For Students

Exposition Information for Student Presenters

UMSI Exposition 

Main Event: Monday, April 20, 2026

12:00 - 2:00 PM ET 

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

Posters & Printing

Posters must 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 experiencing financial hardship and 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 Remote Student Information

MADS students, remote study abroad students, and recent graduates who cannot travel to Ann Arbor 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. 

Remote students must order posters to be printed between April 7 and April 14 for pickup at Angell Hall 'Fishbowl' Computing Site - Mason Hall Rm G440. See "Posters and Printing" above to learn more about printing a poster at U-M. A UMSI staff member will collect remote student posters and prepare them for display at Exposition.

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.

We suggest not brining backpacks, bulky coats, or other large items to Exposition, as space is limited. 

Day-of Event Check-In & Table Assignments

You may begin setting up 30 minutes before the start of Exposition, at 11:30 AM. Judges will be given the opportunity to walk around and view posters early, from 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM; however, they understand that students will be arriving and setting up during this time.

Students must arrive and begin setup no later than 11:40 AM. You may go directly to your assigned room and table on the second floor of the Michigan League. Your team's name tags, tri-fold board, binder clips, and other materials for setup and poster display will be at your assigned table. (Note: after the event, please leave your tri-fold board and binder clips on your table.) 

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

Participating students have the opportunity to be judged by a panel of community and industry leaders in up to two award categories. Teams with exceptional posters will be awarded prizes in the following degree program and thematic categories:

Final Project Categories - $2,500 for overall winner; $500 for pathway winner:

• BSI Capstone

  • User Experience

  • Information Analysis

• Master's Programs Final Projects

  • User Experience Design

  • Master of Applied Data Science

  • Big Data Analytics

  • Health Informatics

  • User-Centered Agile Design

  • Libraries, Archives, and Knowledge Environments

  • Master's Thesis Option Program

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

• Access, Belonging, and Inclusion

• Entrepreneurship/Innovation

• Democracy and Civic Empowerment (U-M Theme Initiative)

• Life Changing Education (U-M Theme Initiative)

Funding for Exposition awards is provided by the UMSI Annual Fund and the Organizational Culture and Community team.

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 on the following categories: Problem Statement Definition (clear problem statement with relevant information included, clear intended outcome), Creativity and Innovation in Problem Solving (novel solution, appropriate methodology, addresses the problem), Impact and Significance (meets user/community needs, positively impacts, sustainability), and Quality of Work (coherent story, accessible, aesthetics, appropriate graphics/visuals). Students can view the full rubric used by judges here.

Award Ceremony

Winners will be invited to an in-person awards ceremony immediately following the Exposition, to be held on Monday, April 20 from 2:00-2:30 PM in the Michigan League Ballroom.

Teams will have the opportunity to get their photo taken with UMSI leadership and a large check.