University Honors College publishes faculty handbook, Mentoring Undergraduates in Research and Scholarship

The University Honors College at the University of Alaska Anchorage will launch its new faculty handbook publication, entitled Mentoring Undergraduates in Research and Scholarship, on April 10 at a special faculty session of the Undergraduate Research and Discovery Symposium. The handbook is intended as a guidance tool for mentoring undergraduates in research and scholarship at UAA.

UAA has made significant headway in fostering a new culture of undergraduate research and scholarship. Undergraduate faculty members have enhanced the quality and scope of their research programs, resulting in an enrichment of UAA's research mission and reputation. The growth in undergraduate experiences at UAA has also given students a better educational experience, making them more competitive for graduate school and industry jobs.

"We know that undergraduate research and scholarship not only raises the bar for students, it helps attract and retain them," said Ronald Spatz, Dean of the UAA Honors College. "It enriches the undergraduate experience and points students toward successful professional lives."

Developed and edited by psychology professor Eric S. Murphy and computer science professor Kenrick Mock, the faculty handbook consists of a collection of essays representing a concerted effort by UAA faculty members who truly believe in UAA's mission to "discover and disseminate knowledge through teaching, research, engagement and creative expression."

"We need to do everything we can to encourage faculty members to make active learning an integral part of their teaching and consider partnering with undergraduates in their research and scholarship wherever feasible," said Spatz. "This first edition of the Faculty Handbook begins a longer conversation on this important subject."

The handbook is comprised of two parts: Engaging Undergraduates in Research and Scholarship, and Undergraduate Research Across the Disciplines. In addition to essays by professors Murphy and Mock, 21 other faculty members representing all of UAA's disciplinary colleges and the Kenai Peninsula College contributed to the handbook.

For more information on the University Honors College visit http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/honors/ .