Presentations, featuring graduate students earning advanced degrees in English reading original poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and/or hybrid works.
Financial support for Scholars Week is provided by the WWU President, Office of the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Offices of Research and Sponsored Programs and the Graduate School, the Foundation, and academic colleges.
Questions? Contact scholars.week@wwu.edu
For accessibility services please contact the Disability Access Center at drs@wwu.edu or 360-650-3083 or visit in person at Wilson Library 170.