April 24, 2026

Undergraduate Communication & English Conference

The Departments of English and Communication Studies at the University of St. Thomas will host a free interdisciplinary undergraduate conference on Friday, April 24, 2026.

The theme of the conference is Play. Play is essential to human creativity and communication. Play is key to cognitive, aesthetic, and ethical growth; to developing and sustaining imagination; to relationship-building; and to personal and collective problem-solving and innovation. The aim of this conference is to explore this theme in an interdisciplinary way, engaging with a wide variety of texts, approaches, traditions, innovations, performances, points of view, and communication contexts, past and present.

Contact

commenglconf@stthomas.edu

Call for Papers: Due March 13, 2026

We encourage proposals for original creative work; analyses of literature, media, film, and other texts; and research in communication studies. We welcome proposals for individual papers; original readings or performances; whole panels (three presenters); roundtables (four or more presenters); and interactive workshops and installations.

Please submit your proposal by March 13, 2026. Detailed information is available in the full Call for Papers.

Call for Papers

Keynote: Danger Boat Productions

The keynote for the 2026 conference on “Play” will embody and celebrate the critical role of play in our lives as students, scholars, artists, and citizens of the world. We have invited Twin Cities-based Danger Boat Productions to campus because they are living out the work of Communication Studies and English departments: inquiry, creativity, communication, and collaboration to make complex topics comprehensible and engaging. Danger Boat brings big ideas to life through improvisational performance. Their keynote will include both an improv performance and a talk by founder Tane Danger about the skills of improv and their value in everyday life.

Conference Schedule

Registration: 8:15–9:00 a.m.
Session One: 9:00–10:15 a.m.
Session Two: 10:30–11:45 a.m.
Lunch and Keynote Address: Noon–1:30 p.m.
Session Three: 1:45–3:00 p.m.

Conference Location

All events will be held in the Anderson Student Center on the University of St. Thomas Saint Paul campus.

Driving Directions to campus

Hotels

The university has several preferred hotels that it works with in downtown Saint Paul. Note: You may be able to find lower rates via other hotel sites.

Preferred Hotel Information

Parking

Prepaid parking is available at the Anderson Parking Facility, located one block away from the Anderson Student Center. After you park your vehicle, make note of your license plate number and then proceed to the pay station located on the first floor. The cost of visitor parking is $2.10/hour before 4 p.m. and $1.55/hour after 4 p.m.

Guests

If you would like to attend but will not be presenting, please register here.

Conference Program

Our program (forthcoming) provides detailed information about the conference, including participating Universities and Colleges, a complete schedule, and more.

Disability Accommodations

To make a disability accommodation request, please contact the event coordinator, Andy Leet, at least one week prior to the event date.