The Council on Undergraduate Research is a national faculty development organization founded in 1978 that promotes high-quality student-faculty collaborative research. It has over 3000 individual members and 500 institutional members across 7 disciplinary and 2 multidisciplinary divisions. The organization supports undergraduate research through conferences, workshops, publications, and other resources. Benefits of undergraduate research include stronger student learning and retention, as well as faculty professional development and institutional prestige.

1. Council on Undergraduate Research

2. “Learning Through Research”

3. CUR Mission:
To support and promote high-quality
student-faculty collaborative
research and scholarship

4. Council on Undergraduate Research

5. Council on Undergraduate Research
• National faculty development organization founded in 1978

6. Council on Undergraduate Research
• National faculty development organization founded in 1978
• > 3000 Individual Members & > 500 Institutional Members

7. Council on Undergraduate Research
• National faculty development organization founded in 1978
• > 3000 Individual Members & > 500 Institutional Members
• Seven disciplinary divisions: Biology, Chemistry,
Geosciences, Mathematics and Computer Science,
Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences

8. Council on Undergraduate Research
• National faculty development organization founded in 1978
• > 3000 Individual Members & > 500 Institutional Members
• Seven disciplinary divisions: Biology, Chemistry,
Geosciences, Mathematics and Computer Science,
Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences
• Two multidisciplinary divisions: Undergraduate Research
Program Directors & At-Large Division

9. Council on Undergraduate Research
• National faculty development organization founded in 1978
• > 3000 Individual Members & > 500 Institutional Members
• Seven disciplinary divisions: Biology, Chemistry,
Geosciences, Mathematics and Computer Science,
Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences
• Two multidisciplinary divisions: Undergraduate Research
Program Directors & At-Large Division
• Councilors: Up to 24 per division elected by members
Committees: Councilors serve on standing committees
Executive Board: Governing officers & Division chairs

10. Council on Undergraduate Research
• National faculty development organization founded in 1978
• > 3000 Individual Members & > 500 Institutional Members
• Seven disciplinary divisions: Biology, Chemistry,
Geosciences, Mathematics and Computer Science,
Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences
• Two multidisciplinary divisions: Undergraduate Research
Program Directors & At-Large Division
• Councilors: Up to 24 per division elected by members
Committees: Councilors serve on standing committees
Executive Board: Governing officers & Division chairs
• National office in Washington, D.C. headed by the
Executive Officer: Dr. Nancy Hensel

11. Undergraduate research:
An inquiry or investigation
conducted by an undergraduate
student that makes an original
intellectual or creative
contribution to their discipline

12. Undergraduate research:
An inquiry or investigation
conducted by an undergraduate
student that makes an original
intellectual or creative
contribution to their discipline

13. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?

14. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?
• Engages and empowers students in hands-on learning

15. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?
• Engages and empowers students in hands-on learning
• Enhances the student learning experience through
mentoring relationships with faculty

16. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?
• Engages and empowers students in hands-on learning
• Enhances the student learning experience through
mentoring relationships with faculty
• Increases retention in the STEM disciplines & other fields

17. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?
• Engages and empowers students in hands-on learning
• Enhances the student learning experience through
mentoring relationships with faculty
• Increases retention in the STEM disciplines & other fields
• Provides effective career preparation & promotes interest
in graduate education

18. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?
• Engages and empowers students in hands-on learning
• Enhances the student learning experience through
mentoring relationships with faculty
• Increases retention in the STEM disciplines & other fields
• Provides effective career preparation & promotes interest
in graduate education
• Develops critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, self
confidence, and intellectual independence

19. What are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?
• Engages and empowers students in hands-on learning
• Enhances the student learning experience through
mentoring relationships with faculty
• Increases retention in the STEM disciplines & other fields
• Provides effective career preparation & promotes interest
in graduate education
• Develops critical thinking, creativity, problem solving, self
confidence, and intellectual independence
• Promotes an innovation-oriented culture

20. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm
• Enhances teaching effectiveness and job satisfaction
• Promotes advancements in research program
• Increases access to grant funding
• Encourages faculty to remain current in their field
• Promotes greater engagement with students, colleagues,
and the community

21. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm

22. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm
• Enhances teaching effectiveness and job satisfaction

23. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm
• Enhances teaching effectiveness and job satisfaction
• Promotes advancements in research program

24. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm
• Enhances teaching effectiveness and job satisfaction
• Promotes advancements in research program
• Increases access to grant funding

25. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm
• Enhances teaching effectiveness and job satisfaction
• Promotes advancements in research program
• Increases access to grant funding
• Encourages faculty to remain current in their field

26. Faculty Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Invigorates intellect and increases enthusiasm
• Enhances teaching effectiveness and job satisfaction
• Promotes advancements in research program
• Increases access to grant funding
• Encourages faculty to remain current in their field
• Promotes greater engagement with students, colleagues,
and the community

27. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution
• Attracts talented faculty and builds research programs
• Attracts engaged students and community interest
• External funding brings new equipment and facilities
• Encourages innovative and collaborative curricula
• Promotes engagement with national trends in higher
education and new research directions

28. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution

29. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution
• Attracts talented faculty and builds research programs

30. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution
• Attracts talented faculty and builds research programs
• Attracts engaged students and community interest

31. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution
• Attracts talented faculty and builds research programs
• Attracts engaged students and community interest
• External funding brings new equipment and facilities

32. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution
• Attracts talented faculty and builds research programs
• Attracts engaged students and community interest
• External funding brings new equipment and facilities
• Encourages innovative and collaborative curricula

33. Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research:
• Enhances intellectual vitality of the institution
• Attracts talented faculty and builds research programs
• Attracts engaged students and community interest
• External funding brings new equipment and facilities
• Encourages innovative and collaborative curricula
• Promotes engagement with national trends in higher
education and new research directions

34. Focus on Faculty Development
MEETINGS
National Conference
CUR Dialogues
Institutes
Posters on the Hill
Regional Workshops on
Institutional Undergraduate
Research
SERVICES
Consulting Service
Mentor Network
CUR Fellows Awards
CUR List-serve
Undergraduate
Researchers’ Graduate
School Registry
PUBLICATIONS
CUR Quarterly “How To” Series Specialized Volumes

35. Quarterly
Journal
for
Members

36. New Publication
Developing and Sustaining a
Research - Supportive Curriculum:
A Compendium of Successful Practices
National Press Club February 21, 2007

37. Posters
on the Hill
Washington
D.C.
April 2009

38. 13th CUR
National
Conference
2010
• National undergraduate research gathering
for faculty, administrators, policy makers,
funding agency representatives, and other
stakeholders.
• Workshops, presentations, roundtables,
and keynote symposia
• Abundant opportunities for networking,
discussion, and interaction
Weber State University
Ogden, Utah - June 2010

39. www.cur.org
PowerPoint presentation created September 2008
by Dr. Jeff Marshall, CUR Councilor, Geosciences Division
(based on earlier version by Dr. Kerry Karukstis, CUR President)

40. Cal Poly Pomona
University
Saturday November 22
Abstract Deadline:
Friday October 3
Registration Deadline:
Friday October 24
www.csupomona.edu/~sccur08

41. Photo Credits:
All copyrights are maintained by the original owners.
Note: Many of the photos used in this presentation were acquired from the internet
without expressed permission of the owners. They are used here only to depict and
promote undergraduate research as a beneficial academic endeavor for all.
Sources of these photos include the public web sites of:
The Council for Undergraduate Research
Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science
Appalachian State University
Butler University
Cal Poly Pomona University
Cornell University
Georgia Tech University
Harvey Mudd College
Judson University
Lincoln University
Michigan Tech University
Newpark Music Center
Notre Dame University
Trinity University
University of California, Berkeley
University of Minnesota