Information for Students & Faculty

Spurring the intellectual curiosity of undergraduate students through active participation in the discovery process is one of the goals of the University Honors College.  Because meaningful research experiences promote active learning through guided discovery, the University Honors College offers the Undergraduate Research Fellow (URF) Program.  This program encourages undergraduate participation in significant research experiences in all disciplines by fostering collaboration with faculty across campus and by providing funding for student researchers. 

A collaborative research fellowship project may be initiated by either a student or a faculty member, although typically a faculty member approaches a student about a specific role in a project.  These collaborative projects should provide opportunities for undergraduates to participate meaningfully with their faculty mentors in intellectually challenging experiences.  While it is recognized that research experiences will have some routine elements, it is not expected that student researchers will be engaged in primarily “go-fer” work or housekeeping tasks, such as cleaning lab equipment or filing.

The research learning experience will culminate with a required poster session in the spring as part of TTU Student Research Days. This event brings visibility to undergraduate research and provides the student with experience in poster presentation.

Stipends and Fellowship Length

Undergraduate Research Fellows are compensated at a rate of $7.25 per hour and may work up to 20 hours per week. Students may not be employed elsewhere while a fellow in the URF program. In addition, students may not receive course credit and fellowship funds for the same research.

Fellowships will start in mid-September and end in mid-May of the following year. Both the student and the professor must be on the Lubbock campus during both the fall and spring semesters. Students interested in continuing their work in the summer or renewing their fellowship for another year may apply to do so. There is no guarantee of continued funding after the initial award period. Fellows who have produced quality work and demonstrated a high degree of responsibility and commitment to the program will be considered for continued funding.

Due to limited funding, the Honors College asks faculty members receiving grant money for their projects to supply 1/2 of their student researchers’ stipends.

Requirements for Application and Participation

To be eligible for this program, either the student or the mentor must be affiliated with the Honors College.  To be considered “affiliated,” a student must be enrolled and “in good standing” with the Honors College.  A professor is considered affiliated if he/she is a part of the Honors faculty OR has taught a class through the Honors College within the last 3 years.

Students and faculty from any discipline are eligible to participate in the program.  To keep the program diversified, the Honors College may limit the number of fellowships awarded within one department or to any one professor.

All students must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours during both fall and spring semesters and must have at least a 3.25 cumulative G.P.A. to participate in the program.   

Faculty members must be willing and able to serve as a mentor, providing appropriate guidance and support to undergraduate fellows.  Because the fellowship provides only an hourly wage to the student researcher, faculty members should provide money for any extraneous costs, such as supplies or equipment needed by the fellow.

Application

Questions?

Call 742-1828, email Dr Richard Verrone *, or visit us in McClellan Hall 103.