In this Issue:
National Office News
CUR 2008 National Conference: Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research
CUR Upgrades to New Association Management System
CUR Welcomes New Institutional Members
CUR Institutes
CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research
Mentorship, Collaboration and Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Initiating and Sustaining Undergraduate Research Programs
Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution
Ongoing CUR Offerings
Undergraduate Researcher's Graduate School Registry
Developing and Sustaining a Research - Supportive Curriculum: A Compendium of Successful Practices
Newswise Press Release Subscription Service
Advocacy
Introduction to Washington Partners, LLC
Memorandum Regarding New Research Programs
Washington Partners News June 2, 2008 Column
Opportunities
Dreyfus Foundation Program Deadlines
Sigma Xi's Catalog of Undergraduate Research Events
NIST Construction Grant Program
NIH Program Announcements
Minority Serving Institutions - Technical Assistance Workshop
National Office News:
CUR 2008 National Conference: Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research:
There
is still time to register! The conference will be held June
21-24, 2008 at the College of Saint Benedict in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.
Registration is available by visiting http://www.cur.org/register.html
For more information, please visit
http://www.cur.org/conferences/csb/cur08natconf.asp
The Draft Schedule is now available, please visit
http://www.cur.org/conferences/csb/nc08%20-%20web%20schedule.pdf
Plenary Speakers:
Dr. Isiah M. Warner on Mentoring Diverse Students
Isiah M. Warner received his B.S. in chemistry from Southern University
of Washington (1977). He was assistant professor at Texas a&M
University (1977-82), promoted with tenure in 1982. He joined
Emory University (1982) as associate professor and named Samuel Candler
Dobbs Professor in 1987. He joined LSU as Philip W. West
Professor of Chemistry in 1992. He has been actively involved in
the development of new educational strategies through grants from the
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the National Science Foundation, and
the Research Corporation. The overall focus of these efforts are (1)
restructuring the way students learn science and (2) development of a
vehicle for extending educational/mentoring efforts such that the
overall impact of a single individual is magnified, i.e. a mentoring
ladder. His educational models are based on the effective
implementation of metacognitive and research strategies through the use
of this mentoring ladder.
Dr. Jennifer Blackmer on Undergraduate Research in the Humanities
Jennifer Blackmer is a freelance playwright and director, and an
Assistant Professor of Theatre at Ball State University. Her most
recent play, The Human Faustus Project, written with fifteen
undergraduates at the Virginia B. Ball Center for Creative Inquiry, p
remiered at Ball State in November, and was also seen as the opening
session for the Council on Undergraduate Research Dialogues conference
in Washington, D.C. Her current projects include On Again with Fresh
Courage, a new play about Anne Frank that also premiered in November at
the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, a new English translation of
Morimoto Kaoru's A Woman's Life (with Guohe Zheng), and Delicate
Particle Logic a play about physicist Lise Meitner, for which Jennifer
won a creative arts grant from Ball State University.
Dr. Paul Apostolidis on Community-Based Research and the Public Work of Democracy
Paul Apostolidis, the Judge and Mrs. Timothy A. Paul Chair of Political
Science at Whitman College, conducts community-based interdisciplinary
research with undergraduates. He is a highly regarded scholar
whose most recent work has focused on the experiences of Latinos in
Washington State. One of his students was quo ted at Commencement as
saying: "Professor Apostolidis' efforts at creating a community-based
learning environment at Whitman are unparalleled. His courses over the
past several years have integrated teaching and scholarship in a manner
that allows his students to enhance their learning through meaningful
practice." Apostolidis' class in Latinos in Washington was cited for
compliling "groundbreaking research that academics and lawmakers
throughout the state found to be vital."
CUR Upgrades to New Association Management System:
CUR
recently upgraded to a new association management system which will
allow members to login to update records, register for meetings at
member rates, and purchase publications at member rates. Your
username and password have been sent to you previously. Should
you need another copy of this information sent to you via email, please
visit
http://cur.networkats.com/members_online/members/password.asp.
Non-members who have records in our database may also login to expedite
registration processes, however discounts will only be given to
members.
CUR Welcomes New Institutional Members:
University of Maryland College Park
University of Notre Dame
CUR Institutes:
CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research:
The
application for the CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing
Undergraduate Research, funded by the National Science Foundation, is
available online at http://www.cur.org/grants/ccliworkshops.asp
For more information, please visit http://www.cur.org/ccli.html
Remaining Regional Workshops:
Northeast
Buffalo State College (NY), September 26-28, 2008
Application Deadline: August 15, 2008
Midwest
Hope College (MI), October 10-12, 2008
Application Deadline: September 1, 2008
Central
Truman State University (MO), October 24-26, 2008
Application Deadline: September 15, 2008
Mentorship, Collaboration and Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities:
Please note: Applicants accepted on a rolling basis.
