Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program

Academic Innovation and Effectiveness

What is the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Program?

• The URCA Program at SIUe is a program that allows students to engage in a research project or creative endeavor under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Purpose of the URCA Program

•Encourage•Recognize•Support

Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities at Southern Illinois

University Edwardsville

History of the URCA Program

• Began as the Undergraduate Research Academy at SIUE in 1990; original Academy had 33 Scholars

• Total of 285 students have completed the program since then

• Projects from 41 different majors and specialties

• 165 faculty have served as mentors

Participation Options

• URCA Assistant• Works on faculty led research or creative activity

for 8-10 hours each week• Gains introductory experience in a specific field• Minimum commitment of one semester

• URCA Associate• Leads an independent project with guidance from

a faculty mentor• Manages his/her own project budget• Project begins in the fall and ends in spring

URCA Participants Receive:

• URCA Assistants• $800 award per semester

• URCA Associates• $2000 award• $500 toward project expenses• $400 conference travel presentation

Benefits for Students

• Opportunity to explore in-depth research or creative processes

• Develop a close working relationship with faculty

• Design and work on a project not available in courses

Students Participate in:

• Innovative research or creative activities

• Discipline-specific problem-solving• Networking with students in various

disciplines• Grant-writing experiences• Professional presentations

URCA Impact: Graduate School

• URCA Program helps applicants stand out

• Actual lab, studio, and field experiences

• Alumni have high rate of acceptance into 1st choice of graduate schools

• Alumni often receive assistantships/ fellowships at graduate schools

URCA Program Application

• URCA Assistants• Students submit the online application directly to

faculty members, due Aug. 1 and Dec. 1• See position postings at http://

www.siue.edu/urca/assistantcurrentprojects.shtml

• URCA Associates• Project proposals due at noon on the third Friday

in March• Visit the following website for more information:

http://www.siue.edu/urca/prospective/apply.shtml • Notification by the end of April

My Project

Questions?

For More Information Contact:

Dr. Laura Pawlow, URCA Coordinatorlpawlow@siue.edu

Dr. Vicki Scott, Assistant Provost for Academic Innovation and Effectiveness viscott@siue.edu

Kendra Fark, Graduate Assistant to Dr. Scottktockst@siue.edu

http://www.siue.edu/urca/