For Students

Exposition Information and Reminders for Student Presenters

UMSI Exposition 

Thursday, April 18, 2024 

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET 

Michigan League, 911 N. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI  48109

Posters & Printing

Some helpful poster templates can be found at https://intranet.si.umich.edu/umsi-poster-templates. 

UMSI logos and instructions for use can be found at https://intranet.si.umich.edu/umsi-logos-and-marketing-guide. 

Posters should be printed by students with the following dimensions: 48” (horizontally) x 36” (vertically). Note that if you print on campus via Campus Computing, you will be asked to enter a size for the poster. Enter 48” x 36” (they have a maximum width of 40” for printing but length can be much longer, so your 36” size will be considered the width, and 48” will be the length). Check with the Consultants on staff at the fishbowl if you need help printing your poster on campus. The cost to print a poster via Campus Computing in a 48” x 36” size is $16.80. If you are in need of financial assistance to print your poster, please complete this form as soon as possible. 

If you signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) with your client/community partner, please check with them to ensure you share allowable information on your poster.

The Engaged Learning Office will provide tri-fold boards and binder clips; YOU must print and bring your poster. The only exception to this is MADS remote students/teams with no team members who will be present in-person (see "MADS and Study Abroad Student Information" section below for more details).

MADS and Study Abroad Student Information

MADS students who cannot travel to Ann Arbor and residential students studying abroad this semester are invited to participate in Exposition from afar by printing a poster with a virtual interaction component, such as a QR code that links to a live chat or video. 

These students must order posters to be printed between April 4 and April 11 for pickup at Angell Hall 'Fishbowl' Computing Site - Mason Hall Rm G440. A UMSI staff member will collect remote student posters and prepare them for display at Exposition. Only students who are not physically in Ann Arbor can participate remotely.

What to Wear

Student presenters are required to wear professional attire at Exposition. Examples of this include dress pants or business skirt, dress shirt/blouse, suit jacket/blazer, and nice shoes. Wear something you would wear for an in-person job interview. Do not wear a sweatshirt, t-shirt, jeans, sweatpants, yoga pants, flip flops, or athletic shoes.

Day-of Event Check-In & Table Assignments

You must check-in at the check-in table 20 minutes before the start of Exposition, at 10:40 AM. The check-in table will be located on the second floor of the Michigan League in the Concourse. Please send just one person from your team to check in and collect name tags for your team. 

Your team will be assigned to a table with a tri-fold board and binder clips to use to set up and display your poster. (Note: after the event, please leave your tri-fold board and binder clips on your table.) Room assignments by table number can be viewed on the Event Map page.

Students presenting in the Ballroom (SI 485 and SI 487 Capstones), please note that SI 487 students will leave at 12:30 PM for mandatory class presentations. 

• SI 487 students: Please leave your posters in place at your assigned table. UMSI staff will take your poster down and transport it to the classroom where your presentations will take place immediately after Exposition ends.

• SI 485 students: Do NOT leave at 12:30 PM when SI 487 students leave. You will stay until Exposition ends at 1:00 PM. The Ballroom will quiet down after SI 487 students leave, which will give you further opportunity to engage with guests.

Food and Drink

We will have light snacks available at Exposition. Please plan to eat before the event if you require a more substantial meal. We would like to ensure there are enough snacks for guests to enjoy.

Also, please bring your own water bottle. There are water fountains in the League to refill your water bottle. We will have beverages available as well, but there will only be small disposable cups provided.

Judging & Awards

Student team self-identify which award category they would like to be considered for (if any). 

Participating students/teams have the opportunity to win cash awards within any two of the following categories:

Final Project Categories - $5,000 for first prize; $1,500 for second prize:

• BSI Capstone (SI 485, SI 487, Capstone Independent Study)

• Residential Master's Programs - MSI/MHI Final Projects (SI 699 Mastery Courses, MTOP, or similar)

• MADS Capstone (SIADS 699)

Thematic Categories - $1,500 for first prize; $500 for second prize:

• Entrepreneurship/Innovation (Projects that develop, organize, and/or run a new business or creative initiative or approach)

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (Projects that focus on fair treatment and full participation of all people, including populations who have been historically under-represented or subjected to discrimination)

• Community/Civic (Projects that focus on the participation, rights, and obligations of people in society, including local initiatives)

• UMSI Theme Year: Water Conservation and Access (Projects that focus on water conservation and access)

Funding is provided by the estate of Gerald P. Miller (AMLS '86, Ph.D. '95) and the UMSI Miller Scholars Fund.

Staff will verify that the winners meet eligibility criteria and provide strong representation of the award categories. Industry and alumni judges will select the top posters for each category. Judges will score your poster/presentation based on the following items: Problem Statement and Problem-solving Skills (clear problem statement, understandable, problem statement/outcome/goal alignment), Creativity and Innovation (novel approach, appropriate methodology, award category alignment), Impact and Significance (meets user/community needs, positively impacts, sustainability), and Quality of Work (coherent story, accessible, aesthetics, relevant graphics/visuals).

Award Ceremony

Exposition award winners will be notified by the end of the day on Friday, April 19. Winners will be invited to an in-person awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 23 from 12:00-1:00 PM in the Ehrlicher Room (3100 North Quad). Snacks will be provided, and teams will have the opportunity to get their photo taken with UMSI leadership and a large check. We encourage award winners to dress in professional attire.

MADS Poster Fair & Grads Reception - May 1, 2024

MADS students will have the additional opportunity to present their poster in-person at the MADS Poster Fair on Wednesday, May 1 from 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM or 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM ET in the Ehrlicher Room, 3100 North Quad (105 S. State St.). MADS students interested in presenting should register to present at Exposition. Students may present the same poster at both Exposition and the MADS Grads Reception; however, only Exposition registrants who submit the required materials will be considered for awards.

The MADS Poster Fair will take place concurrently with the MADS Grads Reception. The Grads Reception will take place in-person in North Quad Space 2435 (105 S. State St.). The reception will be open house style, and refreshments will be served. All reception attendees are invited to browse the Poster Fair. MADS graduates can register for the Grads Reception here.