This year the 14th Annual Conference for Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression will be held at KU. This conference offers students from various colleges in the Berks County area the chance to demonstrate their creative talents to an audience. The following colleges will be participating in this event: Albright College, Alvernia University, KU, Penn State Berks and Reading Area Community College.
The conference will begin at 8 a.m. on April 27 with check-in and registration in the Academic Forum lobby. Students can continue to check in until 11 a.m., although paper presentations will begin at 9 a.m. At 11 a.m. the Welcome and Keynote speakers will present, at which point all students presenting are expected to be in attendance.
At 12:15 p.m. paper sessions will continue until 3:30 p.m., while poster and performance presentations will take place in another area from 12:15 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Multiple types of creative outlets will be presented at this conference: paper presentation, poster, artwork, film or performance. The first is paper presentations, which may focus on research in academic fields including but not limited to education, social sciences, natural sciences, the humanities or business, according to the Kutztown University website.  Paper presentations will be given a 10-minute time slot, and students accepted to present their written works will speak along with others whose topics are similar to theirs.
Another option for students to present their creative works is in poster form. Accepted students will be given a two-hour time slot for their posters to be viewed by others. Participants must mount their posters on a poster panel.
For those who would like to show their visual artwork, the categories include, but are not limited to, ceramics, design, drawing, mixed media, multi-media, painting, photography, printmaking or sculpture, according to the Kutztown University website. These pieces will be on display for the duration of the conference. Once accepted, students will have to send in slides of their piece before a location is given to them. Students are responsible for the set up and break down of their location.
Film presentations will be limited to 10 minutes, as will performances. Accepted performances will include, but are not limited to, dance, music, poetry, fiction or dramatic readings.
Student proposals must be submitted before 4 p.m. on March 29. Those accepted will receive word by Monday, April 15. More information about the conference can be found at http://www.kutztown.edu/events/hecb, and more information on registration at http://www.kutztown.edu/events/hebc/registration-guidelines.

By Taylor Zimmerman