This CUR Institute will be held July 18-20, 2008 at Carthage College in
Kenosha, Wisconsin. The institute will bring together teams of
three to five faculty members and administrators engaged in enhancing
undergraduate research opportunities at their home institutions,
focusing on undergraduate research as faculty development,
student-based inquiry and institutional support structure. The
three days will consist of plenary lectures presented by facilitators
associa ted with CUR interspersed with individual team meetings with
CUR mentors. Faculty and administrators from disciplines
throughout the social sciences and humanities will spend the weekend
discussing models of undergraduate research, mentorship and
collaboration; what "research" and "mentorship" mean in different
disciplines in the social sciences and humanities; assessing the value
of undergraduate research; and means of augmenting funding for
undergraduate research internally and externally.
Application is available by visiting:
http://www.cur.org/institutes/socscihum.html
Initiating and Sustaining Undergraduate Research Programs:
This institute will be held October 2-4, 2008 at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The p urpose of the institute is to provide new directors of
undergraduate research programs the means to develop and effectively
administer their programs and to help seasoned directors disseminate
best practices and further build and improve their programs.
This institute has the following goals:
• To provide models of effective UR Programs
• To equip UR Program directors with a “tool-kit” of
essential items needed for running an undergraduate research program
• To provide access to resources that are available for
directors for continuous development of their undergraduate research
programs
• To
provide UR Program directors with “mentors” who are willing to provide
advice after the institute ends
• To further develop a network of directors that will
extend beyond the dates of the workshops
• To share w ith directors a variety of campus models that
include broad disciplinary scope and focus, and work with students at
different stages of their academic careers.
Application is available by visiting: http://www.cur.org/institutes/isurp.html
Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution:
This CUR Institute will be held November 21-23, 2008 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Starting a successful research program and doing scholarly work at a
predominantly undergraduate institution poses unique challenges for a
beginning faculty member. The overall goal of the institute is to give
pre-tenured faculty the opportunity to learn from and discuss with
experienced faculty how to establish and manage a research program with
undergraduates. A range of topics will be covered during the institute,
and the specific goals include ways to achieve career success in
undergraduate research by learning how to:
• select undergraduate researchers
• mentor student researchers to develop and use their research skills
• mentor students in their writing of research reports and theses
• develop and select research projects appropriate for undergraduates
• adapt to an undergraduate research environment vs. that in graduate school
• link research to the classroom
• develop grantsmanship skills related to gaining external and
institutional research support
Registration is available by visiting: http://www.cur.org/institutes/newfaculty.html
Ongoing CUR Offerings:
Undergraduate Researcher's Graduate School Registry:
Please
encourage your students to sign up for the Undergraduate Researcher's
Graduate School Registry. The purpose of this registry is to
facilitate connections between undergraduates and graduate schools
seeking high quality students who are well prepared for research.
More information and the submission form are available at:
http://www.cur.org/ugreg/
Graduate Schools that are interested in purchasing a subscription to
the registry should contact Robin Potochnik at mailto:robin@cur.org
Developing and Sustaining a Research - Supportive Curriculum: A Compendium of Successful Practices:
This
publication is available for purchase via the order form . The
cost is $45.00 plus shipping costs, and individual members are eligible
for a reduced rate of $35.00, plus shipping costs.
Newswise Press Release Subscription Service:
Newswise
is an academic news distribution service that provides media with news
leads from our member institutions. Journalists receive this news
by subscribing to an emailed Daily Wire. From the wire, they
review news releases and decide whether or not to follow up on any
leads and contacts.
Upcoming Special Interest Wires:
1) The SUN & FUN SUMMER WIRE (to be distributed June 13) should
include news releases related to July and corresponding themes. Here
are some suggestions, but this is not meant to be a limiting list!
- Focus on the Sun/Summer: Science of the sun, radiation, light, skin
care, UV Safety Month
- Focus on Families: Family vacations, parent/child relationships,
siblings, blended families
- Health topics related to summer, outdoors, travel
- Holidays: US Independence Day, Canada Day
Deadline for participation: 5PM EST, WED., JUNE 11. Please indicate
"For Sun & Fun Wire" when posting submissions.
2) The CARDIO WIRE (to be distributed June 25) should include releases
related to cardiovascular prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. Ideas,
for example, include:
- Heart and coronary artery diseases
- Arrhythmias
- New pharmaceuticals, devices, imaging techniques
- Cholesterol
- Heart-healthy fitness/ nutrition
Deadline for participation: 5PM EST, FRI., JUNE 20. Please indicate
"For CARDIO Wire" when posting submissions.
