Office of Assessment
The Undergraduate Research Academy has been in existence at SIUE since 1990. The program allows junior- and senior-level students to undertake a one-year formal, in-depth research project or creative endeavor under the guidance of a faculty mentor or mentors.
With the assistance of a faculty mentor(s) in their area of study, students select a subject they wish to explore more thoroughly. They then write formal research proposals, which include literature reviews, budgets and timelines. These proposals are submitted to the Office of Assessment in mid-March, and then reviewed and ranked by the URA Board and selected for funding. A budget of $800 is available to support the implementation of these projects, with URA Scholars receiving additional funding in award stipends, tuition assistance and conference travel.
The URA program allows students to extend beyond the normal classroom and gain valuable hands-on experience, hone techniques and abilities, and guide their own learning. They develop writing, presentation and critical thinking skills, learn how to problem-solve, and usually create meaningful connections with their faculty mentors that extend beyond their undergraduate years. Students often parlay their URA experience onto graduate level, and have presented their work at national and international conferences and venues as far away as Anchorage, Alaska; Belfast, Ireland; Cornwall, England; and Vancouver, Canada.
For more information on the Undergraduate Research Academy at SIUE, please visit the URA web page: 
www.siue.edu.ura