History

Founded in 1968 as a companion to the student newspaper Sidelines, Collage has been a central part of the Middle Tennessee State University creative community for over 50 years. Originally housed under MTSU Student Publications alongside Midlander and Sidelines, Collage transitioned to the sponsorship of the University Honors College in 2004. Since then, it has earned national recognition, winning three Gold Crown Awards and five Silver Crown Awards from Columbia University.

Although some issues were lost during the transition from Campus Publications to the Honors College, Collage has preserved and archived remaining issues, including the very first one published in 1968.

Creative Submissions

Collage accepts many submissions, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, short plays, art, and photography. In recent years, the magazine has expanded to include song lyrics, audio, and video submissions, embracing the evolving landscape of creative expression.

Each issue is curated by a volunteer student staff, with submissions selected through a blind online review process. Current MTSU students and recent alumni are invited to submit up to four original pieces per major genre each semester. Top-rated submissions receive a $75 Creative Expression Award.

Join Collage or Submit Your Work

Although Collage is housed in the Paul Martin, Sr. Honors Building, all MTSU students are welcome to submit their creative works. Students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher are encouraged to apply for positions on the staff.

Why Submit to Collage?

A published piece in Collage offers a unique opportunity for peer validation and is a valuable resume booster and portfolio builder. Being featured in Collage is also an excellent steppingstone for future publication in other creative journals.

For over five decades, Collage has been a vital platform for showcasing MTSU students’ original creative works, and it continues to be a prestigious outlet for student expression.