The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Conference is intended to be a venue for undergraduate researchers to present their research and creative activities they have completed under the supervision of a faculty mentor. If you are working with undergraduate students currently, you can encourage them to submit their work in progress or their completed research projects for the conference held each spring. You can also get involved by serving as a judge for your college’s competition. Each college is in great need of faculty members to serve as judges so that each student gets feedback and guidance during the conference itself and so that the top papers and projects can be identified in a systematic way.
The Office of Undergraduate Research has developed a database that allows faculty members the opportunity to “opt in” to a research database whereby you can upload your research opportunities to recruit undergraduate students. If you use this database, you are not required to work with any undergraduate students, and you can select the students based on each student’s qualifications.
Just like the work you do in the classroom, you can help students by offering them feedback and suggestions on their research in progress or their completed research. URCA is like most other academic research conferences where undergraduate students participate in poster sessions or give oral presentations about their work. As a judge, you essentially serve as a discussant for a select number of students in your college or division. Your feedback ensures the experience is a meaningful one for the students, and it further enables them to make revisions and corrections on their work.
In the past, more than 750 students have participated in URCA during the one-day conference. In many cases, students are working collaboratively or as part of a research team. The total number of presentations will range between 300-450.
Yes! Please encourage your students (in the classroom or those who work for you in your research labs) to consider submitting their work to URCA. We now have two submission categories—work in progress and completed work—so students in all phases of their research can participate in the conference. Also, we ask that faculty members be cognizant of the conference dates and do what they can to not schedule major tests or projects on that date. Students benefit tremendously from getting to present their research, but they are unwilling to miss important class material or exams if it conflicts with their conference presentation schedule.
Have a question that isn’t answered above? Contact the director of undergraduate research, Dr. Kim Bissell at kbissell@ua.edu.
