Breadcrumb
Pathways Initiative
Breadcrumb
UROP's Pathways Initiative
UROP created the Pathways Initiative in 2017 to broaden undergraduate participation in research and creative work on the CU Boulder campus–engaging students from historically minoritized populations and cultivating opportunities in under-represented fields.
Efforts continue in new directions, and we remain committed to
- Developing opportunities
- Designing resources
- Expanding outreach
- Broadening access
Developing Opportunities
Open Opportunities
We redesigned the Team Grant as a faculty-driven process and eliminated the requirement to identify participants when applying. UROP now promotes most Team Grants as open opportunities among LEAD Alliance communities to provide funded entry-points to research and creative work in a wide range of fields.
Department Development Grants
We provided faculty grants to departments and programs with low UROP participation to develop cultures supportive of undergraduate engagement. UROP supported programming in more than a dozen departments from 2017 to 2020—focused on the arts, humanities and creative fields.
Campus Working Group
We reestablished the UROP Faculty Advisory Board in 2016 to support the revision of policies and procedures as well as develop stronger relationships among the faculty. UROP reconfigured the board as a campus working group in 2020 and continues working with faculty and partner programs to develop opportunities.
Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR)
We joined CUR as an institutional member in 2017 and remain active in the professional community with many CU Boulder staff and faculty presenting and publishing in CUR venues. UROP provides the funding for membership and serves as the campus liaison.
McNair Scholars Program
We supported CU Boulder’s successful application for a five-year grant in 2017 to reestablish the McNair Scholars Program, led and hosted by the Student Academic Success Center (SASC). UROP provides programming and ongoing support to the program.
Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative
We supported CU Boulder’s successful application for a multi-year Workforce Development Grant in 2020 from COSI in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Community Engagement. UROP provides regular programming for participants in the Build Your Path Program.
Savit Scholars
We developed the Savit Scholars Program with support provided in part by the Savit Family Endowment to highlight innovative work and inspire the community. Savit Scholars are recognized for work that promises to push disciplinary boundaries and create new space for creativity, expression and connection.
STEM Routes
We partnered with the graduate student-led organization STEM Routes and supported the development of the Uplift Research Program in 2020, which creates pathways for low-income, first-generation, and other underrepresented minorities in STEM. We continue to collaborate and regularly co-facilitate workshops with STEM Routes partners.
Designing Resources
Workshop Materials
We created workshop materials (handouts, guides, web resources, etc.) to support outreach efforts and unit-level programming for students, staff and faculty. These materials have expanded into UROP’s Mentoring Guide and the Curiosity Lab as well as the student and faculty grant guides and additional resources.
Assessment Analytics
We developed new assessment instruments to evaluate learning outcomes across disciplines and guide program operations. UROP adapted components of the AAC&U’s VALUE Rubrics and leveraged emerging scholarship on experiential learning to design tools to measure project-oriented outcomes and student self-efficacy.
Undergraduate Publications
We established a new Publications Grant to support the production of undergraduate publications featuring student work and provide greater visibility to established venues, such as The Honors Journal, Walkabout and Journal 2020—now Hindsight. UROP continues to provide direct support to these and other publications.
Expanding Outreach
Events
We designed new events to demystify academic research and creative work and connect students to the academic and creative life of the university. The UROP Symposium (now Zoom into Research and Creative Work), Sidewalk Symposium and Curiosity Lab workshops give students the chance to reflect, connect and engage.
Grant Directory
We posted a directory of recently-funded projects to improve transparency and provide the campus community with comprehensive data about UROP-funded projects. Students now use the directory to identify potential mentors and generate ideas about projects, while departments use the information for tracking and faculty recognition.
Communications
Website
We created a new accessible website to support outreach efforts and help manage program operations, providing greater access and transparency. The website also hosts student and faculty resources and serves as a common location to explore undergraduate research and creative work.
Broadening Access
Online Applications
Double-Blind Review
We implemented a double-blind review process for all student and faculty grant applications to ensure that all proposals receive fair evaluations and UROP can make informed, equitable funding decisions. The review process also engages faculty in the operation of the program, expanding on the role of the Advisory Board.
Stipends
We reclassified UROP funding to pay stipends, expanding access to international students with visa work restrictions and enabling greater flexibility in the use of funds. The “UROP stipend” has been adopted by other campus programs to provide funding to students with minimal impact on financial aid.
Eligibility
Deadline
We established a regular annual application deadline for student and faculty grants that allows the program to make fair and equitable funding decisions. The timing of the deadline allows UROP to leverage funds in two fiscal years and balance budgets annually.