The Council on Undergraduate Research serves a broad and diverse community of academic mentors who support and guide the scholarly work of our future leaders. This past year has been exceptionally trying for our community as we have been disproportionately affected by emotional, physical, and financial impacts of a global pandemic, the continued fight to end institutional racism, and most recently the attack on the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to undermine the results of a lawful election and disrupt the peaceful transfer of power. We are here to support you as you support your students during these difficult times. We believe that the mission and vision of CUR is more timely than ever. Providing our future leaders with the necessary skills to question, collaborate, and communicate thoughtfully, respectfully, and effectively with a broad community will better equip them for an unpredictable future. We are preparing future leaders by building their self-confidence, nimbleness in the face of unexpected obstacles, belief in the need for supporting evidence, and so much more. The more we reach out to diverse communities of students and mentors, the greater the opportunity for impactful societal change. CUR will continue to advocate for increased support to make these opportunities more broadly accessible; provide platforms for sharing, learning, and support; and focus on developing an organizational culture and community that actively prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Silvia Ronco (President), Janice DeCosmo (Immediate Past-President), Jeanne Mekolichick (President-Elect), Lindsay Currie (Executive Officer)
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.