Undergraduate researchers soon will enjoy a new source of funding, with the introduction of the Faculty Senate Undergraduate Research Awards.
The Provost's Office has agreed to fund the awards for a three-year period, Faculty Senate Chairman David T. Gies said.
The research grants follow the success of this year's David A. Harrison III Undergraduate Research Awards, which for the first time ever offered 25 undergraduate students awards sums ranging from $1,800 to $3,000.
"Everything I have heard about the program is positive, and responses from students have been especially positive," University President John T. Casteen III said. "Obviously it was something we needed."
Gies said the awards present a unique and important opportunity for undergraduates to perform independent research projects.
"I think this is one of the most exciting opportunities that has come along for undergraduates in many years," Gies said.
Many officials said the awards enhance the experience of students in the classroom, since they have hands-on experience in their field of study.
"The Engineering School had several recipients of the Harrison Awards," said P. Paxton Marshall, Engineering school assistant dean for undergraduate programs. "It's a great opportunity for them to get some real project experience in the research labs."
Gies said it is still uncertain how much money will be allotted for the awards, but that it will most likely fall somewhere between $100,000 and $200,000.
Officials said they hope the research awards may someday become a highly recognizable program within the University.
Robert M. Grainger, Faculty Senate Research and Scholarship Committee chairman, compared the awards' desired visibility to the current Echols Scholars program.
"We are hoping this becomes a household word," Grainger said. "We want students to feel that it is something they can depend on and look forward to" when deciding to enroll at the University.
While the Faculty Senate plans to administer the awards in much the same manner as the Harrison Awards, some things will be changed, Faculty Senate Chairwoman-Elect Patricia H. Werhane said.
"We may try to have some sort of quotas for each school" because the proposals were of extremely high quality, Werhane said. "Some schools complained they didn't get their fair share."
To ensure students from all undergraduate schools of the University benefit from the awards, Awards Selection Committee members will come from a variety of academic departments, Grainger said.
"There will be a broad panel of Faculty Senators who evaluate in different areas," he said. "We want to make sure everyone in the different schools has the same opportunity."
He added that the application process itself also may be revised. While the 157 applicants for this year's 25 awards submitted a letter of recommendation and a short research proposal, future applicants could face more stringent requirements.
An applicant's transcript, experience in the area of investigation and any related courses could be reviewed by the Selection Committee when making decisions, Grainger said.
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