The Liberal Arts and Sciences Symposium (LASS) is an annual event that brings together Oglethorpe University students and faculty in a celebration of exemplary scholarly work produced by Oglethorpe students under faculty mentorship. The symposium’s sessions provide a forum for students and faculty to present, discuss, and learn from outstanding student endeavors. Papers, roundtables, oral and poster presentations, art exhibitions, and scholarly music presentations present the fruits of both Oglethorpe’s liberal arts curriculum as well as science, technology, and math research. You can explore programs and schedules from prior years below.

“Traditional/Regular” Sessions – These sessions consist of four to five paper presentations that are disciplinarily or thematically connected. Presenters will have about 12-15 minutes to discuss their contribution, followed by discussant comments in some instances. Afterwards, the presider will open the floor to discussion and questions from the audience.

Critical Dialogue Sessions – This format includes short (5 minute) presentations by up to 8 students followed by facilitated dialogue that critically explores connections among the papers or projects. The audience will have an opportunity to participate in the dialogue as well. This provides the opportunity for both presenter and audience to engage in and deepen their exploration of the themes of the presenters’ work.

The university strongly encourages attendance at LASS. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the Oglethorpe campus community and experience our motto “Make A Life. Make A Living. Make A Difference” up close. Your instructor may require attendance for a particular class, so please check with your individual professors.

If you’re interested in your subject and proud of your commitment to the topic, that will show in your abstract and proposal. Any course-related subject with a faculty mentor is open to consideration by the LASS committee. 

• Writing an abstract (George Mason University)

Yes, you must work with a faculty mentor to write your proposal or abstract and to prepare for your presentation.

• You may want a tailored jacket over a professional dress or pantsuit.
• Shoes should be plain and not too tall (no platforms, sandals, or sparkle.)
• No ‘club wear’ — short skirts, low-cut blouses, or tight-fitting clothes.
• Hair, makeup, jewelry should be conservative. Pull your hair back if you play with it when nervous.
• Hair and facial hair should be trimmed and neat; clean-shaven is generally best.
• Shoes and belt should match in color.
• No white socks.
• No polo shirts, t-shirts, hats, athletic wear, sneakers.
• No chewing gum, food, take-out cups, or cell phones.

LASS/PRISM participation puts you ahead of your peers in graduate school and in your profession when it comes to conference skills. Attending symposia and conferences and presenting research or speaking in your chosen field is a part of professional life. According to the ASAE (American Society for Association Executives), there are nearly 100,000 different organizations for professions in the United States alone. Graduate students routinely speak and present at academic conferences throughout their course of study.

Yes, this is a public, free event.