CUR Institutional Members may submit relea ses to Nancy Hensel at
mailto:nancy@cur.org. For more information, please refer to the
following document: http://www.cur.org/pdf/newswise%20flyer.pdf
Advocacy:
Introduction to Washington Partners, LLC:
Earlier
this year, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) retained
Washington Partners, LLC (WPLLC) to provide research, guidance, support
and counsel as CUR seeks to increase its Washington, DC profile,
activities and efficacy. The principals and staff at WPLLC have
national reputations for their effectiveness and integrity in working
with clients to represent them and promote their interests in the
education and research communiti es, before policymakers, and in the
media. This experience includes providing strategic communications
advice and planning; identifying key audiences and urging the
participation of stakeholders; formulating position statements and
supporting materials; identifying critical issues; monitoring and
reporting on relevant legislative and community developments; as well
as working with key Congressional and Federal Agency staff.
As Lyndon Baines Johnson said, "The time to make friends is before you
need them." WPLLC will work with CUR to leverage already-established
relationships, to foster new mutually beneficial partnerships, and to
become a more familiar name and face to staff on the Hill, and within
federal agencies and the Washington STEM education and research
establishments. CUR and its affiliated colleges, universities, and
individual members share a focus on providing undergraduate research
opportunities for faculty and students at predominantly undergra duate
institutions. WPLLC and CUR have established a number of goals for this
new endeavor, including the following:
· Developing key messages about the value of undergraduate research
that would resonate with congressional lawmakers.
· Increasing CUR visibility in DC spheres of influence by identifying
opportunities to inform policy decisions at key agencies, and to
showcase the work of the organization and the benefits of undergraduate
research to policymakers.
· Identify, develop and maintain relationships with key Members and
staff on Capitol Hill to inform them about CUR.
· Participate in events where CUR is viewed as a national advocate for
undergraduate research.
· Create new strategic partnerships and collaborate with other
postsecondary education organizations with an interest in undergraduate
research.
· Monitor the development of major reports from key funding agencies
and scientific or other research organizations and promote the
appointment of CUR members.
CUR's team at WPLLC includes its President, Ellin J. Nolan, and Vice
President for Legislative and Public Affairs Della Cronin, as well as
other talented staff. WPLLC staff qualifications in education and
public relations are broad and deep. The firm has been called upon by
education interests large and small to convey priorities and goals and
ultimately, to engender support and action on their behalf. WPLLC will
do this for CUR through in-depth research, message development, hosting
public events, bringing together like-minded interests, identifying and
addressing critical challenges and capitalizing on any and all-expected
and unexpected-opportunities.
Memorandum Regarding New Research Programs:
A memorandum outlining new research programs authorized by the recently-passed Farm bill.
Washington Partners News June 2, 2008 Column:
As
the month of June begins, Members of Congress are returning from their
Memorial Day Recess and will face contentious debates on spending bills
almost immediately. Shortly before adjourning for the Memorial Day
recess, the Senate approved a two-part supplemental spending package
that included $165 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It
also incorporated funding for increased veterans' benefits and an
extension of unemployment insurance and other domestic spending,
including: investments in a new education entitlement for veterans; a
one-year moratorium on costly Medicaid regulatory changes that are of
great concern to educators and health care providers; and increases in
budgets at the National Science Foundation and other agencies that fund
science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and research
programs. The House is expected to consider this package upon their
return. Of course, the White House has said that it will veto any
legislation that includes unrelated domestic spending, but the Senate
approved the measure with a 75-vote, veto-proof majority. Consequently,
House debate and the vote count on final passage will be important to
Capitol Hill and White House schemers.
As for spending for the next fiscal year, the House and Senate are also
expected to pass a FY 2009 budget resolution that accommodates
increased spending on domestic programs, including education and
research initiatives. However, the separate spending measures that fund
each of the federal agencies are not expected to make much progress,
nor will most of them reach the President's desk this year.
Nonetheless, advocates, including CUR, continue to work to influence
these s pending plans, with the understanding that their efforts will
affect final spending decisions not likely to occur until early in the
next presidential administration.
The House Science and Technology Committee continues to work on its
agenda, and recently approved a bill that would reauthorize the
National Nanotechnology Initiative. The bill's supporters argue that
The National Nanotechnology Amendments Act of 2008 (HR 5940) would
improve the coordination of efforts across the federal government to
foster the development of the important field of nanotechnology, which
holds great promise towards addressing many of today's societal
challenges in the areas of health, energy, manufacturing and the
environment. The Committee is also acting on a bill to reauthorize the
programs at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to
reaffirm the federal government's investment in a number of efforts
there. Committee leadership hopes the House will approve both of t hese
bills in the near future.
