The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference: A Celebration of Undergraduate Scholarship
The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) stands as a significant multidisciplinary event, held each spring semester. SURC convenes undergraduate students and faculty mentors from across the SUNY system for a comprehensive day brimming with various activities. These encompass student presentations (oral, performance, artistic displays, and poster), a luncheon, keynote speakers, a SUNY Graduate School and Career Fair, and professional development workshops tailored for both students and faculty.
SURC receives vital support from the Offices of the Chancellor, Provost, and Research Foundation, alongside SUNY student and faculty governance organizations.
The Importance of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity
Original research and creative activity are recognized as high-impact educational experiences. These experiences positively affect undergraduate students’ completion rates, career prospects and readiness for graduate study. Most SUNY campuses encourage such research and creative activity throughout the curriculum, through independent study and capstone experiences and/or via internship placements, and invest in opportunities for students to present their work. This allows students to engage critical audiences in their learning processes and hone the professional communication skills necessary for higher-order scholarship and career success. Frequently those institutions do so by sending their students to professional conferences and events. While such participation allows students to develop further confidence and academic skills and to network beyond their campus by presenting their work to students and faculty who specialize in their research fields, this opportunity often comes at a steep cost of sending students to distant conferences.
SURC provides similar networking and academic enrichment opportunities for students throughout the SUNY system at lower costs and more convenient locales. By bringing together many hundreds of students and faculty from across the state to participate in SURC, we will help realize the synergistic power of the SUNY system. Students will benefit from networking and academic enrichment opportunities and learn about transfer and graduate programs available across SUNY.
Components of the SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference
The SURC program is designed to provide a multifaceted experience for participants. Key components include:
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- Student Presentations: A central feature of SURC is the opportunity for undergraduate students to present their research and creative work. These presentations take various forms, including oral presentations, performances, artistic displays, and poster sessions.
- Keynote Speakers: SURC features keynote speakers who are leaders in their respective fields.
- SUNY Graduate School and Career Fair: This fair provides students with the chance to explore graduate programs and career opportunities available within the SUNY system.
- Professional Development Workshops: Workshops are offered for both students and faculty, focusing on enhancing research skills, career development, and other relevant topics.
- Luncheon: A luncheon provides an opportunity for networking and informal discussion among participants.
Testimonials
Dr. Cristina Notaro, assistant dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, highlighted the significance of having Dr. Musil as a speaker, stating, “We are very excited to be bringing as notable a speaker as Dr. Musil to our campus. With the theme of Earth Day 2020 being climate action, his work and research into global sustainability will offer a timely discussion on issues related to science, society and more for the students joining us for the conference.”
Additional Venues for Undergraduate Research Presentation
Below are venues (conferences and meetings) for students to present the results of their undergraduate research or creative activities. Please note, the deadlines for submitting an abstract to individual conferences are often several months in advance of the conference itself. For some conferences, the number of presentation slots from each institution are limited in which case Cortland's Undergraduate Research Council will review and select student presenters to represent SUNY Cortland.
- National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR): The National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) promotes undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity in all fields of study. The annual conference gives undergraduate scholars in all fields and from all types of institutions of higher learning a forum to share the results of their work through posters, presentations, performances and works of art.
- SUNY Cortland’s Transformations: SUNY Cortland’s Transformations is a day designed to demonstrate, highlight, promote and encourage scholarship among SUNY Cortland students and their faculty mentors. Our scholarly work is crucial to who and what we are as individuals and as an institution.
- Council Of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) Northeast Regional Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity Conference (URSCA): Students at six Northeast COPLAC institutions have the opportunity to present the results of their undergraduate research at a regional conference where they can meet and discuss their work with peers and faculty members.
- Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR): Council on Undergraduate Research’s Advocacy Program: The STR Program was developed as an expanded and enhanced program to replace CUR’s Posters on the Hill and REU Symposium while drawing on their successes. This program will broaden participation allowing for engagement from students at varied stages of the undergraduate research process.
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