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Do you need money for . . . a special project you'd like to work on? a project for Senior Comps? research on intercultural events or topics abroad? Be sure to check out the ASP and Richter-ASP programs |
About
The Undergraduate Research Center (URC) provides information
for students on research
opportunities, financial support, and a forum for the dissemination of
student accomplishments. It is located in Johnson Hall, Room 100, and
can be reached at 323-259-1414 or via email at
urc@oxy.edu.
Occidental's Strategic Plan encourages undergraduate research as a key
component of the Occidental experience: "The College's long-held commitment
to undergraduate education is also reflected in the emphasis on providing
opportunities for students to participate in research and related scholarly
endeavors. This focus on undergraduate participation in the creation of knowledge is a principal
ingredient of the academic experience of an Occidental student" (Pursuing
the Vision of Excellence and Equity 1997-2001; Occidental's Strategic Plan).
History
Faculty-mentored
undergraduate research projects at Occidental can be traced back to the 1950’s and the
research interests of several faculty members in the Biology and Chemistry
departments.
This activity received the support of both Presidents Coons and
Gilman and expanded during the period 1955-1980 to become an integral part
of many science students’ education.
Building on the experience and leadership of several Occidental
scientists, who helped found the Council of Undergraduate Research in early
1980s the College, under the leadership of President Gilman and Dean David Axeen, sought to extend student research opportunity to other disciplines,
especially the social sciences, with a quarter-million dollar grant from the
Ford Foundation in 1987. As one of 19 Ford Foundation awardees, the College recognized
the connection between student participation in undergraduate research and
graduate training toward a college/university faculty position.
Internal and external support for faculty-mentored undergraduate
research grew during the 1990’s and in 1998 the College, under the
leadership of President Slaughter, received one of ten half-million dollar
Awards for the Integration of Research and Education (AIRE) from the National
Science Foundation that established the Undergraduate Research Center (URC)
with Prof. Chris Craney as the founding Director.
The URC merged the College-wide program initiated by the Ford
Foundation and the undergraduate research supported by a number of
individual faculty and department-centered grants.
The URC-administered program encompasses key elements from programs
dating back to the 1950’s, including a focus on original research and/or
creative work; close faculty-protégé relationship to develop, draft, and
implement a proposal; review by a College-wide selection committee; an intense
10-week long, residential, summer research experience culminating in a formal presentation
and a published abstract; and an organized series of weekly, plenary
seminars, supplemented by small group meetings, and social activities.
Three to six students worked individually with a few faculty members during those first summers in the 1950’s. Since then, the program has expanded to include over 125 students and 60 faculty members during the summer as well as over 200 students during the academic year. Undergraduate research is now recognized as a “signature component” of an Occidental education and nearly every national award-winning student in the last two decades has participated.
From the Occidental Magazine Fall 2004 - "Analyze This" by Andy Faught
2007 Summer Research Newsletters: May 29, June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23, July 6, July 16
2008 Summer Research Newsletters: June 10, June 17, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, July 22
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