Academic Innovation Showcase for National Undergraduate Research Week

Dear Colleagues,

When I first learned about the incredible breadth of strengths in the fine and performing arts, liberal arts, STEM, business, and health professions on UHart’s campus, I saw an opportunity to create a University-wide showcase celebrating these distinctive strengths. To this end, we are delighted to announce that the University of Hartford will host its first Academic Innovation Showcase on Friday, April 30, 2027, in recognition of National Undergraduate Research Week.

Please see below for a faculty action item related to this event.

This University-wide event will celebrate student research, scholarship, and creative work from all colleges and disciplines. We enthusiastically welcome a broad range of presentations and performances, including research papers and posters, creative writing, visual arts exhibitions, musical and theatrical mini-performances, and other forms of creative expression that showcase our students’ work. Existing UHart student research and creative events, such as the Honors Colloquium and CETA Showcase, will form an integrated part of this larger university-wide celebration.Note that the Graduate Research and Creativity Symposium will continue to take place as a separate event in the spring to recognize the fine work of our graduate students.

Visibility and engagement: The event will be open to all students, parents, college and university board members, alumni, trustees, and industry partners to bring visibility to our students’ accomplishments and the breadth of talent, scholarship, and innovation at UHart.

Faculty action item: We encourage faculty to designate Friday, April 30, 2027, as a Day of Alternative Learning on the spring 2027 syllabus (approximately 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) so that students can attend the Showcase in lieu of their regularly scheduled classes. Broad student participation is essential to creating a truly interdisciplinary university-wide experience.

More information about the locations, application, and submission process will be forthcoming (contact: Associate Provost Jim Shattuck). For faculty who assign attendance as an alternative day of learning, we will use QR codes to track attendance and document participation.

I hope you will encourage your students to participate and help us establish an exciting new university tradition in celebration of National Undergraduate Research Week.

Warmly,