The Education Division of CUR is offering two $500 grants to faculty members interested in integrating undergraduate research within one of their courses. Faculty can choose to design a new research-infused course or redesign an existing course to include a substantial undergraduate research component that provides students with an opportunity to learn about educational research/scholarship and conduct course-based research. This grant will provide faculty with $500 as well as mentoring and resources from a CUR councilor in the Education Division. Applications are due by April 1, 2020. The application is available through the following link:
UR Course (Re)Design Award: Course-Based Research Experience in Education Award
Faculty must address the following questions within their application:
- CURE Research Goals – What are your research goals for this course-based experience?
- Student Goals – What are your student goals for this course-based experience? What do you want students to learn as a result of this experience? These student goals could include various knowledge and skills as well as professional experience in the field or the development of soft skills and persistence when faced with challenges.
- CURE Objectives & Design – What are the objectives of the CURE? How will the CURE be designed?
- Equity and Inclusion Considerations – How will you best support your students engaging in CURE? How will you develop your CURE to take into account the variability of students?
- Assessments – How might you assess and evaluate your students’ CUREs? What assessments will you design that are aligned with the CURE and objectives? How might you assess students’ contributions to projects, lab notebook/field note entries, culminating papers or presentations?
- Resources to Support CURE – What resources are necessary for this CURE to be most successful? Resources might include colleagues, graduate students, peer mentors, and librarians who would be willing to collaborate on the CURE. What material and/or financial resources might you need? What additional funding resources are available? How might this CURE impact students’ future UR experiences? Where else might these skills be reinforced?
- Budget – What is your budget for the $500 grant? For example, recipients may use this grant money to fund a student to help with the course (re)design, to purchase resources, to provide a faculty stipend, or to participate in professional development.
Using the rubric, members of the Education Division Scholarship Committee will review applications and select two grant recipients after April 1. All applicants will be notified of the committee’s decision by May 1. Grant recipients will submit a revised course syllabus to the committee prior to February 1 the following year. Contact Jenn Manak or Suzanne Lindt with any questions.
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.