Rural Research Connections Program
Application Instructions
Dear PreHealth Student,
You are invited to participate in the Rural Research Connections Program (RRCP). This program is a joint effort
between the West Virginia University Institute for Community and Rural Health (ICRH) and the West Virginia
University Pre-Health Professional Development Office (PPDO). The goals of the RRCP are to provide students
who are planning to apply to graduate level health professions schools or other graduate programs with
meaningful research and learning experiences related to rural health and to support the efforts of WVU
faculty who are engaging in research that is applicable to the health of rural populations. The RRCP is
designed to offer you an opportunity to work with a faculty mentor conducting community and rural healthrelated research by serving as an undergraduate research assistant.
As the state’s land grant institution, West Virginia University recognizes its professional and social
responsibilities to engage the community to provide quality health care in rural communities across West
Virginia. Conducting research in areas specific to rural health such as disparities and protective factors in
disease, injury, and health-related behaviors will assist to educate and empower people to improve the health
of their communities and achieve lasting change.
Examples of research methodologies include focus groups, survey instruments and structured observations.
Through the RRCP Program, you will have the opportunity to learn about one or more research methodologies
and apply them with the ultimate intent of promoting the health and well-being of rural populations;
identifying the existence and prevalence of health disparities within the state; improving the strategies for
addressing these health disparities and enhancing the research agenda for your mentor, yourself, and the
larger community. The direct benefits you will receive from involvement with the Rural Research Connection
Program are significant and include the opportunity to participate in:
1) An enriched Student-Mentor relationship
2) Two research roundtable lunches during the academic year where you and other students and faculty
participants can share research progress and experiences
3) Abstract and poster preparation workshop(s)
4) Reimbursement for research-related travel for you and your faculty mentor to present at a conference
in West Virginia in either 2016 or 2017, such as the West Virginia Rural Health Conference OR
equivalent funding toward attending a regional, national, or international conference, pending abstract
acceptance by the conference review committee.
Instructions 2015-2016
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Rural Research Connections Program
The Rural Research Connections Application includes: 1) Participating Investigator Research Descriptions, 2)
Student Application Form, 3) Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Waiver Form, and 4)
instructions for completing required* Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) Program Training
modules for working with human participants and health data.
You can access the RRCP Application Packet at WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health, WVU PreHealth Professional Development Office, and the WVU Office of Undergraduate Research websites.
If you find a research area or areas that interest you, complete an application for EACH investigator with
whom you are interested in working. Based upon your interest, you may apply to all research projects for
which you may wish to participate, but you will only be allowed to participate in one research project as part
of the RRCP at a time. Completed applications will be forwarded to the investigator(s). Investigators will then
contact you to discuss the possibility of conducting research and to schedule an interview. Based upon the
application and interview, the investigator will evaluate the student-mentor application process to determine
the best student for the research project. Once the research investigator has selected a student for the
research project, the investigator will contact the ICRH to notify them which students will be participating in
the program. *RRCP students are expected to complete any additional training necessary to participate in
their specific research project as requested by their mentor.
Only five positions are available for the 2015-2016 program cycle so get your COMPLETED application in as
soon as possible. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all five openings are filled. Participating
investigators have stated an interest in working with motivated students outside of the program even after
positions are filled. Therefore, we will continue to accept applications after the five positions are filled but,
only the first five student-mentor pairs will be eligible for the research roundtables and conference support.
Abstract and poster presentation workshops will be available to any student working with a RRCP investigator.
You may email your initial application; however completed applications with original signature must also be
mailed to:
Brianna Sheppard Willis, PhD, MA
Program Coordinator
WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health
PO Box 9009
Morgantown, WV 26506-9009
absheppard@hsc.wvu.edu
If you have any questions or would like additional information about the RRCP, please contact Brianna
Sheppard Willis at the WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health by phone at 304.293.1444 or e-mail
absheppard@hsc.wvu.edu.
Instructions 2015-2016
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Rural Research Connections Program
Rural Research Connections Programs Completed Application Checklist
 Completed and signed Student Application Form for EACH research project submission.
 Attached signed FERPA Waiver Form for EACH research project submission.
 Completed CITI Training and screenshot, PDF or word document showing that all required modules
have been passed.
Instructions 2015-2016
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