FOURTEENTH ANNUAL TENNESSEE
Undergraduate Classics Research Conference
The students and faculty of the Department of Classics at the University of Tennessee are pleased to announce the call for papers for the Fourteenth Annual Tennessee Undergraduate Classics Research Conference, to be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, on February 21, 2026. Deadline for submission is November 15, 2025 by 5:00 p.m. EST.
Fourteenth Annual Tennessee Undergraduate Classics Research Conference
Hosted at:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Saturday, February 21, 2026
Call for Papers
Call for Papers Downloadable PDF
The Fourteenth Annual Tennessee Undergraduate Classics Research Conference will pertain to a wide variety of topics concerning the classical world, with paper sessions organized thematically, based on the papers accepted. Abstracts will be considered from any discipline within classical studies (archaeology, history, philology, art history, etc.) or a related field. Interdisciplinary studies and topics in Egyptology, the ancient Near East, and other Mediterranean-adjacent topics are encouraged. Examples range from the reception of Greek myth in modern gaming to dining customs in Homeric epic to the application of GIS in archaeology.
Abstract Submission
Abstracts should be no more than 250 words, double-spaced, in 12 pt. Times New Roman typeface, and submitted as an email attachment to Charles Kuper. Please do not include your name on the attached abstract, but provide your name, affiliation, and paper title in your email. You must have a preliminary bibliography of at least three sources listed after your abstract. Paper presentations will be 15 minutes.
The Tennessee Undergraduate Classics Research Conference accepts submissions only from students who are undergraduates at the time of the conference. All submissions made by graduate students or independent scholars will be automatically rejected. Only one abstract may be submitted per presenter; multiple submissions will automatically be rejected.
All abstract submissions must be made by 5:00 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 15th, 2025, and submitted via email to Charles Kuper. You will receive a decision on your submission on or by Friday, December 5, 2025.
This conference should be treated as a professional opportunity. Please take care to develop the thesis for your paper, re-read your abstract for clarity, and seek feedback from your peers and professors. In addition to the merits of your topic and ideas, clarity, concision, and presentability are all considered in evaluating your abstracts.
Lodging, Travel Accommodations, and Meals
The University of Tennessee will provide lodging for the nights of February 20 and 21 (Friday and Saturday) for presenters traveling to Knoxville from out of town. Arrangements are pending the student’s confirmation of attendance. Presenters are not required to accept the lodging offered by the University, but if you seek non-conference lodging, you will be expected to find and pay for alternate accommodations.
The University does not offer travel grants to attend the conference. Presenters are responsible for paying for their own travel to the University.
The conference will hold a reception and dinner the night of February 20, before the conference, and will provide lunch for presenters on the day of the conference. Presenters are responsible for paying for all other meals.
Accessibility
The Department of Classics does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnic, gender, or sexual identities. It is important to us to make our conference accessible to those who require special accommodations, in respect to hearing and sight impairments, wheelchair accessibility, and other disabilities. Please contact Humanities Shared Services at humanitiessharedserv@utk.edu or at 865-974-5383 if you need assistance during the conference.
Additional Information
The conference is organized by the students and faculty of the University of Tennessee’s Department of Classics. It will take place at Strong Hall at the University of Tennessee, 1621 West Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37996.
Audio-visual equipment will be available for presenters. Presentations should last no more than fifteen minutes (with five additional minutes for Q&A afterwards).
There will be a $50 registration fee for all presenters, which contributes to the cost of dinner on Friday, lunch on the day of the conference, and accommodations.
Any additional questions may be addressed to Charles Kuper.