Consortium Library Award for Undergraduate Research

The Consortium Library Award for Undergraduate Research lauds an exemplary undergraduate research project from any discipline which demonstrates evidence of significant scholarly investigation and utilization of library resources, print as well as electronic. The winning student author will be officially recognized university-wide and will receive a $500 award.

Applications for the award will be accepted until Sunday, May 3, 2021.

Eligibility: Applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Students must be accepted in an associate or baccalaureate degree program at the University of Alaska Anchorage (any campus) and must be enrolled in at least three credits during the semester in which the application is submitted.

  • Research Projects can be submitted until Sunday, May 3, 2021. Projects must have been completed in the Spring 2020, Summer 2020, or Fall 2020 semesters. Research projects completed in Spring 2021 are eligible for the award as long as the final project can be submitted by the spring deadline.

Application: Complete applications will include the items listed below. Please include page numbers.

  • Application cover sheet with faculty mentor signature indicating support.

  • Reflective essay about the research project. This critical piece of the application is a 750-1000 word reflective essay describing research strategies employed, and use of library tools and resources. The essay is an important part of the application and should provide the reviewers with information about the process, how the research was approached, how the challenges were addressed, and if inquiry was redirected. Please note student tips on a quality reflective essay.

  • Finalized project involving significant use of library resources and demonstrated development of the research methods employed.

  • Properly formatted bibliography of all sources cited.

Submission:
All applications must be submitted to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship/Honors College located in Rasmuson Hall 103.  

Selection Criteria:
Designation of prize is determined by clear evidence of superior information literacy and proficiency in scholarly assessment of sources, finely-honed critical and analytical skills, original and creative inquiry, and noteworthy contribution to field of study. To be considered a project must comply with all requirements.

Decisions for the best project will be made based on a scoring rubric that is based upon the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Standards.

Submissions will be judged on how well student researchers demonstrate:

  • Unusual depth or broadness in the use of library resources and collections, including, but not limited to, printed resources, databases, primary resources, and materials in all media.

  • Extraordinary ability to identify, locate, select, evaluate, and synthesize library resources and to use them in the creation of a project in any medium that shows originality and/or has the potential to lead to original research in the future.

  • Significant personal knowledge in the methods of research and inquiry for their discipline both through the project and the reflective essay.

Research Component    -    Point Value
Reflective Essay                            20
Completed Project                        20
Bibliography                                  10
Total Possible                              50

Conditions of Award
The research project selected for the Consortium Library Award for Undergraduate Research will be displayed in the Consortium Library Institutional Repository UAA ScholarWorks. The student honored by the award must give an oral presentation describing his or her work at the Undergraduate Research Symposium and submit a one-page essay describing the impact of the undergraduate research process upon their academic experience, and a one paragraph abstract describing the project for the Symposium Proceedings.

Visit the Success Stories Website to see previous winners of the award.

Instructions for Completing the Cover Sheet:

  1. Download the interactive .pdf file.

  2. Either (a) complete the form electronically and print or (b) print the form and complete by hand.

  3. Collect necessary signatures.

  4. Either (a) submit the completed cover sheet and all other application materials to the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship in RH 115 or (b) scan the completed, signed cover sheet and submit all application materials by email to UAA Honors College.

Download: UAA Consortium Library Award for Undergraduate Research Cover Sheet

These forms may also be picked up from the Office of Undergraduate Research &Scholarship in RH 103.

Questions: Please contact the Office of Undergraduate Research and Scholarship at 907-786-1086 or uaa_honors@uaa.alaska.edu.