Elsewhere, the higher education community expects the conference
negotiations on the Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization to move
into full swing in June. The 14th HEA extender expires June 30th, and
given the recent news about Senator Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) health, many
expect him, his staff and those who respect his contribution and
commitment to education policy to work hard to complete that bill
sooner rather than later.
Of course, as Washington, DC and the presidential election heat up,
activity on Capitol Hill is expected to slow down, so Members of
Congress who hope to enact legislation this year are looking to do so
before the end of the summer.
Opportunities:
The CUR National Office has received the following announcements:
Dreyfus Foundation Program Deadlines:
Additional
information and application/nomination procedures for the two programs
described below are available on the Foundation Web site
www.dreyfus.org.
Special Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences; preliminary proposal
deadline: June 5, 2008
The Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation announces the 2009 Special
Grant Program in the Chemical Sciences. The Foundation encourages
proposals that are likely to significantly advance the chemical
sciences. Examples of areas of interest are (but are not limited to)
the increase of public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the
chemical sciences; innovative approaches to chemistry education (at all
levels); and programs to make chemistry careers more attractive.
Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Awards Program; deadline: June 2 6, 2008
The program is intended to encourage and support young scholars with an
award of $60,000. The program is open to faculty members who are within
the first twelve years of their careers, and have demonstrated both
excellence in their independent research and a dedication to advancing
education in the chemical sciences.
Sigma Xi's Catalog of Undergraduate Research Events:
If
you are responsible for an undergraduate conference, symposium,
celebration day or similar event, please take 5 minutes to enter the
event information into the database.
Sigma Xi's Undergraduate Research project team is building a
comprehensive catalog of undergraduate research events (conferences,
symposia, etc.) in the US and beyond. Presently comprising more than 85
events, the catalog will help organizers and participants in several
ways:
* Create a network of organizers and institutions to devel op "best
practices" documentation, hints, tips, suggestions, etc. on how to run
a conference
* Inform organizers of what conferences are ongoing in their
geographical area, discipline, etc. to minimize duplication
* Provide comparative data for organizers and institutional
administrators on such criteria as attendance, sponsorship, etc.
* Provide students options for conferences where they can present their
research
* Provide undergraduate researchers a "big picture" view of conference
and symposium activity
* Highlight your event to prospective sponsors who want to support
undergraduate research
Data will be available free of charge to all participants starting in
mid-2008.
Please use this URL to enter your information:
www.sigmaxi.org/urs-conferences, Or visit the Web site:
www.sigmaxi.org/urs, Or contact the database manager at Sigma Xi: Roger
Harris rharris@sigmaxi.org 919-547-5251
NIST Construction Grant Program:
The
Department of Commerce's (DoC) National Institute of Standards and
Technology (NIST) is seeking grant proposals for the construction of
science research buildings from institutions of higher education and
non-profit organizations. The agency has announced on the Grants.gov
web site that it will award approximately $29 million in
congressionally directed funding for a competitive grant program
created under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 (P.L.
110-161).
A news release on this program with a link to the Grants.gov annou
ncement can be found at:
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/techbeat/tbx2008_0520.htm
NIH Program Announcements:
NCMHD Administrative Supplements For Regional Seminar Series on Health Disparities (NOT-MD-08-003)
National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MD-08-003.html
NCMHD Administrative Supplements for K-12 Science Education: Promoting
Career Aspirations for Populations Underrepresented in Biomedical,
Behavioral and Biosocial Research Fields (NOT-MD-08-004)
National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MD-08-004.html
NCMHD Administrative Supplements for Telehealth/Telemedicine (NOT-MD-08-005)
National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-MD-08-005.html
For more information, please contact: Krishan K. Arora, Ph.D., Health
Scientist Administrator, Division of Research Infrastructure, National
Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services, 6701 Democracy Boulevard, Room
938 - MSC 4874, Bethesda, MD 20892-4874, Telephone: (301) 435-0760
Minority Serving Institutions - Technical Assist ance Workshop:
Creating a Presence: Minority Serving Institutions, Technical Assistance Workshop
September 22-25, 2008 Dallas, Texas
The U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission,
and U.S. Agency for International Development will host its second
annual technical assistance and capacity-building workshop for Minority
Serving Institutions (Alaskan Native Colleges and Universities,
Hispanic Serving Institutions, Hawaiian Native Colleges and
Universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Tribal
Colleges and Universities). The goal and mission of the workshop will
be to inform the MSI community about the various partnerships and
funding opportunities with Federal agencies. This is a FREE
Workshop!
Should you have questions about the workshop please contact Ms. Senora
Coggs at (202) 482-8190.
734 15th Street NW • Suite 550 • Washington, DC 20005 • Phone (202) 7834810 • Fax(202) 7834811 • cur@cur.org • http://www.cur.org