Register today! 

It's a short week here on campus, but the semester is continuing its march towards finals in a few weeks. If you are celebrating this week, we hope that you will have a safe and happy holiday, and will look forward to seeing you again after the long weekend! 

Please note that UMBC's campus and offices will be closed on Thursday and Friday, Nov 23-24, in observance of the holiday. 

Conference Applications Now Open

The organization International Student Conferences facilitates three academic and cultural exchange programs organized by university students in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and China. The conferences distinguish themselves from other programs in that they are entirely student-led: students manage the logistics and implementation of each annual gathering. At the end of each Conference, delegates elect an Elective Committee tasked with planning and executing the next conference. 

The programs are premised on the belief that students are not passive observers of international diplomacy but rather are concerned citizens charged with the responsibility of guiding the direction of the world as leaders in U.S.-Asia relations.

Who Can Apply for These Conferences?

The Japan-America Student Conference

The Japan-America Student Conference (JASC) is a student-led exchange program initiated in 1934 by university students concerned about the breakdown of bilateral relations before the Second World War. Today, an equal number of students from the U.S. and Japan are competitively selected each year to spend one summer month together, studying and analyzing Japan-U.S. relations while visiting three diverse regions in the host country. 

The 76th Japan-America Student Conference will occur from August 3rd to August 24th, 2024, in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Washington, DC. JASC 76 will convene with the theme: “Visions: Perspectives reflected from the past - together understanding, contributing for the future.” Applications are OPEN until December 24, 2023. Apply here!

The Korea-America Student Conference

The Korea-America Student Conference (KASC) is a student-led academic conference that was established in 2008 with the goal of supporting the deep bilateral relationship between the U.S. and South Korea. This conference brings together up to 30 students studying in the United States and the Republic of Korea for an academically rigorous, three-week-long summer program, during which students live, travel, and conduct original, peer-reviewed research together. KASC is unique among ISC conferences in its two-country model, in which students travel to both the U.S. and South Korea each year. 

The 17th Korea-America Student Conference will travel to New York City, Washington, DC, and Seoul, South Korea, from June 23rd to July 11th, 2024! The KASC 17 Executive Committee chose the theme: “Embracing Complexity: Navigating the Intersections in Global Diplomacy for a Shared Tomorrow.” Applications are OPEN! Apply by December 23, 2023 at this link!

The China-America Student Conference

The China-America Student Conference (ChASC) is a 2-week academic and cultural interchange program that brings together an equal number of students representing the United States of America and China for off-the-record discussions on the future of the bilateral relationship. ChASC was established in 2020, making it the newest of the ISC conferences. 

The 4th China-America Student Conference will convene from June 3rd to June 15th in Chicago and Washington, DC! ChASC 4 will focus on the theme, “From Reflection to Connection: Lessons from the Past, Visions For the Future” and welcomes American students, Chinese students, and Chinese students studying in the United States! Please apply by December 31, 2023, at this link! 

Papers for the 2023 competition are due Monday, December 4, 2023.

Please send your paper via email to Patti Goerman past.president.dcaapor@gmail.com.

American Association of Public Opinion Research DC Chapter

a) Criteria
DC-AAPOR welcomes papers in any field related to the study of public opinion, broadly defined, including research on (a) theoretical issues in the formation and change of public opinion, (b) the theory and methods of survey or market research, and (c) the use of statistical techniques in the design, adjustment, or analysis of survey data. Papers are expected to the length of typical journal manuscripts (i.e., approximately 4,000 to 6,500 words), and will be judged based on the quality of research design, originality, significance, organization, and presentation. To see a list of past winners please visit: Student Paper Competition results page.

b) Eligibility
The competition is open to all current graduate and undergraduate students, and to those who have received their degree within the last calendar year. Faculty co-authors are acceptable, with the stipulation that an eligible student must be first author. Eligibility is limited to students attending or graduated from an accredited college or university in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington, DC, or to students whose primary residence is in one of those areas. Previous membership in DC-AAPOR is not required, but non-members must become members in order to be eligible. Students can join DC-AAPOR for $6 (membership is from October 2022 - December 2023). Submitted papers may not have been published or presented elsewhere.

c) Award
The author(s) of the winning paper will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000. For multiple student authors on a winning paper, the award will be divided among the eligible student authors. Additionally, the author(s) of the winning paper will be awarded a guaranteed spot on the Conference Program to present their paper at the 2024 Annual AAPOR Conference in Atlanta, GA.

d) Review Committee
The winning paper and honorable mentions will be selected by a review committee composed of this year and next year's DC-AAPOR executive council members.

Apply Here 

The Phi Beta Kappa Society is a leading national advocate for the value of arts and sciences education. Key into Public Service highlights the wide range of career opportunities for liberal arts and sciences majors in local, state, or federal government. A cohort of 20 Service Scholars majoring in liberal arts and sciences disciplines will each receive a $5,000 undergraduate scholarship.

Selected students are required to participate in an educational conference taking place in Washington, D.C. in late June 2024. It will highlight pathways into a variety of public service careers, provide a mentoring conversation matched to recipient interest, and offer other networking opportunities.

• Applicants should expect to graduate between 10/1/2024 and 8/1/2026. First-year students and seniors who will graduate in Spring 2024 are NOT eligible. 
• Successful applicants will demonstrate in their essays, activities, and letter of recommendation, 1) an interest in working in local, state, or federal government service; and 2) breadth and depth across the arts, humanities, mathematics, natural sciences, and social sciences.
• Applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 while demonstrating academic excellence in your arts, humanities, mathematics, natural science, or social science major.
• Applicants will also need to provide the name of a professor, faculty member, or academic advisor who can attest to your academic achievements and/or interest in public service.
• Applicants must also commit to attend the conference for all award recipients taking place June 19-23, 2024 in Washington, D.C. This mandatory conference will provide training and mentoring opportunities and showcase pathways from liberal arts and sciences education into active citizenship and public service. The Society will provide transportation, lodging, and meal per diems. The Society may switch the format to a virtual event if needed to ensure the safety and health of all participants.