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What Needs to Be Done?
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Develop clear policies that recognize the value of undergraduate research
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Institutionalize undergraduate and faculty research
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Develop a model for undergraduate research
Recommendations:
Short Term
We recommend that each department endeavor to establish at least in the Short
Term
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One summer research internship.
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University-wide undergraduate day. This will be a series of poster
presentations with prizes awarded.
Consideration should be given to inviting surrounding schools as a way of
generating publicity.
Long Term
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Encourage faculty to do summer research by applying for NSF ROA fellowships or
NIH supplemental awards.
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Core curriculum should contain a relevant course on proposal writing.
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How to write a research paper. A professor would be assigned students who have
earned a certain number of credits.
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Professors and students are encouraged to identify local problems
of research interest to pursue, e.g., identifying local agricultural issues and
working with the local community in identifying the problem and developing the
research plan. Such an approach has the merits of facilitating year-round
research activities and the support of the local community,
Summary of Academic Activities That Can Be Enhanced or Developed:
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Annual Science Poster Session
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Foreign Languages Night
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Division Journals
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Brown Bag Seminars
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Departmental Seminar Series
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Discipline-related Honor Societies
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Lincoln-sponsored Conferences
Institutionalize Undergraduate Research:
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Undergraduate research should be part of the curriculum while recognizing the
needs of each discipline by schools.
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Create the position of Research Professor with assigned tasks:
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develop research funding
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coach other faculty to obtain extramural support
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provide opportunities for undergraduates to obtain in-depth, hands-on research
experience in collaboration with senior experienced faculty
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develop models for undergraduate research
Proposed Undergraduate Research Model:
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Establish a requirement that each department major completes independent
research project in Senior year, culminating in oral presentation.
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All faculty should be available as mentors.
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In Junior year, students should make arrangements for faculty to serve as
research mentor
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Mentor will guide student in reading relevant literature, and introduce student
to essential techniques for his or her project.
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Lincoln University faculty can solicit help from faculty from other colleges in
mentoring students.
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Relevant courses such as Science Ethics, Introduction to Research, Methods of
Research and Writing must be part of the core curriculum of all
disciplines.
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Students should experience at least one summer internship before graduation.
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Students must present at least one poster at a discipline-specific conference.
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All data involving student research must set up through the Office of Research
Development, Planning and Coordination.
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Develop incentives, recognition and rewards for faculty and students.
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Develop resources (monetary and non-monetary) to support research at Lincoln
University.
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Provide faculty research development opportunities.
What Would an Undergraduate Research Plan Achieve?
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A plan would provide a focus for future research efforts
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A plan would help faculty include more students in their undergraduate research
efforts
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A plan would demonstrate to funding agencies the extent of
academic and ddministrative support for and commitment to research.
Organizational Structure to Support Undergraduate Research:
Located within ORDPC - Undergraduate Research would
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Function as a clearinghouse for information on University-wide research
efforts.
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Continue to provide internship guidance and assist students in preparing their
applications, including a statement of purpose.
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The office would match faculty members and students for joint research projects.
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Members of the ORDPC faculty oversight committee and deans will be responsible
for this effort.
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