UW-Milwaukee: Wins national award for undergraduate research

CONTACT: Michelle Johnson, (414) 229-7490, john3453@uwm.edu

UWM WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
The Council on Undergraduate Research will present its 2018 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishment to the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. This annual award recognizes institutions with exemplary programs that provide high-quality research experiences for undergraduates.

UWM and the other 2018 honoree, Union College in Schenectady, New York, will be recognized Jan. 25 at the Council on Undergraduate Research Executive Board reception at the annual meeting of the Association of American Colleges & Universities in Atlanta, Georgia.

Now in its fourth year, the AURA award draws on the council’s “Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research,” which presents criteria for exceptional undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity programs. For AURA recognition, campuses must demonstrate depth and breadth in their undergraduate research initiatives and evidence of continual innovation.

“The commitment to inclusivity of students and disciplines, infusion of research into the curriculum, attention to vital support services and ongoing assessment are some of the characteristics of the 2018 AURA recipient,” said Council on Undergraduate Research Executive Officer Elizabeth L. Ambos and President Iain Crawford (University of Delaware). “CUR salutes this academic institution for its dedication to excellence in undergraduate research, scholarship and creative inquiry.”

The undergraduate research programs at UWM express a multifaceted commitment to growing undergraduate engagement in research through strategies such as administrative and financial support for the Office of Undergraduate Research and undergraduate research fellows; a curriculum revision initiative to develop research-based coursework at all levels; and co-curricular research opportunities, including the UR@UWM summer bridge program for first-year students.

UWM’s programs embody many of the best practices outlined in “Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research,” including support for early engagement in research and the use of assessment data to continually increase program effectiveness, particularly for underrepresented and traditionally underserved students. These types of student research community programs offer distinct possibilities for adaptation by other doctoral-granting institutions.

“UW–Milwaukee is pleased to be recognized as a leader in undergraduate research,” said Chancellor Mark Mone. “Our undergraduates have the opportunity to make a difference right now by working side-by-side with our faculty on some of the toughest problems facing our community and our world. These experiences help students develop the critical-thinking and analytical skills desired by major employers.”

 
About the Council on Undergraduate Research
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) is an organization of individual, institutional, and affiliate members from around the world that share a focus on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity opportunities for faculty and students. More than 700 institutions and more than 13,000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that faculty members enhance their teaching and contribution to society by remaining active in research and by involving undergraduates in research, and that students engaged in undergraduate research succeed in their studies and professional advancement.

About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 27,500 students from 91 countries on a budget of $689 million. Its 15 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2019 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews, and the Sierra Club has recognized it as Wisconsin’s leading sustainable university.