Marie Danforth Chair, CUR Steering Committee

 “Undergraduate research [scholarship, and creative activity] is an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate in collaboration with a faculty mentor that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline” (Council on Undergraduate Research, 1997)

 To the mentor  Enhancement of classroom teaching skills

 To the mentor  Enhancement of classroom teaching skills  Greater job satisfaction and rewards

 To the mentor  Enhancement of classroom teaching skills  Greater job satisfaction and rewards  Advancement of research program

 To the university  Creation of community of scholars

 To the university  Creation of community of scholars  Prestige and visibility

 To the university  Creation of community of scholars  Prestige and visibility  Enhanced relationship with alumni

 To the university  Creation of community of scholars  Prestige and visibility  Enhanced relationship with alumni

 To the university  Creation of community of scholars  Innovation in teaching and curriculum development  Prestige and visibility  Enhanced relationship with alumni  Enhanced relationship with the community

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills  Foster professional growth ▪ Test drive a career choice

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills  Foster professional growth ▪ Test drive a career choice ▪ Enhance resume and grad school applications

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills  Foster professional growth ▪ Test drive a career choice ▪ Enhance resume and grad school applications ▪ Gain teamwork and networking skills

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills  Foster professional growth  Develop personal growth and educational achievement ▪ Higher GPAs

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills  Foster professional growth  Develop personal growth and educational achievement ▪ Higher GPAs ▪ Greater likelihood of retention and graduation ▪ Even more so for underrepresented communities

 To the student  Improve knowledge and skills  Foster professional growth  Develop personal growth and educational achievement ▪ Higher GPAs ▪ Greater likelihood of retention and graduation ▪ Even more so for underrepresented communities ▪ Enhancement of confidence, self-awareness, persistence, self-discipline, dedication

 Lack of awareness  About what research is  About opportunities that exist

 Lack of awareness  Challenges in access to research opportunities

 Lack of awareness  Challenges in access to research opportunities  Lack of faculty participation

 Coordination of mentors and students  Funding opportunities  Professional development

 Are tenure-track faculty with expressed desire to work with undergraduates  160 associates in

 Competitive funding program to support independent research and creative activity  ~50% of applications supported

 Competitive funding program to support independent research and creative activity  Held each semester  October 15, 2015

 Competitive funding program to support independent research and creative activity  Held each semester  Students receive up to $1000  Purchase equipment & supplies  Travel for research purposes  Use as a stipend

 Competitive funding program to support independent research and creative activity  Held each semester  Students receive up to $1000  Findings must be presented in scholarly setting

 Co-sponsored with Honors College  Arts performances & exhibits  Plenary speaker  18 categories of competition  $500 1 st place award  $250 2 nd place award  140 presentations in 2015 Undergraduate Symposium on Research and Creative Activity April 22-23, 2016

 USM Undergraduate Symposium  External workshops and conferences  Posters on the Hill – Washington ▪ April 2016 NCUR 2016 Asheville, NC

 USM Undergraduate Symposium  External workshops and conferences  Posters in the Rotunda  March 24, 2016  Jackson, MS

 USM Undergraduate Symposium  External workshops and conferences  Catalyst, A Multidisciplinary Review of Undergraduate Scholarship

 For further information:   Marie Danforth (Anthropology & Sociology) ▪ ▪ LAB435 ▪  Jo Ann Johnson (Office of Research Integrity) ▪ ▪ IB418 ▪