The URC supports faculty mentorship through our Student Research Assistantship Program, by providing summer room and board funding for students conducting Faculty Sponsored Research, and with resources for professional development both on and off campus. Each year the URC also recognizes a member of the Occidental community with the Award for Distinguished Creative Activity & Research Mentoring.
Student Research Assistantship Program
Purpose
The URC provides funding for faculty to hire Student Research Assistants during the academic year. This program has two related purposes: (i) To provide valuable learning opportunities and financial assistance to students by creating opportunities for academic year faculty-mentored research, and (ii) to support faculty in their research and creative and scholarly work.
Eligibility
All full-time students in good academic standing are eligible to apply. All full-time faculty are eligible to apply.
Funding
Faculty-student teams can apply for a full study award ($750, approximately 50 hours of work for the student) or a partial award (either $250 or $500, with proportional hours expectations).
Funding priority will be given to applications from:
- Faculty who do not have extramural grants or department endowments that support student research assistance,
- Faculty who have not been previously funded through this program,
- Untenured, tenure-track faculty,
- Sophomore or junior-year students,
- Transfer students,
- Students who do not have previous faculty-mentored research experience,
- Students who are underrepresented in the relevant field of study.
This program is intended to provide students with substantive research experience; SRAs cannot be used as general clerical help or as direct teaching support. SRAs can assist in areas such as, but not limited to, library research, data collection and analysis, and preparation of manuscripts, for both scholarly and pedagogical research projects.
Faculty and students funded by the program are expected to participate in a "Lightning Talk Reception" on their research in April 2025.
Application
Faculty mentors must submit the SRAP application on behalf of their pre-selected student.
Applications for Fall 2024 are due September 9, 2024
(acceptance notification by September 13)
Applications for Winter Break are due December 2, 2024
(acceptance notification by December 6)
Applications for Spring 2025 are due January 21, 2025
(acceptance notification by January 27)
Supplemental Summer Funding for Faculty-Sponsored Student Researchers
Purpose
The URC provides supplemental funding for faculty with external grants or other funding for student research participation in the Summer Research Program to cover the cost of student on-campus room and board (subsidized based on student financial need).
The application will ask faculty to provide the name of the student to be supported. (Note: Students funded through Faculty Sponsored Research should not submit applications for the Summer Research Program Fellowship.)
Eligibility and Funding Priorities
All full-time faculty who have received external funding to support student SRP participants are eligible to apply.
Priority will be given to those whose granting agencies do not cover student room and board, those who have not been previously funded through this program, and untenured, tenure-track faculty members.
Applications for Summer 2025: TBD
Professional Development Opportunities
The URC has (limited) funding available for faculty to attend undergraduate research mentoring conferences, workshops, or other opportunities that support their professional development as faculty mentors. If you have identified a particular conference or workshop that would support your work with undergraduate student researchers, please apply no later than 4 weeks before the date of the event.
Application information will be posted in early Fall.