Graduate Student Success

Poster Size

Posters will be hung on bulletin board easels. Due to the size of the easels, we ask all posters to be 36 inches by 24 inches or 24 inches by 36 inches. 

Presentation Duration

A rotating panel of judges will be evaluating multiple posters within a 45-minute time frame. Your presentation should be approximately five minutes in length.

Presentation Rubric

Poster presentations will be evaluated by the quality of the visual content as well as the effectiveness of explanation and delivery. Click here to view the poster presentation rubric.

Slide Deck

Your optional slide deck must be no longer than three slides. Please send your slide deck to GSA@utoledo.edu no later than 12 p.m. Thursday, April 10 so we can prepare these for you - no USB needed!

Presentation Duration

Your lightning talk should be approximately five minutes long. A moderator will assist and keep time of your presentation and provide a warning as time runs low. 

Presentation Rubric

Lightning talks will be evaluated by the effectiveness of explanation and quality of delivery. Click here for the lightning talk presentation rubric. 

Slide Deck

Presenters may have an optional slide deck (no minimum or maximum number of slides). Please send your slide deck to GSA@utoledo.edu no later than 12 p.m. Thursday, April 10 so we can prepare these for you - no USB needed!

Presentation Duration

Your seminar presentation should be approximately 10 minutes with remaining time for questions and transitions. 

Presentation Rubric

Lightning talks will be evaluated by the effectiveness of explanation and quality of delivery. Click here for the 15-minute seminar presenation rubric. 

Slide Deck

Presenters may have an optional slide deck (no minimum or maximum number of slides). Please send your slide deck to GSA@utoledo.edu no later than 12 p.m. Thursday, April 10 so we can prepare these for you - no USB needed!

Presentation Duration

Your seminar presentation should be approximately 20 minutes with remaining time for questions and transitions. 

Presentation Rubric

Lightning talks will be evaluated by the effectiveness of explanation and quality of delivery. Click here for the 30-minute seminar presenation rubric. 

If you are a seminar presenter: You must arrive by 8:30 AM to receive preparatory information from our coordinators.

If you are a poster presenter: If you will be joining us for lunch, please arrive by 12:00 PM to mount your poster on your assigned easel (if you are not joining us for lunch you may arrive at 12:30 p.m.).

We encourage poster presenters to arrive by 9:00 AM if possible so they may attend the opening remarks, keynote, and seminar sessions. You may mount your poster on the easel once you arrive. 

When you arrive, we recommend using the Centennial Mall entrance as the registration tables will be stationed there. You will check in with a coordinator and they will provide you with:

• A presenter badge/lanyard
• Your lunch ticket
• Presenter packet including your presenter room/easel assignment, building map, schedule, and additional helpful information!

If you are presenting a poster, you can mount your poster on the easels (push pins/thumb tacks provided) upon arrival. 

You will proceed to Memorial Field House Room 2100 for opening remarks beginning at 9:00 AM. If arriving at noon, you will be able to attend our lunchtime professional development session.

Following the morning main session, you will be directed to your presentation room on the second floor. 

A moderator will be present to introduce you to the audience and judges and will have your presentation prepared on the projector screen. You will be provided with a clicker to advance your slides (it's also a laser pointer!). 

The moderator will keep track of time and give you a warning when your time runs low. 

Once you finish your presentation, the judges will wrap up scoring and you may receive questions. Then, you're done!

You will be assigned a number corresponding with the number of your easel. You will mount your poster using thumb tacks/push pins provided to you. 

Once your session begins, you will be stationed at your poster to discuss your research with attendees and you will be approached by the judges at one point during the session. You will present your work for five minutes and the judges will complete their scoring.

We ask that you remain at your poster for the full duration of your session.

After the poster session, you will proceed to the awards and recognition ceremony at 2:30 pm!

Be sure to attend our recognition & award ceremony at 2:30 p.m.!

The Graduate Student Association will be announcing the winners of each presentation category and providing all presenters with certificates of appreciation and recognition for their participation in the symposium. 

Please wear what you would wear to an academic conference. We encourage business casual!

If you are a volunteer, we ask that you wear all black or dark colors if possible.

Nope! By completing our presenter RSVP, you are all set. 

We prefer that you send your presentation to GSA@utoledo.edu prior to the symposium, but if this is not possible you may also choose to bring it on a USB drive.

• Be sure to explain your work in a way that non-specialist audiences will understand. 
• Practice, practice, practice! Practice in front of a friend, your advisor, or even a mirror! Practicing your presentation is one of the most important ways you can prepare.
• Notes are welcome! Please feel free to bring them along - but be sure to remember eye contact and body language as you present.
• Breathe and enjoy the experience. We are here to celebrate you and support you. This symposium is a wonderful opportunity to present your work to fellow students and academics outside of your field!