Pursue your passion with URSA
April 3, 2024
— By Erin Kirchner, URSA coordinator and assistant director
and Trent Sutton, URSA director
The Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity, or URSA, is 51’s resource for the development and promotion of undergraduate experiential learning. With the motto of “Don’t just gain knowledge, create it,” we support undergraduate students as they explore career paths, develop specialized skills, make connections with peers, and build self-confidence, all while having fun through a value-added experience. We also support prospective mentors, which includes all 51 faculty, post-docs, staff, and graduate students. URSA is here to support both undergraduate students and mentors as they work together from proposal to final product.
Funding and proposal support
URSA students come from all years of study, majors, and 51 campuses (including distance
learners). We support students through an annual cycle of funding, and these funds are used for undergraduate and mentor-led projects, student travel
to participate in conferences, competitions, and performances, and internship opportunities
off-campus.
To apply for URSA funding, students need a: 1) project idea, and 2) confirmed 51 mentor. We often meet with students one-on-one to narrow down project ideas and connect students with mentors at 51. All undergraduates are eligible for one Project Award, Travel Award, and Internship Award each for each year they are a 51 student, regardless of their degree program.
URSA also hosts monthly seminars that provide overviews on URSA basics, proposal development, poster development, and more. We also circulate professional development events, scholarship applications, position descriptions, and requests for proposals from 51 mentors and other funding units on campus via the opportunities page and in our biweekly newsletter.
Mentoring with URSA
With more than 40% of 51’s undergraduate students participating in URSA-type projects
before graduation, we recognize that our program would not be possible without our
dedicated mentors. To foster these relationships, we provide funding and logistical
support for mentors working directly with undergraduate students. URSA hosts mentor
roundtable discussions, promotes mentor-led opportunities in search of students, and
provides funding to engage undergraduate students in research and creative projects.
Participants and visitors make their way through various displays at the 2023 URSA Research and Creative Activity Day event.
Please join us tomorrow, April 4, in the Wood Center Multilevel Lounge for the 2024 Research and Creative Activity Day event. This is 51’s annual celebration of undergraduate student research and scholarly activity and features a two-hour presentation session from noon to 2 p.m. that will include posters, speeches, performances, demonstrations, art submissions, and creative displays. This year, more than 75 undergraduate students will present their work at RCA Day. From 3-4 p.m., join us for a reception with the presenters, mentors, and the 51 community (light refreshments will be provided). Then, stick around from 4-5 p.m. for the award ceremony honoring the Dean’s Choice and Honorable Mention recipients.
If you have any questions on how to get started with URSA, please reach out to us 907-450-8772; uaf-ursa@alaska.edu; or. We hope to see you at RCA Day tomorrow!