Student Information

Immersive Scholars have three options to use their award:

  1. Work in research, scholarship or creative projects on campus with a faculty or staff member.
  2. Work at a community organization (non-profit organization or government agency) in the Lowell area.
    • The Immersive Scholars award used for a work experience is paid out in bi-weekly paychecks (taxes are removed from these paychecks) via the UMass Lowell university payroll.
    • Students must submit all required employment forms (Form W-4, Form I9 etc) to the Student Employment Office.
  3. Participate in an international experience approved through the UMass Lowell Office of International Experiences and Study Abroad.
    • If you intend to use the award for study abroad, you must meet with the Office of International Experiences and Study Abroad.
    • Up to $4,000 may be used toward one UMass Lowell approved international experience, and you must be accepted into a program via the UMass Lowell Office of International Experiences and Study Abroad.
    • Only approved expenses will be covered, and the funds will be disbursed during the term in which you participate in the program. Approved expenses include tuition, program fees, airline tickets, or any other required cost.

General Expectations for all Immersive Scholars

  • Students must attend the welcome orientation in October of freshman year, and select an award option by January 31 of freshman year.
  • Students must attend the Immersive Scholars professional development trainings in the spring of freshman year.
  • Scholars selecting a work option must apply with their resume to Immersive Scholars positions on JobHawk for on-campus and off-campus positions.
  • Scholars selecting an international experiences must meet with Office of International Experiences and Study Abroad staff.
  • All Immersive Scholars create a mentor-approved poster or video presentation for the Immersive Scholars program and the spring Student Research and Community Engagement Symposium.
  • Enjoy your experience! Use this opportunity to learn as much as you can. It will provide a foundation for future UMass Lowell opportunities.

Emerging Scholars

Before submitting an application to the Emerging Scholars Program, students should meet the following requirements:
Selected students will work on the research project for a total of 125 hours per semester and will receive a $2,500 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.

Business and Entrepreneur Scholars in Training (BEST)

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

  • Create specific partnership contract
  • Work on research project of approximately 100 hours each semester 
  • 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

2. 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 May
  • Present a public, community-based presentation of your experience
  • Participate in Undergraduate Research Symposium in Spring
  • Attend end of the year celebration in May
  • Respond to emails from Program Coordinator and Faculty mentor within a reasonable time frame (48 hours)
  • Participate in orientation for the next cohort of Emerging Scholars

3. 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 pilot 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.)