College of Arts and Sciences
Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program

The purpose of the program is to provide undergraduate students with a substantial research experience while also assisting faculty to further their research projects. The research can involve a laboratory, library, archival, technological or other appropriate experience. The important point is that the student must be learning to do academic research, not simply photocopying, transcribing, or filing. The guidelines governing the project are as follows:

• Faculty wishing to engage such students must file a brief proposal that gives a clear description of the project, a projected time line, a description of the work the student will do and an explanation of how the experience will benefit the student academically.
• Proposals are accepted three times a year (summer, fall, spring terms) with specific deadlines each year. Faculty should send proposals to their chairperson at least one week before they are due in the dean's office.

For Summer projects 2008—applications are due to the chairperson by 03/14/08* and in Gasson 106 by 03/20/08* For Fall projects 2008/09—applications are due to the chairperson by 09/10/08 and in Gasson 106 by 09/17/08 For Spring projects 2008/09—applications are due to the chairperson by 12/05/08 and in Gasson 106 by 12/11/08

* Note: Summer dates are purposely set early in response to faculty requests for such dates in order for students to be aware of awards before making summer commitments. Applications with chairperson approvals and comments will be accepted afterwards on a rolling basis, but their funding will be limited by the availability, if any, of funds remaining after the first round of awards is made.

• Normally faculty identify a specific student at the time they apply for the program. Students engaged in the program should have at least sophomore status, be academically strong (typically a 3.4 GPA or better) and see the project as part of their long-term academic development. If you do not have a specific student in mind, please contact your department fellowship sponsor who may know of an appropriate student. This would be a wonderful opportunity for our best students to prepare for prestigious fellowship competitions. Proposals not identifying specific recipients may be given a lower priority.
• Students will earn $9.00 an hour. The hours worked can vary from a total of 20 hours to 200 hours per semester (and up to 400 hours for the summer) and do not depend on student financial need. Please remember that no student is allowed to work more than a total of 20 hours per week during the academic year or 40 hours per week during the summer. This includes all their URF and non-URF BC jobs. If the student also has a work-study grant, the funds are taken from the work-study allotment until that is depleted. Students should be made aware of this.
• Faculty are expected to provide appropriate instruction and supervision for the research assistants.
These positions are not to serve as substitute support for students who would ordinarily be supported by grants.
• At the end of the student's employment both faculty member and student will submit an evaluation of the experience to Dean Petri. Highest priority for funding may be given to faculty members and continuing projects who have filed these reports.