3MT Judge Information

The Graduate Division is seeking qualified faculty, staff, and community members to judge the 3MT competition in Fall 2026! If you or one of your colleagues is interested in volunteering as a judge for the competition, please fill out the 3MT Judges registration form.

Questions about the competition, judging, and volunteering may be directed to Dr. Alyssa Bivins, Senior Graduate Professional Development Coordinator, abivins2@gmu.edu.

Judge Information 

• You can volunteer to judge one or both 3MT rounds.  

• Judges must have completed a graduate degree; high preference for judges with a PhD, JD, or EdD.  

• The time commitment for the Preliminary Round is a minimum of 1.5 hours, with the opportunity to judge more slots if desired. The time commitment for the Final Round is 2 hours. 

Judging Schedule 

• July 2026: Judges will be emailed on a rolling basis confirming receipt of their interest. 

• Oct. 9, 2026: Preliminary Round Judging. Food provided for judges. 

• Nov. 6, 2026: Final Round Judging. Food provided after the event.

Judging Guidelines 

Judging is completed using Qualtrics. For the details provided to students, please see the page on Prizes, Rules, and Criteria. 

Content and Comprehension 

• The student provided clear background and motivation for the research topic and its methods/design. 

• The student clearly described the significance, results, and/or impact of their research. 

• The presentation followed a clear, logical sequence and adequately managed the time provided. 

• Oration avoided jargon or explained terminology appropriate to a non-specialist audience. 

Engagement and Communication 

• The presenter captured and maintained the audience’s attention. 

• The presentation made the audience want to know more about the research topic.  

• The presenter conveyed enthusiasm and maintained an engaging stage presence in terms of eye contact, vocal range, and stance. 

• The slide enhanced the presentation and was clear, legible, and concise.