UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH PROGRAM

ELON UNIVERSITY

The Undergraduate Research Program at Elon University was established to provide students the opportunity to join faculty in scholarly activity. Research with undergraduates enhances students' learning. Research by faculty members can enrich both their interactions with students who are doing research and their primarily instructional activities. Successful strategies in research are also effective for improved student learning, especially those which are collaborative, investigative, project‑based, inquiry‑based, open‑ended, and exploratory.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE

Any undergraduate enrolled full‑time at Elon University is eligible. Summer research participants need not be concurrently enrolled, but must have been enrolled full‑time during the spring semester or be planning to enroll full‑time in the fall semester.

WHAT OPPORTUNITIES EXIST

• Grants‑In‑Aid Program

• Professional Travel for Students

• Student Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF)

• Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE)

• Rawl’s Endowed Scholarships and Grants

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

The best way to get involved in undergraduate research is to talk with your professors about their research interests (see the “Collaborative Research Projects with Elon Faculty” section of this handbook). The department chair of your major department and your academic advisor are also good sources. The Undergraduate Research Program Office is located in McEwen 203. You can pick up application forms and other items related to the program by stopping by this office or by visiting the Undergraduate Research Program web site (http://www.elon.edu/urp).

WHY PARTICIPATE

• To apply your classroom learning to new areas.

• To experience first‑hand what professionals in your field do.

• To learn how your field of interest can overlap with other disciplines

• To work closely with a faculty member and benefit from her/his expertise and

experience.

GRANTS‑IN‑AID FOR STUDENT RESEARCH

Grants‑in‑aid for student research are available from the University's Undergraduate Research Program. Awards are normally made in amounts up to a maximum of $500.

Awards are available to support student research in any field. Grants may be used to purchase laboratory supplies, media supplies, or field materials; fund copying or printing expenses; support telephone, fax, or other communication costs; fiend travel to a regional library, museum, or off‑campus field site; etc. The funds must be expended directly in support of the proposed investigation. Student research awards should generally not be used to support departmental equipment, salary, standard laboratory supplies, or travel to meetings.

PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL FOR STUDENTS

Support is available from Academic Affairs to help with expenses up to $500 incurred by students traveling to professional meetings and conferences. The intent of this support is to provide students with the opportunity to become actively involved in a professional organization as they pursue graduate school and other post‑graduate plans. Students supported through this fund are expected to be actively involved in the proceedings of the conference they are attending. Active participation includes making oral presentations, submitting posters, or being part of a panel. In fine arts fields, active participation may include a performance or exhibition of a new composition. Requests for support should be submitted at least three weeks prior to the planned trip. A limited number of small grants (maximum of $200 per trip) are available to fund students giving other types of presentations at professional conferences (e.g., presentations about campus programs, etc.)

Support is available for students majoring in any field. Funds may be used to support registration, travel, hotel, and food. The typical award will range between $100 and $500; however, lesser amounts to provide partial funding may be awarded based on the number of applicants and other factors. The total amount of funding available for all trips is limited. When this amount is expended, no additional trips can be supported from this fund.

STUDENT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FORUM (SURF)

The Student Undergraduate Research Forum happens each spring on the Elon campus (consult the Undergraduate Research Program web sites for the dates and program). Guidelines for the Forum are detailed below.

I . Student presentations will take one of the following forms:

A. Oral presentations of research on any topic.

B. A panel discussion on a specific topic.

C. A poster presentation where research is presented visually.

D. A performance or exhibit from the music and fine arts disciplines.

2. A student presentation may discuss research in progress but the first phase of data collection and analysis should be conducted before submitting an application.

3. A student presentation should include a brief discussion of background for the research, the particular issue or question addressed by the research, the approach or research methodology employed for the project, and preliminary or final results of the project.

4. Faculty respondents will provide feedback to the student participants. This feedback will be used to provide helpful comments for students who intend to continue with their research and/or present their research at professional meetings.

SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE (SURE) PROGRAM

Elon has funds to support students participating in research experiences with faculty members, under their direct supervision. The purpose of the SURE Program is to enhance learning opportunities for students while encouraging collaboration in learning and research between faculty and students. The work of the student, therefore, must be research oriented and not clerical or bibliographic in its primary emphasis.

1. SURE research stipends are available to full‑time students in all disciplines.

2. SURE Scholars receive a stipend for an 8‑week full‑time summer session ($2,700). SURE Scholars will be required to present a weekly report of their research activities, at a joint meeting of SURE Scholars and faculty.

3. To be eligible to be a SURE Scholar, students should have completed their freshman year at Elon (i.e., students are eligible to participate in the summer following their first year) and should maintain a GPA of 3.0 in both their major and overall.

RAWLS UNDEGRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOLARSHIPS/GRANTS

Japheth E. Rawls Undergraduate Research Scholarships/Grants are intended to encourage and support students in any discipline who are engaged in faculty mentored, independent research. The goal of research conducted by Rawls Scholars must be to contribute in meaningful ways to the knowledge base in a discipline; thus, Rawls Scholarships/ Grants are intended to support the highest quality undergraduate research.

1. A maximum of 7 scholarships/grants of approximately $1000.00 each are available to students in any major who are (or will be) engaged in independent, faculty mentored research.

2. Must have full-time student status for Fall and Spring and be registered for 499 credit.

3. Eligibility requirements include 3.0 GPA overall and 3.3 GPA in major

4. Completed application includes cover sheet, student letter of application, and faculty mentor letter of support and application information due on 26 Sep 2007.

5. Grant/Scholarship recipients will give a SURF presentation, participate in panel discussions related to undergraduate research, and participate in admission events related to undergraduate research.