The College of Engineering (CoE) aims to provide the opportunity for all undergraduate students to participate in research either for credit or for pay if interested in doing so. Participating in research labs on a volunteer basis (neither for credit nor for pay) must take place in accordance with the CoE Guidelines on Volunteering and Unpaid Work (see below) and requires approval by the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Academic Affairs (Dean).
Credits earned through participation in UG research will satisfy degree requirements per policies established by the student’s degree program.
All CoE UG Research initial opportunities will be advertised through the STRAND software platform. Students who continue in a project with the same faculty member in consecutive subsequent semesters, will be registered for research outside of the STRAND system.
All UG Research projects or Independent Study projects will have a required deliverable as defined by the department hosting the course. Example of deliverables include but are not limited to:
- Final paper
- Presentation of work to faculty members
- Poster sessions
In order to make sure that students not only are able to participate but also have the best possible experience, the College has established the following policies for CoE students conducting undergraduate research in any College and any CoE or non-CoE undergraduate student participating in CoE research courses:
- First Year (FY) Students
- Students are eligible to conduct research starting in their second semester of their academic career.
- Research opportunities will consist of no more than one (1) credit hour.
- Typically, students will not be allowed to overload (pursue more than 19 credit hours) in order to perform research.
- Students can only participate in one research or independent project course per semester.
- Students must be in good academic standing
- Students should have completed the FYE workshop on conducting research
- Sophomore students
- Students are eligible to conduct research in both fall and spring semesters of sophomore year.
- For the first semester, research opportunities will consist of no more than one (1) credit hour. Second semester opportunities can be up to three (3) credit hours.
- Students must be in good academic standing.
- Students requesting to academically overload to conduct UG research (register for more than 19 credit hours in a single semester) must first obtain permission from their Director for Undergraduate Studies.
- Students can participate in one research or independent study project per semester
- Juniors and Seniors
- Students are eligible to conduct research in both fall and spring semesters.
- Students must be in good academic standing.
- Students requesting to academically overload to conduct UG research (register for more than 19 credit hours in a single semester) must first obtain permission from their Director for Undergraduate Studies.
- Students can participate in one research or independent study project per semester (up to 3 credit hours). Exceptions to this requirement must be approved by the student’s Director for Undergraduate Studies.
The CoE Guidelines on Volunteering and Unpaid Work state that:
- Parties within the College of Engineering should not engage an individual as a volunteer to perform work that is the same as or substantially similar to work performed by a paid University employee;
- Certain unpaid experiences may be appropriate when their primary purpose is educational, experiential, or developmental rather than the performance of work that would otherwise be assigned to a paid employee;
- When there is uncertainty, and always before an individual begins participating, the proposed arrangement should be reviewed by the Dean’s Office, as facilitated between the department and the Senior Director of Finance and Administration, with potential consultation by Human Resources as deemed necessary.
Any unpaid and uncredited research participation requires review by the Dean.