Undergraduate Research and Creativity Committee
Year End Report 2014-2015.
Submitted by: Gretchen Gerrish (chair)
Members: Stephen McDougal (recorder), Ryan Friesen, Nicholas Bakken, John Nunley, Joshua Hursey,
Keely Rees, Huiya Yan, Walter Elder
A. Senate Charge 2014-2015:
“Develop a plan that could provide mentoring opportunities across departments of the university for
student grant writing.”
B. Action Item to address the charge = Panel at the Fall Teaching and Learning Conference:
Mentoring Undergraduate Research: Panel and Q&A regarding student recruitment, undergraduate
grant preparation, presentation development and optimizing dual productivity between students
and mentor. Gretchen Gerrish (Biology: Moderator), Scott Cooper (Biology), Ryan Friesen (English),
Nick Bakken (Sociology), Josh Hursey (Computer Science), Stephen McDougal (Political Science),
C. Meeting Summaries:
a. August, 27, 2014: Elections, review of the grant application materials, scheduling of
future meetings,
b. November 5, 2014: Initial review of the fall grant applications. Funding
recommendations were made to the URC office.
c. November 11, 2014: (Quorum not reached) Discussion of GPA requirement and
payment while receiving credit for applicants.
d. April 6, 2015: Initial review of the spring grant applications. Funding recommendations
were made to the URC office.
e. April 29,2015: Discussion of student travel budget for NCUR.
D. Funding: In the past, additional funding to the URC office has supplemented undergraduate
research funding to support more students. With budget cuts, this supplement is unlikely so
funding decisions in the Spring 2015 cycle were conservative to make sure there was enough
funding to support the Fall 2015 cycle. Grant funding in 2013-2014 (fall and spring cycles) was
$163,520. For the Spring 2015 and Fall 2015 the budget is $142,010. After the Spring 2015 grant
cycle, $85,777 remains to support students in Fall 2015.
a. Fall cycle: We funded 50 out of 58 (86%) for a total of $97,592.
b. Spring cycle: We funded 29 out of 42 (69%) for a total of $56,233
c. Grant limits were: International individual = $3,500 ($1,000 stipend), International dual
= $4,000 ($1,500 stipend), Domestic individual = $2,000 ($1,000 stipend), Domestic dual
= $2,500 ($1,500 stipend).
E. Student Outcomes:
a. 165 abstracts for the UW-L Celebration of Student Research and Creativity; 31 oral (25
undergraduate),1 exhibit, and 134 poster presentations (110 undergraduate).
b. 20 UW-L students travelled to NCUR to present on their research.
F. On-going suggestions/discussions:
a. Maintaining membership on the committee by faculty from across departments will
help address the difference in grant number and quality.
b. Help mentor faculty across disciplines to promote confidence in working with students
to pursue funding.
c. Committee will need to help the undergraduate research office address limited funding
for NCUR participation. The committee supports continuing with funding based on
seniority and funds available but on-going discussion may be needed.