Check Out Our New Display!

Next time you're near the AU Library, stop in and check out the URCA display in the case near the elevators on the main floor.  We're hoping the display will serve as a reminder to students to submit their abstracts, and as a way to get everyone excited for this year's event.  Many thanks to the Library staff, especially Reference and Instruction Librarian Kathryn Venditti, for allowing us to use the display case!

Abstract Workshop Set

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (URCA) Symposium Committee will hold an abstract preparation workshop on Wednesday, January 8th at 8:00 p.m. in Schar 103.  Reservations are not necessary.  All students who are eligible to present at this year's URCA Symposium are welcome.  Students should bring drafts fo their abstracts-in-progress to the workshop, where they will receive individualized feedback from a member of the URCA Symposium Committee.

The 5th Annual URCA Symposium will highlight the research, scholarly, and creative activities of students throughout Ashland University's College of Arts and Sciences, and will be held on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.  All students who are declared majors in a program within the College of Arts and Sciences are encouraged to participate in this year's Symposium.  Presenters may choose to give an oral presentation, poster presentation, exhibition, or a performance.  All presentations should have a significant research or creative component; examples include, but are not limited to summer research conducted at AU or elsewhere, results of independent study projects, thesis work, literary readings or analyses, musical or theatre performaces, and exhibitions of artwork.

Students who wish to present at the Symposium must prepare an abstract in Microsoft Word and email that Word document to the URCA Symposium Committee at au.urca@gmail.com.  Instructions for how to prepare a submission, as well as sample abstracts, can be found here on the blog by clicking the navigation tabs along the top.  All abstracts submitted require approval of a faculty sponsor.  The deadline for submitting abstracts is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 17, 2014.

Ashland URCA Blog: Submission Instructions

The Call for Abstracts for the Fifth Annual URCA Symposium has just been released!  Click the link below for more details.

Ashland URCA Blog: Submission Instructions: The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium Committee is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for the Fifth Annual Coll...

Another Chance to See "Unconscious Surrealism"

Mauricio Uranga (senior, Fine Art & Commercial Art) will give an encore presentation of his URCA talk, "Unconscious Surrealism," on Wednesday, April 17th at 12:00 p.m. in the Coburn Art Gallery.  Please attend and support this artist's fine work!  Many thanks to Professor Charles Caldemeyer, Cynthia Petry, and everyone at the Coburn Gallery for allowing us another opportunity to hear from Mauricio.

Highlights from the 2013 Symposium

What a fantastic day!  AU students are doing some great things!  Here are just a few of the highlights from the 2013 URCA Symposium:  

 

 

Chris Yocum and Ben Bushong discussed the computer game

that they created with Symposium guests:

 

Mauricio Uranga exhibited five of his paintings:

 

 

Jensen Glick displayed some of the costumes he created for

AU's production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

 

Jacob Ewing presented twice today, including giving this

engaging talk about hipsters: 

Jalessa Brown and Morgan Phillips discussed

Morgan's research on coping styles:

Jared Baisden shared his research on the characterization of

a compound extracted from wilted red maple leaves:

It's URCA Symposium Week!

It's nearly here!  This Wednesday, April 10th, is the 4th Annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium at Ashland University.  More than 50 students from 13 academic departments from across the College of Arts and Sciences will present their work on Wednesday in Upper Convo.  Those students have been working for months to produce the work that will be showcased at the Symposium, and many are continuing even now to put the final touches on their presentations. 

I am proud to be part of a College that supports students' research and creative activty and thrilled that I am able to be involved with the Symposium.  Although I shouldn't play favorites, I have to admit that I am particularly excited to see three students in particular shine on Wednesday: Amber Weaver, a senior psychology major who will present data from her Honor's thesis; Jalessa Brown, a senior criminal justice major who will present the results of a study she conducted during her study abroad experience; and Morgan Phillips, a sophomore psychology major who will present data that she collected as a research assistant in the Psychology Department.  I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with these women and cannot wait to see their presentations.

I hope you'll be able to join me at the Symposium on Wednesday!  It will be a fantastic day!

TV-20 Produces URCA CAS Spotlight Episode

Thank you to Ashland University's Department of Journalism and Digital Media for producing this excellent CAS Spotlight Episode featuring URCA, and a special thank you to Megan Wise for appearing on the episode to discuss the Symposium from a student's perspective!

The 2013 Symposium Schedule is Complete!

The students, the faculty mentors, the members of the URCA Committee, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences have worked hard over the last five weeks to polish abstracts and finalize plans.  Now, we are pleased to announce that the schedule for the 2013 URCA Symposium is available!  Click here to view and print the schedule.

The First Few Abstracts Are In!

