Three years ago, Trevecca sent one student to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR). This year, it will send six.
According to Dr. Sam Green, director of undergraduate research at Trevecca, every student who submitted an abstract in hopes of presenting at the conference this year was accepted. From a field of 4,000 applicants, Trevecca students Jesse Fair, Gail Jansen, Emily Mahoney, Kelsey Raymond, Brady Smith and Taylor Wise have been selected to showcase their research at this year’s conference, to be held April 4-7 at the University of Central Oklahoma.
“The professors who encouraged and supported these students are Randy Carden, Erica Hayden, and Eric Wilson,” Green said. “I appreciate how these professors, and others, are investing in research activities with their students.
Brady Smith, a senior majoring in music theory and vocal performance, says that students have plenty of research opportunities on campus and the faculty and administration are willing to invest in the students’ work.
“If your research idea holds weight, then you’ll get full funding,” Smith said, referring the University’s dedicated funding for student research.
Research is foundational to the Trevecca academic experience. Undergraduate research is the focus of Trevecca’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a focused effort to enhance the student learning experience that is now required for any university seeking reaccreditation. This influences planning for all undergraduate classes and has inspired the creation of the undergraduate research ambassadors program, FLARE (Faculty-Led Academic Research Experience) projects and undergraduate research symposiums.
Students presenting at the NCUR will present orally.
Taylor Wise, a senior history major, will present her research on crime relating to 19th century English juveniles. She will address questions such as what were the types of crimes committed, why they were doing them, and what were reform groups at that time doing about the problem.
Emily Mahoney, a senior psychology major, will present research she completed during her Research Methods class last fall. Her study explores the concept of active procrastination.
“The idea behind this construct is that some people put off doing school work or other important tasks because they enjoy the rush at the last second or because they believe they can be most effective when they delay, and still get satisfactory results,” she said.
The students will present their research at NCUR in a few weeks, April 4-7 at the University of Central Oklahoma. Most plan to present their findings again later in April at Trevecca’s annual Student Research Symposium, set for April 23.
By Josh Michel
Media contact: Mandy Crow, mmcrow@trevecca.edu, 615-248-1695