Undergraduate Research Fact Sheet

Quick facts

• Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher

• Students must work a minimum of 10 hours per week on research with faculty.

• Scholarships go to students who participate starting at $500 for first semester, $1000 for second semester and $1500 every subsequent semester.
• Research can be used towards honors thesis
• Symposium and poster competition held every April with travel scholarship awards to be given to outstanding student projects.

Overview

The College of Public Programs (COPP) began its Undergraduate Research Program in Fall 2006.  The program is designed to provide undergraduate students with research, presentation and publication experience.  Faculty members with in the College of Public Programs play a crucial role in helping undergraduate students engage in research.  Any faculty member that wants or needs assistance with research is encouraged to work directly with an undergraduate student of their choosing.  Faculty members initiate research opportunities on a case by case basis.  

Once a student agrees to work with a faculty member on a research project, the student receives a scholarship allocated at the beginning of each semester.  For the first semester, a student receives a $500 scholarship.  For the second semester, the amount is increased to $1000 and for the third semester, and every semester there after, the student receives $1500.  Students are asked to work on research a minimum of 10 hours per week.  The faculty member and student work together to determine location, hours and documentation of task completion.  Students can participate in research until they graduate.  The COPP Undergraduate Research Program is funded through the Dean’s Offices.

Students who engage in undergraduate research do not receive academic credit for the research.  They do however have the opportunity to use their experience for honors theses.  Any student in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or higher) can participate in the program. 

Beginning in Spring 2008, had the opportunity, on a volunteer basis, to present their research at the first ever COPP Undergraduate Research Symposium scheduled for April 2008.  The event will continue to occur every April.  Students who volunteer are asked to prepare a poster capturing their research experience.  They are asked to present their findings to a faculty panel.  The top student presenter, as determined by the faculty panel, receive a travel scholarship to further present their research at a conference relevant to their discipline.  This activity is voluntary so that the scholarship dollars the students receive does not affect their financial aid or become taxable income.

For more information, please contact-
Dana C. Newell, M.A.
Director, Student and Academic Affairs
Email: dana.newell@asu.edu
Phone: (602) 496-0416.