General Information

  • Eligibility:
    • Full-time ongoing faculty members and students who meet the following criteria
      • Students who have completed their first year
      • Students who have a cumulative OR in-major GPA of at least 3.0
  • Categories Supported: Scholar-Mentor
  • Application Deadline: Early December; see SURE website for specifics

Purpose

The Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) represents undergraduate research at its best. Student researchers earn a stipend while spending eight weeks working full-time on a project in collaboration with a faculty mentor with substantial and recognized expertise in the discipline.

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 bibliographical in its primary emphasis.

Grant Description

Faculty members receive a stipend as part of the SURE Program, and as such faculty mentors may not receive both the SURE stipend and salary for teaching 4998/4999 for the same student. However, faculty may consider applying for stipends and/or other research expenses through Elon’s Faculty Research and Development Committee.

Research projects supported by this program should exhibit the potential for scholarly publication or presentation. It is anticipated and encouraged that students will subsequently register for research credit during the academic year to continue their SURE research project and/or embark on a different research project. Submission to the Spring Undergraduate Research Forum (SURF) is required.

Eligibility

  • Participation by both students and mentors in certain activities is required. Before submitting an on-campus SURE application, please ensure that you will be able to attend ALL SURE activities by checking the calendar on the application (last page).
  • SURE research stipends are available to full-time students in all disciplines.
  • SURE scholars receive a stipend of $3,000 for an 8-week, full-time summer session.
  • To be eligible to be a SURE scholar, students must have completed their first year at Elon and should have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or an in-major GPA of 3.0.
  • Because of the expected intensity level, students may not be enrolled in a summer school course (including an internship) while participating in SURE.
  • Also due to the expected intensity level, students are discouraged from pursuing additional employment while participating in SURE.

Students do not earn credit for participating in SURE, but they do earn 2 ELRs. The UR program also pays for double-occupancy on-campus housing for the 8 weeks of SURE for those students who need it. In addition, students can apply for SURE grants to support their summer research projects.

How to Apply

Sponsoring Center or Office

Undergraduate Research Program (URP)
Visit URP Website