A Research Opportunity
The Dean's Musings
Originally published in the February 1999 issue of CLASNotes.
You've probably heard something about the Provost's new undergraduate research initiative. My purpose here is to review the process by which students and faculty may work together under sponsorship of the University Scholars Program, the official name of the undergraduate research initiative that encompasses many UF colleges. I encourage you to look into this. Please note that students and faculty from all CLAS divisions are eligible, humanities through the natural sciences.
Details of the program are to be found on the university Web site — http://www.ufl.edu/scholars/. Please refer students to this site, where they will find an overall description of the program, a list of potential faculty mentors, an application form, and specific college guidelines. By March 15, students must have applied, with the support of a faculty mentor, for one of the 35 awards assigned to this college. Students may also apply through other colleges if they are interested in working with a specific faculty member in that college.
Students will apply through the academic departments, each of which will be permitted to forward up to three selected applications to the CLAS Office, although larger departments may make a case for a slightly larger number, based on the size of their faculty and the number of applicants. A College committee will select 35 applications to be forwarded to the Provost, where final decisions will be made.
Priority will be given to rising seniors anticipating graduation in Spring or Summer, 2000. The selected students will pursue scholarly activities under the direction of a faculty member in summer, 1999 for which they will receive a stipend of $2,500. Students and their faculty mentors will also be awarded $500 for research expenses, such as books, travel to conferences, etc.
Following the summer, 1999 research, students will be expected to continue research under their mentors' direction during the 1999-2000 academic year, registering for an appropriate research course each semester. A research journal should be maintained by the student to detail scholarly progress and to serve as the basis for regular student-mentor updates. Exactly how this is done may differ considerably within the disciplines.
The culmination of the research experience will involve participation in the University Scholars Symposium to be held in April, 2000, at which students may summarize the results of their research, either in 20 minute oral presentations or by means of poster displays. A distinguished panel of faculty will serve to review and evaluate the student presentations. After the symposium, a luncheon will be held for students, parents, and mentors, hosted by Provost Capaldi and featuring an address by President Lombardi. It should be a grand event.
Some of you will recognize that the University Scholars Program is an elaboration of the CLAS undergraduate research program that currently involves many faculty and students. An immediate difference to be recognized is the financial element. Deeper pockets in the Provost's office permit built-in rewards and incentives for the participants in the University Scholars Program.
Our undergraduate students are among the best in the country by almost any measure of quality. Having these outstanding students work with our top-notch faculty provides the basis for high expectations in undergraduate research. It is a formidable combination. We should be pleased and flattered that the university has chosen to highlight and extend this program, based on the many proven benefits our students obviously have derived from their research participation.
Working with undergraduates one-on-one can also be very stimulating to the faculty. True, it requires considerable effort on behalf of the mentor, but the reward is great. Students learn, often for the first time, that knowledge doesn't just come out of books. It is exciting to see them develop new knowledge in their research, an experience not soon forgotten by faculty or students.
