|
FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
University of Arkansas Undergraduates and Their Mentors Earn State Research Grants FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas once again leads all state institutions in the number and value of State Undergraduate Research Fellowships awarded to its students. A total of 55 students, representing five of the university's colleges, received SURF awards for the 2007-2008 academic year. The fellowships total just over $115,000. "It is important that students get the opportunity to do real, hands-on research as undergraduates, and the SURF awards make that possible," said University of Arkansas Chancellor John White. "The grants also build strong student-faculty partnerships needed to meet the university's commitment to both research and teaching. The range of the research being done is also impressive: everything from the humanities to hard science." This is the 11th consecutive year that University of Arkansas students have led the state in the number of SURF grant recipients. The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences had 25 SURF recipients; 10 students from the College of Engineering received the fellowships; nine from the Sam M. Walton College of Business; seven from the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Science; and four from the College of Education. "Conducting research as part of the undergraduate program is critically important for students who plan to go to graduate, law or medical school," said Suzanne McCray, associate dean of the university Honors College. "But it also gives students a competitive edge when they are looking for a job. Today having research experience is as important as having good grades and scores. This innovative state program really puts Arkansas students ahead of their peers in other states." The grants range in value from $585.94 to a maximum of $1,250, with the university providing matching funds for each student. Most of the grants included an additional travel allowance of between $200 and $400. In all but one case the student's faculty mentor received a $1,000 grant. The SURF awards are available to any undergraduate student with a 3.5 grade-point average who is planning a research or artistic project for the coming year. To be considered for the fellowship, a student must be nominated by a faculty mentor. Nominees submit a five-page project/research proposal and additional letters of recommendation. Applicants for SURF awards on the University of Arkansas campus are advised by the office of post-graduate fellowships. More information about the program is available at http://fellowships.uark.edu. The SURF program was created in 1992 with a start-up grant from the National Science Foundation and is intended to foster active student/mentor relationships. After two years, funding for the fellowships shifted from the science foundation to the state of Arkansas. The SURF program grant is administered through the Arkansas Department of Higher Education. Most University of Arkansas SURF recipients present their research at the annual Arkansas Undergraduate Research Conference held at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia. A journal of student papers is published from those proceedings.
### Contact:
|
                   |
University
Relations
800 Hotz Hall
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
479.575.5555
FAX 479.575.4745