Abstracts are starting to come in for the 2013 URCA Symposium!  The deadline is this Monday, January 28th at 5:00 p.m., so the Committee is anticipating a lot of emails this weekend with more submissions.  We are looking forward to reading your work!  As always, please feel free to email Dr. Bonfiglio at au.urca@gmail.com or dbonfigl@ashland.edu if you have any questions or concerns.

A Note from Diane Bonfiglio, URCA Director

I have found some of my greatest joys as a professor in the times that I have had the opportunity to work one-on-one with students on crafting abstracts for the URCA Symposium.  Ashland University students are doing some fantastic things.  It is a privilege to be able to do my small part to help those students communicate their work to their peers and professors.  This year I am excited to work with three bright and enthusiastic students, all of whom are now hard at work choosing just the right words to share the results of their research projects.  I know that all across the College of Arts and Sciences similar interactions are occurring.  I have heard students and faculty talking about the upcoming abstract deadline and planning submissions.  So though next week will be busy and students and professors alike may well be exhausted at the end, it will be that good kind of exhaustion that comes from hard work and the production of something special.  It is truly a gift to be able to share these experiences with students, and it is one of the many things that I adore about my job.

I am looking forward to reading all of the submissions to the Fourth Annual URCA Symposium.  Best wishes as you prepare!

Abstracts Due January 28th

Would you like to see your work featured in a professional-quality publication? URCA abstracts are printed in a beautiful volume like this one from the 2012 Symposium. The deadline for submissions is just two weeks away- arrange a meeting with your faculty sponsor today!

Abstract Prep Workshop Set

The URCA Committee will host an Abstract Preparation Workshop for students on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in Schar 104.  Students are welcome to bring working drafts of their abstracts to the workshop, where they will receive one-on-one feedback from a facutly member who serves on the Committee.  No reservations are required.  If you have questions about the workshop, email Dr. Bonfiglio at dbonfigl@ashland.edu or au.urca@gmail.com.  We hope to see you there! 

Abstracts Due January 28th

Abstracts for the 2013 URCA Symposium are due in just 25 days!  Students, be sure to send your research mentor a draft of your abstract soon so that you can work together to get it polished and submission-ready before Monday, January 28th.  Faculty, consider reaching out to students that you think could benefit from presenting in the Symposium and encourage them to put something together!  Complete submission instructions are below, and are always posted at the top of the blog.

Submission Instructions

The Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium Committee is pleased to announce the call for abstracts for the Fourth Annual College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium. This event will highlight the research, scholarly and creative activities of students throughout the College of Arts and Sciences, and will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2013.  All students who are declared majors in a program within the College of Arts and Sciences are encouraged to participate in this year’s Symposium.  Presenters may choose to give an oral presentation, poster presentation, exhibition, or a performance.  All presentations should have a significant research or creative component; examples include, but are not limited to summer research conducted at Ashland University or elsewhere, results of independent study projects, thesis work, literary readings or analysis, musical or theatrical performances, and exhibitions of artwork.

Students who wish to present at the Symposium should prepare an abstract in Microsoft Word and email that Word document to the URCA Symposium Committee at au.urca@gmail.com. All abstracts submitted require approval of a faculty sponsor who is familiar with the student’s work and can attest to the quality of the work.  Students should copy their faculty sponsors on the email that contains the submission. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, January 28, 2013.

A complete submission must include ALL of the following:

A. Name of Student Presenter(s)

B. Campus AND Home Addresses of Student Presenter(s)

C. Class Year (e.g. junior, senior) and Major(s) of Student Presenter(s)

D. Name of Faculty Sponsor

E. College of Arts and Sciences program in which the work is focused (e.g. Biology, Psychology, Music)

F. Title of the Presentation

G. Preferred Format of Presentation (Poster Presentation, 12 Minute Performance, 12 Minute Oral Presentation, or Art Exhibition)*

H. Special Equipment Required (PCs and projectors are provided; if no other equipment is needed, please indicate “No special equipment needed”)

I. Body of the Abstract (250 words or fewer)

J. Anticipated Scheduling Conflicts for Symposium on 4/10/13 (e.g. COBE class meetings, athletic events, other commitments that cannot be moved on this date; if none, please indicate “No scheduling conflicts anticipated”)

*While students' preferences are weighed heavily in the determination of whether a submission is most appropriate as a poster or oral presentation, the URCA Committee makes the final determination regarding presentation format.

Students who would like to see examples of acceptable abstracts may view abstracts from the prior years’ events by clicking on the tabs at the top of the blog (right under the main banner). The URCA committee will hold an abstract writing workshop in January in order to assist students in polishing their abstracts.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about presenting at the Symposium or the abstract submission process, please don’t hesitate to contact the URCA Committee at au.urca@gmail.com or Dr. Diane Bonfiglio at dbonfigl@ashland.edu.