"Creating an institution of first choice for Alaskans requires the development of an institutional culture of discovery--research and creativity-- at the University of Alaska Anchorage.  Discovery, engagement, and accountability are central to the success of UAA as an institution of first choice. Incorporating discovery into the entry level of higher education represents a paradigm shift meant to engage students in the process of critical thinking, inquiry, and systematic research early in their experience to help mold objectivity, creativity and civic responsibility in our graduates."

-- Task Force Recommendation (2002)

The Task Force on Undergraduate Research and Scholarship focuses on UAA's mission as a "frontier of learning, creativity, and discovery” as it applies to undergraduate education in general, and, more specifically, to initiatives and activities relating to undergraduate research and scholarship. Composed of university-wide faculty representatives, and chaired by the Faculty Associate for Undergraduate Research, the Task Force is charged with making recommendations to the Dean of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship for creating and implementing opportunities for the following: 

• fostering undergraduate research as an integral element of the undergraduate experience at UAA
• promoting a culture of inspired learning and engaged teaching through the integration of research and scholarship across the curriculum
• developing, highlighting and supporting an active pool of faculty mentors across all the schools and colleges
• developing approaches to enhance and coordinate existing undergraduate research and scholarship award programs and the funding for those programs
• promoting the participation of students and faculty mentors in the Undergraduate Research & Discovery Symposium
• providing leadership to advance faculty opportunities and incentives to integrate research/creative activities inside and outside of their classrooms

2007-2008 TASK FORCE ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH &  SCHOLARSHIP

CHAIR
Eric Murphy, Faculty Associate for Undergraduate Research
Assistant Professor, Psychology

MEMBERS
Page Brannon, Assistant Professor, Consortium Library
Thomas Buller, Associate Professor/Chair, Philosophy
Tracey Burke, Assistant Professor, Social Work
Brit DelMoral, Undergraduate Representative
Khrys Duddleston, Assistant Professor, Biological Sciences
Fredricka Gilje, Associate Professor, Nursing
Diane Hirshberg, Assistant Professor, Education & ISER
Bogdan Hoanca, Assistant Professor, Computer Information Systems
Carol Jones, Affiliate Professor, Biological Sciences
Francisco Miranda, Associate Professor, Languages
Kenrick Mock, Associate Professor, Computer Science
LeeAnn Munk, (Immediate Past Faculty Associate for Undergraduate Research), Associate Professor/Chair, Geological Science
Don Rearden, Assistant Professor of Developmental Studies
Dennis Valenzeno, Director, WWAMI Biomedical Program
Joey Yang, Assistant Professor, Engineering