Frequently Asked Questions
What is CUCMC?
The mission of the Cross-University Collaborative Mentoring Conference (CUCMC) is to provide a forum for student mentoring with research faculty who are committed to applied developmental research and supportive of doctoral student work. This conference was established in 2000 as a uniquely student-centered opportunity for scholarship among some of the top researchers and researchers-in-training in the country. The CUCMC Planning Committee is composed entirely of doctoral students who organize the events, raise funds, and arrange for invited guests with expertise related to the conference theme.
Do I have to be a doctoral student to submit a proposal?
The spirit of the conference is to support doctoral student research; however, if you are a master’s student conducting research AND your mentor plans to attend the conference, we would be happy to discuss the submission process with you. Please email us at cucmc2012@gmail.com.
What type of proposals do you accept?
Since our focus is on mentorship of doctoral research, we accept proposals for posters and paper presentations. Each session is anticipated to be 60 minutes long and is typically shared by three students, depending on the topic. Most presenters choose to use PowerPoint. We will also assign a faculty discussant who will assist with moderating the time, offer you feedback, and elicit Q&A from your audience.
Can I register for the conference without submitting a proposal?
Since the purpose of the conference is to support doctoral student work, and because we do not charge a registration fee, we prioritize registration of those students who will also be presenting. If you are interested in attending the conference but do not wish to submit a proposal, please email us at cucmc2012@gmail.com. We will email you in May letting you know if space is still available.
I’m not very far along in my research. Can I still apply?
Absolutely! The mission of our conference is to support doctoral students at all stages of their work. Your work can be in progress when you submit your proposal, as well as when you present. When submitting proposals, presenters will be asked to submit two questions they want to pose to their audience and/or areas on which they want feedback. We hope that this will provide a meaningful discussion that helps elicit new ideas and/or moves your work forward.
My mentor cannot attend the conference. Can I still submit a proposal?
While we strongly encourage mentors to attend the conference with their advisees, their participation is not required in order for you to submit a proposal. If another faculty mentor from your university will be attending the conference, feel free to list him or her as your mentor during the registration/proposal process.
Mentors vs. advisors: What’s the difference?
Given the conference’s focus on mentorship, we tend to refer to any non-student participants as “mentors”. In many cases, your mentor is the same person as your advisor. We use the term “mentor” broadly though; for instance, you may have someone at your university who provides you with guidance and feedback on your work, but who does not necessarily serve as your dissertation advisor or even on your thesis/dissertation committee. When you reach the registration page asking for this information, please feel free to list whomever you consider to be your mentor.
Is there a registration fee for the conference?
No! The conference prides itself on not charging students or mentors a fee in its 12-year history. This year, we are fortunate to have several generous sponsors subsidizing the cost of conference materials, space, and breakfast and lunch on Tuesday.
We regret that we are unable to subsidize housing, transportation costs, or the optional student dinner on Monday evening. You might check with your department or advisor to see if travel grants are available through your university.
I cannot afford a hotel on my own. Do you have any other options?
We would first encourage you to collaborate with other students who are attending from your university; some of the hotel options provide two beds in one room, allowing you to share costs. If you would like to be added to a list of students looking to share a hotel room with someone else, please email us at cucmc2012@gmail.com. Please remember, though, that there is no guarantee regarding whether other students send similar requests. Again, you might check with your department or advisor to see if travel grants are available through your university.
I just submitted my proposal. Do I have to register for the conference separately?
No, we have combined proposal submission and conference registration into the same survey. If you have completed the survey on the “Student Proposal Submission and Registration” tab of the website AND reached the confirmation page, you are all set. If your proposal is accepted, you will receive an email notification. At that time, we will ask you to confirm your registration and participation.
When will I know if my proposal has been accepted?
We hope to have decisions made by late April to provide enough time to make travel arrangements. Please look for an email from us around that time, as we will ask you to confirm your acceptance.
How long should I plan to stay in Newark?
We hope that all registered students and mentors will attend our welcome reception on Wednesday, June 20th, from 6:00 PM through 8:00 PM.
The main conference activities will occur from 8:00 AM through 4:00 PM on Thursday, June 21st in the Perkins Student Center. Please see the conference schedule posted to our website for more information.
This conference sounds great! If my university has not participated in the past, can I still apply?
Absolutely! If you feel that your department or school would like to join this endeavor, please email us at cucmc2012@gmail.com so that we can review your needs.
Who do I contact if I have further questions?
Please email the CUCMC Planning Committee at cucmc2012@gmail.com with any questions.
