University Scholars Program Requirements

Program Requirements

Orientation

Each University Scholar is required to attend one of four possible orientations. Orientation is a way for CUR staff to get to know the students and for the students to be able to have an open forum for questions. During this orientation all details of the program requirements will be covered. To accommodate all schedules, several dates and times are available. See the Dates and Deadlines below for more information.

Presentation Requirement

Each University Scholar is required to make a presentation at the University of Florida Spring Undergraduate Research Symposium by presenting a poster or an original creative work. You will be sent directions on how to submit your abstract and the required format before the deadline. Your abstract and poster must be approved by your mentor before submission.

Paper Requirement

Every University Scholar is required to meet the publication requirement. Scholars must submit by 11:59 pm on deadline day or will forfeit the final stipend. Mentors decide the option most suitable for the scholar, and their approval is required for all publication submissions.

There are four options to meet this requirement:

Option 1: Co-author on a peer-reviewed journal article

The best option is to be a co-author with your advisor and/or research team on a paper submitted to a professional journal. Talk to your advisor early to determine if this is a possibility for you. To meet this requirement, your research mentor must e-mail jmoses@aa.ufl.edu (e-mails from students will not be accepted) stating that it is their intention to include you on a paper.

Option 2: JUR submission

If you will not be a co-author on a professional publication by the end of the calendar year, you must submit a research paper to JUR, by JUR deadline. No late papers will be accepted. You must follow all of JURs deadlines and format requirements. Papers that do not meet their submission guidelines will not be accepted. Look on the JUR site for the guidelines. Submitting to JUR may preclude later submission to a professional journal but as each has their own regulations about previously submitted/published work, you and your research mentor will have to determine if there is a conflict. CUR and JUR staff cannot answer that as each journal has their own guidelines.

Option 3: Co-author after current year

If your mentor is not ready to make the data public or is planning on a journal submission after current year, you must submit a research paper to CUR, jmoses@aa.ufl.edu, by deadline. No late papers will be accepted. You must follow all of JURs deadlines and format requirements. Papers that do not meet their submission guidelines will not be accepted. Look on the JUR site for the guidelines. The form needed for submission can be found here.

Option 4: Progress Report

If you and your mentor determine that the project did not progress to the point of meriting a journal article, you must submit an e-mail request to submit a progress report (the email must be copied to your mentor) to jmoses@aa.ufl.edu. If approved, the final progress report must be approved by your mentor, and detail the entire project, work completed, any results, and problems encountered and must be emailed to jmoses@aa.ufl.edu by the deadline. The progress report should be formatted as follows:

Paper Assembly

Title page
Abstract and Key Words
Introduction
Methods
Results – if any
Discussion/Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Literature cited
Tables
Figures

Format:

12 point Times New Roman
Text aligned to justified
One inch margin
Page numbered (title page is page 1)
No running headers
1500 word minimum

Students applying to the University Scholars Program will apply directly to the department or college of their mentor. Check the college requirements of your mentor’s college to determine the requirements and deadlines you must meet. When submitting your application, please provide the following items:

A completed USP Application.
A typed summary of your proposed research project, maximum one page.
Attach a letter of support from the faculty mentor, stating that the mentor will agree to supervise this project and any other supporting information to assist that mentor’s college in choosing its funded projects.

Students must submit their application and supplemental materials by the college deadline. Accepted students will be notified in March and must attend an orientation session at Undergraduate Research Symposium conducted in the spring.