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Undergraduate Research
@UMKC
Faculty Senate
1 March 2016
Dr. Jane Greer
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Definition of Undergraduate
Research

Student is mentored by a
faculty member.
• Student makes a contribution
to knowledge, however modest.

Student uses research,
scholarly, or artistic methods
that are widely accepted in the
field.

Student disseminates his/her
work beyond the classroom.
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Two Broad Goals

Helping students take their
education to new places
(High Impact Education Practice—George Kuh)

Helping faculty intertwine
their research/artistic interests
with their teaching
responsibilities
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A Brief History of Undergraduate
Research @ UMKC

Around 2001: SEARCH—Students Engaged in Arts, Research,
and Creativity Activity
• Provides students with $1,250 in expenses to complete a
project under the direction of a faculty mentor
• Students present at SEARCH Symposium (April)
• Great reviews from students and faculty, but only serves
about 25 to 30 students a year
(Visionaries: Bibi Cronwell, Jim Murowchick, Diane Filion)
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Strategic Planning, 2011-2012

Taskforce on Undergraduate Research

16 Faculty and Staff from 10 units (humanities, health
sciences, business, social sciences, computing &
engineering, arts, physical sciences)

Reviewed UR programs at 45 post-secondary institutions

OIR surveyed faculty and students

Thirty-one page final report, plus appendices
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What’s New with UR @ UMKC. . .

Strategic Investment from UM-System ($125K for Five Years
beginning in 2014)
& Why?

Support recruitment & retention

Improve institutional lives of faculty
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UR @ UMKC . . . More than
SEARCH

EUReka! Courses

• Designating specific courses
as embodying 4 characteristics
of UR
• CFP for 100-/200-level courses
will be issued in early February
with deadline in late March.

SUROP: Summer Research
Opportunity
• Students received $2000
tuition grant and up to $1250 in
research funds; $1000 stipend
for faculty mentor
• CFP will be issued on January
23 , with March 13 deadline.
•
UR-Linked
• Database where faculty can enter
profiles/projects and students can
search for matches with their
research/artistic interests.
•https://net2.umkc.edu/intapps/urlinks
SEARCH
• Remains unchanged--$1250 in
expenses for projects
undertaken through the
academic year.
• CFP in August, with deadline
in early September
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Easy Action Steps for Busy
Senators

Encourage faculty in your department to create a profile and register
projects on UR- Linked:
http://www.umkc.edu/searchsite/database/index.shtml

Consider creating/revising courses for EUReka designation. Rolling
deadline.

Acknowledge faculty mentors in your department -- round of applause at
dept. meeting; acknowledgment in dept. newsletter or Web site; thank you
note/e-mail.

Make sure UR efforts in your department get “counted.” Send Jane Greer
greerj@umkc.edu a quick e-mail with info about undergraduate
researchers funded by NSF, departmental symposium featuring senior
capstones, etc. E-mails welcome at any time!

UR @ UMKC is a work-in-progress. If you have ideas, concerns or
suggestions, please be in touch! greerj@umkc.edu.