The submission deadline for all department contests is March 22nd, 2026 at 11:59pm. Full submission guidelines can be found below.
The winner of the Knowles Poetry contest will be announced at a reception on Thursday, April 16th at 4:00pm in the University Library’s Galanti Lounge. The reception will feature a reading by former U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.
All URI undergraduate students are welcome to submit poems for this year’s contest.
The winner of the contest will be awarded The Knowles Award in Poetry. It is an award given annually in memory of Erica Knowles. The award comes with a $500 prize for the student whose poems are chosen.
FORMAT:
• Up to 5 pages of poetry, 1 poem per page
• Poems should be single-spaced
• Name on cover page only (for anonymous judging)
• Poem titles should also be listed individually on the cover page
COVER PAGE:
• Title or number of the course for which submission was written
or state “submission not written for a course”
• Poem titles
• Student name
• Home address & campus address (if applicable)
• Phone number(s), e-mail address
Additional Writing Contests:
The Nancy Potter Short Story Contest (Undergrad)
FORMAT:
• 3-12 pages, double spaced, standard margins, standard typeface
• Name on cover page only (for anonymous judging)
COVER PAGE:
• Title or number of the course for which submission was written or state “submission not written for a course”
• Title of the short story
• Student name
• Home address & campus address (if applicable)
• Phone number(s), e-mail address
The Creative Nonfiction Contest (undergrad)
• 3-12 pages, double spaced, standard margins, standard typeface
• Name on cover page only (for anonymous judging)
• Title or number of the course for which submission was written or state “submission not written for a course”
• Title of the piece
• Student name
• Home address & campus address (if applicable)
• Phone number(s), e-mail address
The Critical Essay Contest (undergrad)
• 5-20 pages, double spaced, standard margins, standard typeface
• Name on cover page only (for anonymous judging)
• Title or number of the course for which submission was written or state “submission not written for a course”
• Essay Title
• Student name
• Home address & campus address (if applicable)
• Phone number(s), e-mail address
The Critical Essay Contest (graduate division)
• 5-20 pages, double spaced, standard margins, standard typeface
• Name on cover page only (for anonymous judging)
• Title or number of the course for which submission was written or state “submission not written for a course”
• Essay Title
• Student name
• Home address & campus address (if applicable)
• Phone number(s), e-mail address
The Creative Writing Contest (graduate division, all genres)
• 3-12 pages, double spaced, standard margins, standard typeface
• Name on cover page only (for anonymous judging)
• Title or number of the course for which submission was written or state “submission not written for a course”
• Title of piece
• Student name
• Home address & campus address (if applicable)
• Phone number(s), e-mail address