The Emerging Scholars program is a year-long research partnership between a faculty member and a junior or senior undergraduate student. This is an exciting opportunity for students to be involved in real-life research and learn from their mentors.

Applications for the 2025-26 Emerging Scholar Program will open on February 18, 2025.

Student Requirements

Before submitting an online application to become an Emerging Scholar, students need to meet the following requirements:

  • GPA of 3.250 or higher
  • Standing of junior or senior
  • Full-time undergraduate status
  • Must be a major or minor in Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences, including School of Education

Selected students will work on the research project for a total of 125 hours per semester and will receive a $3,000 stipend for the year. To support their work on the research project, students will participate in an orientation, regular meetings with other student scholars, and workshops about research methods.

The work of the student-scholar partnerships will be highlighted by collaborative participation in the undergraduate research symposium in April. When applying, students will be asked to provide an unofficial transcript, a writing sample, their resume and the contact for a faculty reference.

Expectations of Student Emerging Scholars

Engage in your research partnership, which involves the following duties/tasks:

  • Create specific partnership contract
  • Work on research project 125 hours each semester (about 9 hours a week)
  • Meet with faculty mentor at least one hour a week at a regular time
  • Communicate with faculty member to clarify project tasks
  • Clearly communicate when need support
  • Execute tasks as assigned by faculty member
  • Keep student logs up to date and review with faculty mentor at weekly meetings
  • Respond to faculty emails promptly and professionally
  • Communicate any concerns regarding your partnership to the Program Coordinator

Actively participate in Emerging Scholars community, which involves the following duties/tasks:

  • Attend orientation for Emerging Scholars program at the beginning of the semester
  • Attend monthly meetings of Emerging Scholars students
  • Participate in evaluations in December and May
  • Present poster at mid-year symposium in December
  • Participate in Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring
  • Attend end of the year celebration in May
  • Respond to emails from Program Coordinator and Faculty co-Directors within a reasonable time frame (48 hours)

Engage in professional development opportunities, which involves the following duties/tasks:

  • Consult with your faculty mentor about possibilities for conference presentations and co-authorship
  • Permission must be granted by a faculty mentor if students want to use project data outside of the Emerging Scholars program (i.e. for a class)
  • Participate in additional training opportunities
  • Let Program Coordinator know of any needed support (graduate school questions, specific training needs, etc.)