A zine is a small, self-published magazine used to creatively share and disseminate academic research in an accessible, engaging, and visually expressive format. 

Zines are a great way to present your scholarship to people unfamiliar with your subject because it is less intimidating than a full length typed research paper. Making a zine also encourages students to flex their literacy skills because they have to condense an entire paper into about six main points and communicate why those points are important in a succinct way.

Format 

Examples 

Submissions

Zine Exhibit Layout

You can use any zine format this year including, but not limited to, the mini-zine, stapled zine, sewn zine, newspaper, and digital. If you are unsure if your zine format will be accepted, feel free to ask your faculty advisor or email Mary Ruge ([email protected]). This PDF of the Zine Exhibit Layout is a useful resource (downloadable). 

If you are new to zines, that’s okay! It may help to think of zines as a “genre” of the comics medium, and mini-zines, stapled zines, and the like are all “sub-genre” of zines. If you any questions about making zines by hand or making digital zines please email Mary Ruge ([email protected]).

Presenter does not have to be present. You can use any zine format including, but not limited to, the mini-zine, stapled zine, sewn zine, newspaper, and digital. If you are unsure if your zine format will be accepted, feel free to ask your faculty advisor or email Mary Ruge ([email protected]).

All zine submissions forms must be submitted Friday, April 3, 2026. 

If you are making a digital zine, please submit it in page order, and in PDF form. “Page order” means the cover should be first, then page one, page two, etc. ending with the back cover. You will also need to include a second file, this one will be your display page (the single page you choose to be displayed in the exhibit). The display page submission should also be in PDF form.

If you decide to submit a physical zine (one you made by hand) it must be turned into the CUSE office by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026. The CUSE office is located on the second floor of the Mary Idema Pew Library on the Valley Campus. You will need to attach a PDF of your display page (the single page you choose to be displayed in the exhibit). 

Digital Zine Submission Form 

Zine Submission Form (Non-Digital)