TULSA
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH CHALLENGE
(TURC) IN
THE
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Introduction
TURC Projects
Proposals
Funding
A&S TURC Advisory
Board
Questions
Proposal Form
Statement of
Understanding
Introduction
The TURC program in the College of Arts and Sciences has a structure that differs from that in other colleges, reflecting the unique nature of research in the disciplines of Arts and Sciences. Nevertheless, the goal of TURC remains the same across the university: to foster original and intellectually significant research, creative projects, and community service among undergraduates. In pursuit of this goal, TURC is based on the relationship between a committed undergraduate and a faculty mentor who can help the student to conceptualize, carry out, and disseminate his or her research or creative endeavor while also providing meaningful community service.
The program is built around partnerships between undergraduate students and faculty mentors who work together to propose research or creative endeavors in areas of shared interest. Such projects may be of limited duration and scope—for example, a TURC scholar and a faculty mentor might propose to work together for a semester to fully develop a research project idea. Or, they might collaborate on summarizing and writing up the results of a previous project for presentation at a conference. Projects can also be more comprehensive and ambitious. For example, a member of the education faculty might propose a year-long study of the effectiveness of an early childhood education program that has been implemented in a local school. She might pursue this study in conjunction with two undergraduates who will help conduct background research and administer appropriate measures in the school.
In a recent TURC project, for example, a student interested in the intersections of mental health and justice issues designed a questionnaire to be submitted to law enforcement officials in rural areas. The survey sought to gather information about these officials’ attitudes towards mentally ill persons and the appropriateness of jail time for non-violent offenses committed by mentally ill persons. Together with his TURC faculty mentor, this student was able to submit a paper for publication in a professional journal - based on his research - during his senior year.
Any
partnership between at least one enrolled student and at least
one member of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty is
eligible to submit a proposal for a TURC project. Funding can
be provided for up to one calendar year. Projects are eligible
to receive support beyond one calendar year if participants can
demonstrate progress toward stated objectives and if they submit
an application for continuing support.
Proposals
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page
Proposals will be reviewed by the A&S TURC Advisory Board and by
the TURC administrative staff according to the following
criteria:
● Intellectually or creatively significant;
● Meaningful and significant participation of one or more undergraduates in the research or creative endeavor;
● Proposal includes a component for community service by the student;
● Proposal is realistic and clearly defined, sets a feasible time line for completion;
● Students have appropriate academic record and background for the undertaking;
● Proposal promises to produce tangible products that will demonstrate student accomplishment, e.g., student will make at least one presentation of his or her work to a local audience such as a high school AP class or at a regional, national or international forum; student will submit applications for nationally competitive scholarships; or students will present work at local, regional or national conferences;
● Professionally responsible projects;
● A detailed and appropriate project budget;
● Approval from the Institutional Review Board, if the project calls for research involving human subjects;
● If faculty mentor and/or student(s) received TURC funding in the past, they have submitted reports that document achievement of goals in previous projects or provided an explanation as to why goals were not achieved;
● Support of Department Chair and Dean.
Funding may be requested to support a variety of activities, for example:
● Room, board, and living stipend for students during the summer session;
● Direct research costs not available from other sources;
● Travel and registration for conferences;
● Summer stipend for faculty mentors;
● Reduction of faculty course load from 3 to 2 courses in a semester.
Students who have participated in TURC for more than one semester are expected to present the results of their research or creative endeavor at the University of Tulsa Student Research Colloquium, which is held annually during the spring semester. Failure to meet this expectation may render the student ineligible for further TURC support.
There are two application deadlines for TURC projects during the academic year, one in the fall and one in the spring. Typically these will be the sixth Friday of the Fall and Spring semesters. Specific dates/deadlines will be posted on the A&S TURC webpage.
The Advisory Board is composed of several faculty members, a student representative, and the University Director of the TURC Program. The Board is chaired by the Director of the A&S TURC Program and includes representatives from departments that have historically participated in TURC.
Questions about the program should be directed to the Director of the TURC program in the College of Arts and Sciences, Peter Stromberg (peter-stromberg@utulsa.edu).