Following the success of the David A. Harrison III Undergraduate Research Awards, the Faculty Senate is reviewing the possibility of establishing a permanent funding program for undergraduate research.
The University could reap the benefits of a fund that encourages undergraduate research, some officials said.
"Anything that allows us to position the undergraduate experience among the most unique in American education will lend to recruiting the best and the brightest students," Vice President for Development Robert D. Sweeney said. "Real, cutting-edge opportunities might be the defining reason one would decide to come here."
Until this year, the fund sponsoring the Harrison Awards has not been used to reward undergraduate work.
This year, the Harrison Awards offered 25 undergraduate students research grants ranging from $1,800 to $3,000 for specific projects, ranging from architecture to religious studies.
"I've seen the entries of students, and I've seen the quality of their entries," said Robert M. Grainger, Senate Research and Scholarship Committee chairman. "I can get a sense of how valuable this would be for undergraduates."
Such a program would benefit all members of the University community, Civil Engineering Asst. Prof. Lori L. Graham said. Graham served on the Faculty Senate Selection Committee for the Harrison Awards.
"Faculty get more from students who bring compelling questions into the classroom," she said.
The University could use a permanent undergraduate research grant program as a recruiting device, Sweeney said.
Grainger said he hoped to establish a program for undergraduate research as recognizable as the current Echols Scholars program.
When a student applies to the University, he would know beforehand that such an opportunity would be available in future years, Grainger said.
But officials are not certain where the money for such a program would come from, Faculty Senate Chairman David T. Gies said.
Money for the Harrison Awards comes from the David A. Harrison III trust, controlled by the Office of the President.
This year, the Office agreed to use the trust money to support undergraduate research upon recommendation from the Faculty Senate.
Sweeney said he believes the possibility of finding funding for a permanent undergraduate research grant program exists.
"Based on the quality of the work I'm seeing, it would be a worthy funding priority," he said.
Officials would have to determine whether the program's funding would come from endowment money or from outright support, he added.
Read More
Honor Committee considers formal ban of AI detectors as evidence in trials
By Lexie Stadler | 13 hours agoThe Committee also addressed balancing student perspectives with those of Committee representatives during panel discussions.
Pro-Palestinian protesters form encampment near University Chapel
By CD News Staff | 14 hours agoThe encampment overlapped with a separate “May Day” protest on the Lawn, which was hosted by student activist group U.Va. Dissenters and the U.Va. Apartheid Divest Coalition.
Another aggravated assault incident reported to UPD
By Thomas Baxter | 14 hours agoThis is the first community alert of May.
