CNPD S.P.A.R.K. 2026
The College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines is excited to announce S.P.A.R.K., an expanded event that builds on the tradition of CNPD Research Day.
S.P.A.R.K. — which stands for Scholarship, Practice, Achievement, Research, Knowledge — celebrates the innovation, scholarship, and achievements of CNPD students and faculty from across the college's three disciplines of Nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics, and Social Work.
This reimagined event provides new opportunities to connect, share, inspire, and celebrate.
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Memorial Union Ballroom | University of North Dakota
Registration information for participants for the poster viewing session and Luncheon RSVP will be shared via email with CNPD students, faculty, and staff once submissions are open. Campus guests from outside of the college wishing to attend should contact the CNPD Dean's Office.
Schedule
All events take place in the Memorial Union Large Ballroom.
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 10-11:15 a.m. |
Poster Viewing Session Explore student and faculty posters. Virtual posters available via QR code. |
| 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
S.P.A.R.K. Luncheon
Event is open to CNPD students, faculty, staff & campus guests.
|
Call for Presentations
Eligible Participants
Undergraduate and graduate students, as well as faculty from CNPD’s Nursing, Nutrition & Dietetics, and Social Work departments, are invited to share individual or collaborative research, scholarly, or creative work at any stage.
Registration opens November 1, 2025.
Please have the following details ready when completing your registration form:
- Poster Title
- Poster Summary or Abstract (brief overview)
- Presenter and Co-Presenter Names (first and last names as you’d like them to appear in the event catalog)
- Lunch Attendance (In-Person presenters are eligible for a complimentary buffet lunch. Indicate which presenters plan to attend the S.P.A.R.K. Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.)
- Live Presentation Consideration (option to opt in for consideration as a live stage or Zoom presenter during the luncheon)
Presentation Options
Open to all CNPD students.
Presenters must attend the Poster Viewing Session in-person.
- One printed poster provided by college, if submitted by submission deadline
- Complimentary lunch with early registration; Lunch may be available to late registration if space allows
- Presenters may opt in to be considered for selection as a live presenter on stage during the luncheon.
For online students unable to attend in person. Students enrolled in on-campus programs must participate in the in-person event (no exceptions).
- Submit a pre-recorded poster presentation as a video file. The video will be posted online and be accessible at the event via QR code
- Presenters may opt in to be considered for selection as a live presenter (via Zoom) during the luncheon.
A small number of in-person or virtual presenters will be invited in advance to prepare and present live stage presentations during the S.P.A.R.K. Luncheon
- For consideration, presenters must participate as either a In-Person Poster Presenter or as a Virtual Poster Presenter
- Deliver 5–8 minute live or Zoom talks at the luncheon
- Selected presenters notified by March 16, 2026 and given follow up instructions on preparing their presentations.
- Selected participants will need to provide any final slides they wish to use on stage to the CNPD by April 12. If none are provided, your poster will be used.
Dates & Deadlines
Registration opens November 1, 2025
Early Registration Deadline - March 1, 2026 (11:59 p.m)
- Minimum requirements: Submit presenter's name(s), presentation title, and a brief abstract or summary of the presentation
- Opt in to be in the pool considered for a Live Stage Presentation at the S.P.A.R.K. Luncheon
- Reserve your complimentary buffet S.P.A.R.K. luncheon ticket
Late Registration Deadline - March 29, 2026 (11:59 p.m)
- Minimum requirements: Submit presenter's name(s), presentation title, and a brief abstract or summary of the presentation
- Lunch may be available, but only if space allows
Final Submission of Poster - April 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m)
Submit final poster (for printing by CNPD) or recorded video
Instructions for Presenters
CNPD students will present their work with a poster. The Poster Viewing Session is an open house, meaning visitors can peruse the posters and ask questions. An integral component of the presentation will be an explanation of the work in a way understandable to a non-specialist attending the event, including fellow students, faculty, and other members of the campus community.
