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Involving Undergraduate Students in Research
VPRI portfolio lead
Valorie Crooks
Associate Vice-President, Research
Faculty lead
Paul Kingsbury
Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Learning and Teaching pro-tem
On this Page:
Challenge
SFU is a research-intensive institution, doing world-class work across a wide range of disciplines. Our undergraduate students should have the opportunity to learn about and to participate in that research.
Action
We will review the VPRI Undergraduate Student Research Awards program to consider its goals, funding levels and accessibility. We will create web resources to highlight and support undergraduate researchers.
Working with the provost, deans, and the library, we will consider new ways to provide undergraduates with exposure to SFU research including opportunities to participate and potentially to earn degree credits for the work.
With communications and marketing (C&M) teams across the university, including SFU's central C&M portfolio, we will consider how to raise the profile of SFU research among undergraduates at the institution.
Project Goals
1. Engage with USRA (Undergraduate Student Research Awards) program stakeholders to explore opportunities and challenges related to this program as well as other strategies for supporting undergraduate involvement in research
- October 2024
The working group is now doing a deeper dive into the USRA program to consider its goals, funding levels and accessibility. This will lead to exploring ways/opportunities to make changes that will address the current challenges with the program. - January 2024
A review of recent USRA utilization data has been completed. Higher-level strategic conversations have taken place and we have gathered feedback that will be used to revise and refine the program.
2. Improve support and prominence of undergraduate research symposium
- April 2024
Undergraduate Research Symposium was held April 9th, 2024. Office of Vice President Research & Innovation supported the planning, hosting and promotion of the event in collaboration with Graduate Studies and SFU Library.
At the symposium, 58 SFU undergraduate students presented their research in the form of 5-minute presentations or posters. This year's event featured a keynote presentation, faculty-moderated student presentations, a graduate student panel discussion, and a poster and networking session. All undergraduate student presenters were given a book prize.
- October 2023
VPRI Office contributed $8k to the 2024 Undergraduate Research Symposium event to cover cost of poster/presenter awards and as honoraria for creating a graduate student mentorship initiative.
3. Identify ways to raise awareness around events highlighting the SFU research experience for the undergraduates at the institution
- September 2024
It is an ongoing effort to identify and implement ways to amplify communications for events in the university that involve research by, or research opportunities for, undergraduates. Example: Amplify the communications for GIS day cohosted by SFU Library and Department of Geography.
4. Begin planning around research supports and funding opportunities for SFU’s future undergraduate medical students
- February 2024
Exploratory conversations are underway with Fraser Health to identify high-quality opportunities for partner-engaged research opportunities for SFUMS students.
Working Group
| Name | Role | Department/Office |
|---|---|---|
| Valorie Crooks (Co‐Chair) | Associate Vice-President, Research | Vice President Research and Innovation (VPRI) |
| Paul Kingsbury (Co‐Chair) | Vice-Provost and Associate Vice-President, Learning and Teaching pro tem | Provost and VP Academic (VPA) |
| Rishu Bagga | VP, University and Academic Affairs | Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) |
| Varundeep Chahal | Strategic Projects Manager | VPRI |
| Andreanne Doyon | Associate Professor, Incoming Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies | Faculty of Environment |
| Nancy Hawkins | Associate Dean, Academic | Faculty of Science |
| Julie Jones | Research Commons Librarian | SFU Library |
| Kamal Masri | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs | Beedie School of Business |
| Chloe Riley | Undergraduate Engagement and Student Success Librarian | SFU Library |
| Michael Sjoerdsma | Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies | Faculty of Applied Sciences |