Building Undergraduate Research across the Disciplines: New Ideas Outside of the Classroom with an Interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Club

One often overlooked challenge of undergraduate research (UR) is access to information. Growing student diversity, including first-generation students, and increasing calls for a better-trained workforce suggest that higher education should be providing more support for UR. The authors propose that higher education needs cost-effective, impactful ways to advance UR initiatives. At Towson University, an interdisciplinary Undergraduate Research Club was created to foster a culture of peer-mentored undergraduate research. The authors review the creation of this club; explain goals, activities, and structure; and provide supporting data for activities, including the fund-raising activity Research Grams. This model offers a valuable, replicable, low-cost tool to advance accessible, student-centered undergraduate research initiatives.