OU conference focuses on promoting world-class undergraduate research

On Friday, September 28, the Michigan Center for Undergraduate Research at Oakland University’s Honors College presented “Quality Assurance in Undergraduate Research.”   

Featuring experts from around the country, the symposium explored topics such as how to establish and support high-quality undergraduate research, how to support diversity in undergraduate research, and how to develop world-class ideas and produce strong outcomes for undergraduates involved in research. 

In welcoming remarks, Oakland University's Chief Research Officer, David Stone, shared some thoughts on how institutions can improve the quality of undergraduate research – namely by teaching students to look at the world from a wide range of disciplines.

“One of the lessons that we can infuse into undergraduate research is to get students to think about how disciplines work, and how to work across disciplines, before they get ensconced inside of one and walled off from the others,” he said. “We know from graduate students that when they get trained in a specific discipline, they can lose the ability to see the world in other ways. So, if we give students that lesson at the beginning, it’s something I think they can hang on to.” 

The day included a full slate of presentations:

• Peter Civetta, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research, Northwestern University, spoke on the topic of “An Advising-Centric Approach to Undergraduate Topic/Project Development.” In addition, Civetta delivered a keynote on “Creating an Effective Office of Undergraduate Research.”
  
  
• William Polik, Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship, Hope College, shared his thoughts on “Key Components of Undergraduate Research Outcomes.”
  
  
• Michelle Ferrez, Director of the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, gave a talk on “Diversity in Undergraduate Research.”
  
  
• Graeme Harper, Vice Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Research At-Large Committee and Greg Wilson, Chair of the Council on Undergraduate Research At-Large Committee, addressed the subject of “Creating the National Document on Quality Assurance in Undergraduate Research for the Council on Undergraduate Research.”

To learn more about the Michigan Center for Undergraduate Research at OU’s Honors College, visit the oakland.edu/hc/research.