Lincoln (Neb.) - Dec. 6, 1999 - The University of Nebraska- Lincoln has a new program to expand opportunities for undergraduate students to work and learn alongside faculty in their research and creative activity.
Funded by income from its Pepsi Endowment, the Undergraduates in Creative Activities and Research Experience program encourages students to "learn by doing," said Richard Edwards, senior vice chancellor for academic affairs.
"This program will offer a wonderful addition to how we involve our students in the campus's research and creative activities," Edwards said. "We are breaking the separations between 'teaching' and 'research' by creating a campus learning environment that directly engages students in our research."
UCARE is organized as a two-year program, and students can become involved either as sophomores or juniors. With a sponsoring faculty member, the student in the first year works as a research assistant, learning why and how the faculty member does research and creative activities through performing assistance tasks.
In the second year, the student advances to a project proposed by the student, as an extension of the first-year project or related to the first year's experience. The faculty member continues to oversee the project and work as a mentor for the undergraduate researcher.
Students in the project earn stipends, based on amount of time worked on the project, with a maximum of $2,000 for the first year and $2,400 for the second year. Projects selected by the UCARE program will be based on merit and will end with evaluation.
"Undergraduate research is a component of higher education that truly sets apart universities who participate in it from those who do not," said Andy Schuerman, president of the Association of Students of the University of Nebraska. "The fact that NU is beginning this initiative speaks well of its commitment to the academic and personal development of undergraduate, as well as graduate, students. This program helps improve the relationship between teaching and research through exciting and innovative projects. Personally, I would welcome the chance to participate in such an innovative program," Schuerman said.
Details about the program, including application
information, will be released later this month. Applications for
the summer and fall terms in 2000 are due March 15 and for the
spring term 2001, the deadline is Oct. 15.
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