New center sponsors undergraduate research search

In a collaboration among administrators, faculty and students, the Center for Undergraduate Excellence will serve as the University's headquarters for undergraduate research, fellowships and interdisciplinary majors.

The new center, housed in the basement of Garrett Hall, combines offices that formerly were separate, including the Fellowships Office and other departments that served as resources for undergraduates.

President John T. Casteen III, College Dean Edward L. Ayers and Provost Gene Block authorized the center, which opened for student use in late August.

Nicole Hurd, the director of the center, said the new organization is a natural outgrowth to support the work of undergraduate students.

Many of the University's peer institutions already have similar offices, Hurd said.

In conjunction with the Undergraduate Research Network, the center will encourage and coordinate student research by setting up Web site forums and raising funds for student grants. Faculty members will be able to post job openings on the Web site, which students can access and respond to.

The center will continue the work of the former Fellowships Office in administering the Harrison Awards, annually awarded to 40 students for independent research projects.

Fourth-year College student Margaret Kramer, URN's director of outreach, said the center will support and enhance URN.

URN is a student-run organization formed last year to guide students interested in undergraduate research and provide a forum for their work.

URN "works alongside [the Center for Undergraduate Excellence] with common goals to propel the University's research forward," she said.

Fourth-year College student Dustin Batson, editor of The Oculus, the URN's biannual publication, said URN's partnership with the center will ease their financial burdens.

"The only change is we will have more resources. We don't have to worry about fundraising anymore," Batson said.

The center also will sponsor a program called "Brain Food," a weekly program that will provide a venue for students to present their research. The program will hold its inaugural meeting on Wednesday and host a lecture by F. Sherwood Rowland, the 1995 Nobel laureate in chemistry.

The center also has resources for students who want to design interdisciplinary majors, including counseling for students writing their theses.

The center's fellowships program will teach students how to create academic plans to be competitive for major national awards such as the Rhodes, Marshall and Truman fellowships, Hurd said.

But while University students have had considerable success in winning fellowships, the most important aspect of the process for students is critical self-reflection, Hurd said.

"Students reflect about who they are, why they do what they do, why they choose majors, why they choose activities, and where they will go next," Hurd said. "At U.Va., we are not in the grooming business, but are interested in fostering the possibilities for students."

Read More

United Healthcare takes over as student health insurance provider

By Lauren Seeliger | 10 minutes ago

All University students are required to be medically insured, but the University student plan is only required for students who do not have other, valid health insurance.

---

University community leaders gather at the Rotunda to speak about interim President Mahoney

By Xander Tilock | 5 hours ago

Each speaker addressed concerns over a lack of input from students, faculty, staff and community members in the circumstances which led to former University President Jim Ryan’s resignation and the decision-making process since then.

---

Student Council passes vote of no confidence in the Board of Visitors

By Cecilia Mould | 2 days ago

According to the resolution, the Board failed to respond to Student Council’s July 15 requests and has ignored student leaders’ concern with the current selection process.