Congratulations to the eight faculty from across the university who have successfully proposed 100- and 200-level EUReka Courses (Experiences in Undergraduate Research) for beginning students at UMKC.
Supported by strategic investment funds from the UM-system, Rebecca Davis (History, A&S); Sheila Honig (English, A&S); Debra Leiter (Political Science, A&S); Joan McDowd (Psychology, A&S); David Thurmaier (Conservatory); Henrietta Rix Wood (Honors College); Majid Bani-Yaghoub (Mathematics, A&S); and Marilyn Yoder (School of Biological Sciences) will be offering courses that exemplify the four keys characteristics of undergraduate research:
- Students will experience a mentoring relationship with faculty;
- Students will be engaged with research methodologies widely recognize in the field of study;
- Students will make a contribution to knowledge, however modest; and
- Students will disseminate their work beyond the classroom.
In Dr. Yoder’s newly proposed course, beginning biology students with use specialized tools related to different biology disciplines to characterize a specific gene or cell system under the guidance of a faculty members. Students enrolled in the interdisciplinary course proposed by Drs. Davis and Wood will explore archives through Kansas City and work on local history projects. And Conservatory students studying with Dr. Thurmaier will not only compose their own original music but also research living composers. Students in all the EUReka courses will be encouraged to share their work beyond the classroom, including presentations at UMKC’s Undergraduate Research Symposium, submissions to local and national journals of undergraduate research, and community forums.
By more tightly intertwining their own robust research agendas with their teaching responsibilities, these talented faculty members are helping to ensure that the newest members of our academic community are engaged in undergraduate research–a high impact educational practice that can help the university achieve its recruitment and retention goals.
Stay tuned for calls for additional 100- and 200-level EUReka course proposals in Spring 2015 and opportunities to propose upper-level EUReka courses in 2016. EUReka courses do not impact general educational or other degree requirements, and they can be located in PATHWAY via the “Course Attribute Value” function.
Questions about EUReka courses and about undergraduate research in general can be directed to Jane Greer, Director of Undergraduate Research, at greerj@umkc.edu.