2025 Symposium

Deadline

Sunday, March 30 at 11:59 pm.

Registration Form

Use the QR code below or THIS LINK This link will take you to an external website in a new tab..

Forthcoming. Check back after the registration deadline in April.

Best Undergraduate Paper

The award for best undergraduate paper is named after Dr. Charles McCall (Political Science, Bakersfield). Charles was one of the SSRIC founders. He was SSRIC Council Chair (AY 1974-75), served on the Council of the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, and was ICPSR Council chair. He died in 2013.

Best Graduate Paper

The best graduate paper award is named after another of the Council’s founders, Dr. Betty Nesvold (Political Science, San Diego). Betty was the very first SSRIC chair (AY 1972-73). Like Charles, she also served on the Council of the ICPSR, and was ICPSR Council Chair. She died in 1992. 

Best Use of Quantitative Data

The award for the best use of quantitative data is named after Gloria Rummels (Staff, State University Data Center [SUDC]). Until the early 1990s, SUDC served as the "hub" for the data bases, and the late Gloria Rummels was one of several staff members who provided fantastic support for data users. From the time of her death until SUDC was disbanded some years later, Gloria's SUDC colleagues funded this prize out of their own pockets.

Best Use of Qualitative Data

The fourth available award is for the best use of qualitative data. 

Use this FLYER to advertise the 2025 S4 Symposium to students and faculty on your campus. 

Document

S4-Flyer-2025.pdf

(PDF, 10.84 MB)

Use this map to navigate your way around the symposium spaces on campus at CSUDH.

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Campus-Map.pdf

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What are the length and formatting requirements for papers?
Not more than 20 pages (excluding title, abstract, tables and graphs, and list of works cited), double-spaced, 12 point font, with 1” margins. Your paper should include an abstract of 150-250 words in the standard location (in the beginning after the title and authors). MS Word and PDF files are accepted.

Who is eligible for an award?
Currently enrolled undergraduates, Master's level graduate students, and students in the first two full years of a CSU doctoral program, including recent graduates (Spring term 2024 or later) presenting work completed prior to graduation. Students may make a presentation without having submitted a paper, but will not be considered for an award. In the case of papers with multiple authors, all authors must be eligible for an award. Papers co-authored by both graduate and undergraduate students will be considered to be graduate papers. California community college students are welcome to present, but are not eligible for awards.

What about papers that have been published elsewhere?
Papers that are published or forthcoming in a peer-reviewed journal (excluding student journals) are not eligible for awards, nor are book chapters.

May a paper be presented at both this and another symposium (such as the CSU Student Research Competition)?
It’s fine with us, and with the CSU Student Research Competition. For other conferences, check with the conference organizers.

Do I need to be present to win?
Basically yes, but see next question.

If a paper has multiple authors, how will awards be allocated?
For best paper awards, at least one author must present the paper at the Symposium, but awards will be divided equally among all authors listed on the paper, including those not actually presenting. For other awards, the full amount of the award will go to the first author listed on the paper who is among those presenting.

Are papers co-authored by faculty eligible for an award?
No. Only students may be listed as authors, and students must have done the bulk of the work. These are student awards for student work. Faculty advisers are expected to be just that: advisers.

How do I submit a paper online?
Fill out the registration form by the deadline indicated. Include an abstract (150-250 words) of your paper/presentation. To be considered for an award, the full paper must be submitted with the registration. If you don’t wish to be considered for an award, you don’t need to submit a paper, but still do need to register and submit an abstract to participate and present your research.

Who will select the winners?
Awardees will be selected by a faculty committee appointed by the Social Science Research and Instructional Council. Reviews are done anonymously.

Do awards have income tax, health insurance, and/or financial aid implications?
We don’t give tax or insurance advice; you’ll have to check with someone who does. If you have questions regarding your financial aid, check with the financial aid office on your campus.