undergraduate research – what’s in it for you?

Undergraduate Research – Undergraduate Research – What’s In It For YOU?What’s In It For YOU?

Kathy WhatleyKathy WhatleyAssociate Vice Chancellor for Natural SciencesAssociate Vice Chancellor for Natural Sciences

UNC AshevilleUNC Ashevillewhatley@unca.eduwhatley@unca.edu

UNC AshevilleUNC Asheville

UNC AshevilleUNC Asheville

Research =Research =ResearchResearchScholarly activityScholarly activityCreative activityCreative activity

Partnership Between Partnership Between Research and TeachingResearch and Teaching

Cooperative, not competitiveCooperative, not competitive Undergraduate research IS teaching Undergraduate research IS teaching

and learningand learning MentoringMentoring Alternative learning stylesAlternative learning styles

What’s In It for Students?What’s In It for Students?

““Make you own assignment” Make you own assignment” Investigate what you like!Investigate what you like!

Work closely with facultyWork closely with faculty Become an expert in your projectBecome an expert in your project Present your results – communicate like a Present your results – communicate like a

professionalprofessional PUBLISH! (Your parents will love this!)PUBLISH! (Your parents will love this!) Increased independenceIncreased independence

What’s In It for Faculty?What’s In It for Faculty?

Grow your own research teamGrow your own research team Make your own collaboratorsMake your own collaborators

UR “counts” in teaching loadUR “counts” in teaching load Research coursesResearch courses One-on-one learning (UR contract courses)One-on-one learning (UR contract courses)

UR “counts” in evaluation processes (RTP UR “counts” in evaluation processes (RTP and PTR)and PTR)

Student grants – an extra source of Student grants – an extra source of research fundsresearch funds

What’s In It for the Administration? What’s In It for the Administration?

An energized faculty!An energized faculty!

More opportunities for studentsMore opportunities for students

More grant overhead fundingMore grant overhead funding

P.S. – this will cost moneyP.S. – this will cost money

What’s In It for What’s In It for Trustees and Friends?Trustees and Friends?

More regional and national More regional and national recognitionrecognition

Stronger alumni commitmentStronger alumni commitment Improved student recruitment Improved student recruitment

possibilitiespossibilities More interesting events on campusMore interesting events on campus

ResourcesResources

National Conference on National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)Undergraduate Research (NCUR)

Council on Undergraduate Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)Research (CUR)

NCURNCUR

www.ncur.org

NCUR 2005NCUR 2005

April 21-23, 2005: VMI and Washington and Lee, Virginia

www.ncur.org

CURCUR

www.cur.org

Student StoriesStudent Stories

RobertRobert

JoannJoann

Theatre studentsTheatre students

LydiaLydia

PaigePaige

ConclusionsConclusions

UR provides opportunities for a student to UR provides opportunities for a student to participate actively in his or her disciplineparticipate actively in his or her discipline

UR helps establish collegial relationships UR helps establish collegial relationships between faculty and students, one of the between faculty and students, one of the most important factors in student retention most important factors in student retention and satisfactionand satisfaction

UR helps keep faculty engaged and UR helps keep faculty engaged and productiveproductive