1. Register as a Presenter
Make sure you register as a presenter by the specified deadline listed above. Submit presenter name(s), presentation title, and a brief abstract or summary. Attendance at the luncheon and consideration for a live presentation are optional and are not required to participate as a poster presenter.
Changes to Topic after Registration: If your presenter name(s), presentation title, or abstract/summary changes after registration, please email updates to UND.cnpd.research@UND.edu to ensure the catalog is accurate. Note: Significant topic changes after the early registration deadline has passed may make you ineligible for selection as a live presenter (on stage or via Zoom) at the luncheon.
2. Design your Poster
Posters must be designed at 32” wide by 24” high and, if submitted by the deadline, will be printed by the college and ready at the event. Presenters who opt to pay for printing themselves or wish to bring their own poster may bring a poster of any size.
Download Poster Template (32wx24h)
Adding a CNPD logo (which is nested into the above template) to a poster is strongly encouraged.
3. Submit for Printing
- Make sure the poster file is designed at 32 inches wide by 24 inches high
- Save as a PDF
- Name your PDF files with your lastname-firstname
- Submit the PDF by email or send via Teams message to UND.cnpd.research@UND.edu
- All submissions must be received by April 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
- You will receive a confirmation acknowledging receipt no more than 48 business hours after completing the submission
4. Student Time Commitment
- Student check-in for the Poster Session will begin at 9:45 a.m. Students are asked to arrive at their posters by 10:00 a.m.
- The public viewing will last from 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Students are expected to be at their poster and ready to present or answer questions.
- CNPD S.P.A.R.K. Luncheon: Attendance at the luncheon is optional. Students requesting a complimentary lunch should indicate this on their poster presentation registration. For changes to lunch attendance after registration is submitted, please email UND.cnpd.research@UND.edu. Students who miss the RSVP deadline may still attend or reserve their lunch if meals are available on a walk-up basis.
After the event, your poster is yours to keep! Presenters can either pick up the poster after the conclusion of the S.P.A.R.K. Luncheon OR later, after the event, from the office of the CNPD Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs & Research Development (NPCBR Building, Room 380C).
CNPD students will present their work with a video submission. The video will be posted online and will be accessible at the event via a QR on a poster.
The video participation option is only available to Distance/Online Learning students.
Presenters can present their posters via prerecorded presentations and PowerPoint slides. An integral component of the presentation will be an explanation of the work in a way understandable to a non-specialist attending the event, including fellow students, faculty, and other members of the campus community.
1. Register as a Presenter
- Make sure you register as a presenter by the specified deadline listed above. Submit presenter name(s), presentation title, and a brief abstract or summary. Attendance at the luncheon and consideration for a live presentation are optional and are not required to participate as a poster presenter.
- Changes to Topic after Registration: If your presenter name(s), presentation title, or abstract/summary changes after registration, please email updates to UND.cnpd.research@UND.edu to ensure the catalog is accurate. Note: Significant topic changes after the early registration deadline has passed may make you ineligible for selection as a live presenter (on stage or via Zoom) at the luncheon.
2. Create and Record Your Presentation
- Students will present their work in PowerPoint and will record a video (no longer than five minutes) of themselves presenting the slides. The slideshow can contain up to three slides.
- Students can decide how best to design their PowerPoint slides, but they should remember that the content should be large enough to see and read on the screen.
- Adding a UND logo and a CNPD logo to a poster is strongly encouraged. If you would like to, you can use a UND Branded PowerPoint.
- It is recommended that a student record their presentation with their camera turned on. Students can use various tools to record their presentations, as long as the tool provides a downloadable video file or a link that allows viewing.
3. Submit Your Presentation
- Name your video file with your lastname-firstname
- Submit your video presentation file (either as a video file, download link, OR a public viewable link) by email or Teams message to UND.cnpd.research@UND.edu
- All submissions must be received by April 12, 2026 (11:59 p.m.)
- You will receive a confirmation acknowledging receipt no more than 48 business hours after completing the submission