The Students as Scholars initiative gives faculty the opportunity to work with talented undergraduate students on exciting research and creative projects, both in the classroom and beyond. Although working with undergraduates has unique challenges, it can also be very fulfilling, both personally and professionally.

Our commitment to creating a culture of undergraduate student scholarship cannot be realized without faculty. They are the drivers of this change. There are many ways that faculty can contribute to this goal, both large and small.

Mentoring and research activities include:

• Mentoring a student in an individualized scholarly or creative activity, either through the department, an outside grant, or the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program.
• Introducing undergraduate students to an experienced undergraduate scholar, either through your own work or by inviting an OSCAR Fellow to present.
• Posting opportunities for undergraduate research or creative projects on HireMason.
• Attending a conference, meeting, presentation, performance or other scholarly event with an undergraduate student, including the CAA Undergraduate Research Conference, the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, or discipline-specific event.
• Publishing in the Council on Undergraduate Research’s CUR Quarterly journal or other peer-reviewed journal on the process of supporting undergraduate scholarship.
• Co-authoring a paper or presentation with an undergraduate student.
• Applying for outside research funding that includes funding for undergraduate students to participate in the research process.

Classroom and curricular activities include:

• Talking about your research and career path, including your own undergraduate experience, in an introductory class.
• Teaching a class that has been identified as meeting the Students as Scholars criteria at the Discovery or Inquiry Level.
• Applying for a Research and Scholarship intensive (RS) designation for a class in your department.
• Teaching a course identified as Research and Scholarship intensive (RS).
• Applying for a Scholarship Development Grant as a part of a team from your department to design your curriculum to include any of the three levels of student scholarship.

Community activities include:

• Participating in the annual Celebration of Student Scholarship.
• Serving as a reviewer at your college or school’s Undergraduate Research Symposium.
• Serving on the Students as Scholars Leadership Council or on a Students as Scholars subcommittee.
• Attending an OSCAR workshop to learn more about student scholarship at Mason.
• Sharing information about OSCAR in classes, including showing the website, videos, and student-designed promotional materials.
• Mentoring other faculty members in undergraduate research.
• Attending a Council on Undergraduate Research national meeting or workshop.
• Serving as the OSCAR contact for students in your department.
• Becoming a member of the Council for Undergraduate Research (which is free with Mason’s institutional membership).
• Being nominated for or awarded an OSCAR Mentoring Excellence Award.