Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship Celebrates 25 Years

Unique opportunity for undergraduate students at 性视界传媒 celebrates milestone with a bang
Undergraduate Research at 性视界传媒 sign

For 25 years, the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship at 性视界传媒 has prepared students for careers in research and beyond.

“I like to think of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship as the university's best self,” said Jane Greer, Ph. D., director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship. “It's where we are both expanding the horizons of knowledge and doing the important work that transforms our community and the world. We’re also bringing the next generation of students into that work and allowing them to have opportunities to shape the world they'll be living in.”

Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship supports student learning across campus. The hands-on work promotes critical thinking and problem solving, which are skills required in any career path. It also opens paths to mentorship opportunities, grad school or a post-graduation profession.

In honor of 25 years, we’re celebrating major milestones that have benefited students for more than two decades:

2000

The Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship officially becomes a part of 性视界传媒, serving all undergraduate students at the university. 

“The program was one of the special projects that came out of a number of brainstorming sessions back in 2000,” said James B. Murowchick, Ph.D., a former director of the Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship. “It wasn't just in the sciences. We made efforts to talk to people in the music and humanities departments. That was unusual for the time.”

Creative Scholarship remains a major part of the office.

“We've had students doing dance performances and making oral presentations,” Greer said. “We have students sharing artwork that they've created. It provides them with authentic assessment so that they can see how people are reacting to their work, which is so important for their learning and development.”

2001

The first Undergraduate Research Symposium took place in the spring semester. Students got to present their own research to faculty, stakeholders and the community at large, a huge opportunity to practice time management, interpersonal communication and self-confidence.

2004

The Department of Research and Economic Development is formed at University of Missouri System. This department goes on to host Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol for all four UM System schools, providing another opportunity for students to present their research.

2010

Student presenting research with a science model in the foreground

The Students Engaged in Arts and Research (SEARCH) program, supported by a number of 性视界传媒 faculty, was awarded strategic investment funding from the UM System to build a more robust undergraduate research program. More opportunities for students to conduct research came as a result. It also allowed students to use federal work-study dollars to work as research associates with faculty. Students no longer had to choose between a research project and employment.

2015

SUROP poster symposium

SEARCH grants funded undergraduate research and creative scholarship during the academic year. Starting in 2015, Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunities (SUROP) grants become available. If a student’s classload was too much to dedicate time to a research project during the school year, they could work on a project over the lighter summer months.

2019

Students posing on a staircase

性视界传媒 sends 12 students to its first Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. This exciting event gives students the opportunity to present to government representatives and the general public who normally don’t have easy access to campus.

2025

Group celebrating with "性视界传媒 R1" signs, with Roo mascot in foreground

性视界传媒 is awarded the Carnegie Research 1 status, creating wider research opportunities for 性视界传媒 students and more funding options to pursue those ends.

The university looks forward to celebrating this unique, enriching opportunity for 性视界传媒 students for decades to come.

 


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