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A Snapshot of Undergraduate Research at Thompson Rivers UniversityPresented at UBCO’s 10th Annual Learning Conference, May 7-8, 2014

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Ginny Ratsoy

Elizabeth Rennie

Introductions

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The Context: Campus Undergraduate Research Conference

+Undergraduate Research

Council on Undergraduate Research’s Definition:

An inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.

TRU’s Unofficial Definition:

A creative or intellectual inquiry or investigation by an undergraduate student that is publicly disseminated.

+Arts Research

The 1st conference, in 2006, had about 20 presenters give talks

The 9th conference, in 2014, had more than 60 concurrent sessions

Diverse session content exposes both the presenters and the audience to a broader range of research than they may otherwise experience

+Science Research

+Assigned and Voluntary

Students in some courses are required to present at the conference

Other students present voluntarily, often at the encouragement of an instructor

All presenters then also have the option of submitting their work to the faculty-reviewed conference Proceedings

+Recognizing Voluntary Involvement

+UREAP Faculty supervised Adjudicated by an internal

committee   In addition to the $4500

scholarship, projects funded by UREAP may also be eligible for an operating grant of up to $1000 to cover expenses such as supplies, travel for the purpose of research, or travel to conferences to share research.

+Directed Studies (Arts)

Faculty –supervised , three-credit courses

Opportunity for small groups of students to complete a specialized course in a year when it is not part of the departmental offering

Sometimes specific to a particular student interest

+Service Learning

+Academic Service Learning 3000 and 4000A faculty-supervised three-credit course

with a cohort of two to five students with faculty supervision that takes place outside of the four walls of the classroom.

Expands the customary approach of SL into all disciplines.

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Theatre, Visual, and Culinary Arts

+Creating Spaces

+Arts Research Awards

“ … funding for faculty members to conduct professional activities…: research, creative and professional projects leading to external grant applications, peer-reviewed publications and presentations, juried exhibitions and performances, or to large-scale, long-term projects for which initial funding is required.”

“Feasible proposals that include the mentorship of Faculty of Arts students (RA ships or Directed Studies) will also be given preference.”

+Academic Service Learning: Action Research

+TRUSU Research Support

+Community

Case study: student has a history of research involvement with local and national communities:

Not Just a Tea Party

BC Social Policies Award

The Tranquille Project

Undergraduate Research Conference Research

+Community, continued…

Several students are currently involved in a variety of roles with the No Straight Lines Project.

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Conclusions

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http://ugc.sites.tru.ca/TRUUndergradconf@gmail.comgratsoy@tru.caerennie@tru.ca

Questions &

Discussion