Carolina Undergraduate Social Science Symposium (CUSSS)
About CUSSS
The Carolina Undergraduate Social Science Symposium
(CUSSS) operates under the auspices of the South Carolina Sociological Association (SCSA). The Symposium provides undergraduate students the opportunity to present their research at a professional meeting with the support of faculty. Presentations should be based on research that students have created in or because of one of their upper-level social science courses.
The CUSSS 2022 symposium will hosted by Allen University in Columbia, SC on Thursday, April 21 and Friday, April 22. Additional details are available on the official Call for Participation.
Announcing the Keynote Speaker for CUSSS 2022!
James L. Felder is a life-long civil rights activist, who worked with Vernon Jordan and Modjeska Simkins on voting rights, and planned one of the first marches on civil rights in Atlanta with Julian Bond and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Mr. Felder began his activism as a college student at Clark Atlanta University in Georgia, where he participated in sit-ins and spent time in jail. After college, Mr. Felder was selected for the Honor Guard, where he was only the tenth Black to serve with the elite unit. Mr. Felder became famous when he was selected in 1963 to head the casket team for the burial of the late President John F. Kennedy, a selection quite remarkable in Washington, D.C. which was segregated at the time. In 1970, Mr. Felder became one of the first three Black men elected to the South Carolina legislature since Reconstruction. In 1973, he became the first Black Assistant Solicitor in South Carolina. Mr. Felder holds multiple degrees, including a J.D. from Howard University School of Law, and a Master of Laws from Atlanta Law School. He is an historian and the author of several books, including one on civil rights in South Carolina.
On Thursday, April 21, at 7:00 pm, Mr. Felder will speak on the need for youth activism, relating his own experiences with civil rights activism in South Carolina. This event is free and open to the public!
Please join us for what promises to be an inspirational keynote address!
All Social Sciences & Areas are Included
Research and poster presentations in any area of social science are welcome. “Social science” includes but is not limited to Sociology, Applied Sociology, Anthropology, Communication, Criminology, Economics, Geography, History, Media Studies, Political Science, Psychology, Social Work, Race/Ethnic Studies, Gender & Sexuality Studies, Policy Studies, and Global/International Studies.
“Research” is broadly defined. However, posters, papers, and presentations must be based on data generated by some method of student inquiry.
Overview of Day 2, Friday, April 22 & Presentation and Registration Information
On Friday, April 22, beginning at 8:30 am, students, faculty and guests will gather in Chappelle Hall (adjacent to Chappelle Auditorium) for Registration, and a Continental Breakfast. (Visitors should park in the Campus Mall lot, at Taylor and Oak, one block east of Chappelle Hall.)
Following a Welcome and Overview, students will share their work in different research streams. Students can choose to give either: a 10-12-minute presentation of their research and/or research paper, or they may create a research poster which they will discuss with attendees.
Students should bring their laptops. HDMI cords will be available for connections to a smartboard from a Non-Mac laptop; HDMI cords plus adaptors will be available for connections from a Mac.
Cost of Registration: $20.00 for all attendees; $15.00 each for groups of eight or more from the same institution. Fee includes lunch. Participants may register online by visiting the SCSA website (https://southcarolinasociology.org/cusss). Attendees may also register in person, onsite at the conference on Friday morning. Checks should be made payable to the South Carolina Sociological Association.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Eddie Yancy (eyancey@allenuniversity.edu) or
Prof. Nancy Rhoads (ngrhoads@allenuniversity.edu)
We hope to see you at CUSSS!
Awards & Recognition
We look forward to honoring student presenters with awards!
All presenters will receive Certificates of Participation. The two best papers; the two best presentations; and the two best posters will each receive a Certificate for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and a cash prize.
How to Participate
Students should send an email by Friday, April 8, 2022 to:
Dr. Eddie Yancey eyancey@allenuniversity.edu, or
Prof. Nancy Rhoads (ngrhoads@allenuniversity.edu
The email should have the word “CUSSS 2022” in the subject line and include:
- The author’s name, major, and institutional affiliation
- An abstract (approximately 150 words) that reflects the general content of the research paper, presentation, or poster;
- Designation of the format – paper, presentation or poster; and,
- Any special equipment that may be required for the presentation.
Faculty sponsors are encouraged to help students submit abstracts and guide them with their posters and papers. Students who wish to compete for the Best Paper prize need to submit a completed paper by email to Friday, April 15, 2022.
Students entering the Best Research Presentation and Best Poster competitions should bring these with them to the symposium.
Undergraduate research papers, presentations, and posters with multiple authors may be presented. However, to be considered for each competition, they must be single authored. Students must be present to win.