Gateways to Best Practices for Undergraduate Research Program Directors
June 15, 2011; 8:30 – 10:00 AM, L004 Seigle Hall, Washington University, Saint Louis, Missouri
“Essential Components of an Undergraduate Research Office”
Allison Snow, Director of the Undergraduate Research Office and Professor of Biology, and Helene
Cweren, Program Manager, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH;
www.undergraduateresearch.osu.edu
Julie Morris, Director, Office of Undergraduate Research, University of South Carolina; www.sc.edu/our
Abstract: Many campuses have established campus-wide undergraduate research offices (URO) to
coordinate undergraduate research opportunities, while others have UROs that focus on specific
disciplines. Facilitators will discuss similarities and differences among representative UROs, allowing
participants to consider which components may be most appropriate for their institutions. Topics will
include how to move from directing a specific program (such as McNair or LSAMP) to an office that
serves the entire university community. The discussion will also cover the different organizational
models for undergraduate research program directors, and benefits and drawbacks of combining a new
position with other responsibilities.
Over-arching goals of UROs
 Facilitate meaningful research experiences for students working with faculty
 Economize by providing expertise, resources, and services for entire campus
 Publicize undergraduate research accomplishments for external audiences
Common components of UROs
1. Typical organizational structure
a. Director – see table below
b. Program manager/coordinator
c. Program assistant/administrative assistant/graduate student assistant
d. Students (paid; volunteer)
e. Faculty advisory board, student advisory board
f. Coordination with other units (advisors, Honors Center, orientation, Student Affairs, etc)
2. Strategic plan and goals
3. Website – resources for students, announcements, feature stories, application forms, etc
4. Communication strategy
a. Outreach to undergrads, grad students, faculty, administrators, & university community
b. Participation/inclusion in university public relations (to alumni, public, donors, trustees,
high school students)
5. Programs
a. Student workshops on professional development
b. Summer research program/institute
c. Peer experiences for student researchers
d. Responsible conduct of research, IRB training
6. Major forum/celebration event for students to present their projects
7. Funding for students – travel awards, mini-grants, stipends, scholarships
8. Fundraising – grant proposals, philanthropy
9. Monitoring undergraduate research – indicators of participation, posters, theses, publications
1
10. Assessment of URO impact
a. Indicators of effectiveness - satisfaction surveys; alumni outcomes
11. Examples of other components
a. Recognition/merit awards - for students, faculty
b. Campus UG research journal
c. Newsletter
d. Mentor training for faculty, postdocs, and graduate students
e. Research opportunities for freshmen and sophomores
f. Curriculum development and UGR course(s) - coordinated by URO
g. Coordinating service learning/community research
h. Selected student ambassadors to help with outreach and programming
i. International research funding
j. Residence Hall programs
k. Establishing department liaisons
Common challenges facing UROs
1. Funding
2. Communicating with students, faculty, administrators, campus-wide
3. Finding faculty to supervise students, especially beginners
4. Measuring participation and outcomes, campus-wide
5. Developing database management systems for tracking students
Major rewards – Huge benefits for students & universities; participation growing; many faculty are very
supportive of undergrad researchers
References and resources
Council on Undergraduate Research – www.cur.org
Snow, A. A., J. DeCosmo, & S. M. Shokair. Low-cost strategies for promoting undergraduate research at
research universities. PEER Review. Spring 2010:16-19. American Association of Colleges and
Universities. http://www.aacu.org/peerreview/pr-sp10/pr-sp10_index.cfm
Focus on Undergraduate Research Offices. CUR Quarterly. December 2006. Volume 27, Issue 2
Examples of a few URO websites at public research universities (in addition to those listed above):
Michigan State University—urca.msu.edu
North Carolina State University—www.ncsu.edu/undergrad-research/
University of California at Irvine—www.urop.uci.edu
University of Connecticut—www.ugradresearch.uconn.edu
University of Maryland—www.ugresearch.umd.edu
University of Michigan—www.lsa.umich.edu/urop (Arts & Sciences)
University of Minnesota—www.research.umn.edu/undergraduate
University of Nebraska—www.unl.edu/ucare
University of North Carolina—www.unc.edu/depts/our
University of South Carolina—www.sc.edu/our
2
Activities of Undergraduate Research Offices at PhD-granting Universities.
Courtesy of Dr. Mary Crowe, Univ. North Carolina at Greensboro; 2010 survey sent to
program directors affiliated with the Council on Undergraduate Research.
Percent (N=34)
28%
41%
Full-time director
Full-time administrative assistant
Celebration of UG research event(s)
100%
Workshops for student development
82%
Summer stipends to work on research project
Academic year stipends to work on research project
85%
65%
Travel funds for students to conduct work
Travel funds for students to present work
47%
71%
UG Research Journal
44%
Examples of URO Directors’ Appointments & Degrees at PhD-granting Universities.
Percent appointment/effort in UG research is noted in parentheses; * indicates Director has a few
other major duties; # indicates tenure-track faculty.
Position
Institution
Associate Vice Provost & Director
#Utah State Univ. (50%)
Associate Dean & Director
#Univ. Washington (50%), #NC State Univ. (25%)
Assistant Vice Provost & Director
*Carnegie Mellon University (100%)
Director, PhD in Higher Education
Univ. Missouri (100%), Michigan State Univ. (100%), Case
Western Reserve Univ. (100%)
Director, PhD in other area
#Ohio State Univ. (75%), #Univ. California at Irvine (100%),
#Univ. Nebraska (50%), #Univ. North Carolina at Greensboro
(100%), *#Univ. S. Alabama (100%), Univ. Central Florida (100%)
Director, MS in other area
Univ. Michigan (100%), Univ. South Carolina (100%)
3