Distinguished leaders in undergrad research
Last summer, CSB and SJU were celebrated (along with the University of Florida and Worcester Polytechnic Institute) as winners of the Council on Undergraduate Research’s 2023 campus-wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments (AURA).
This national award recognizes institutions with exemplary programs that provide high-quality research experiences for undergraduates. For AURA recognition, campuses must demonstrate depth and breadth in their undergraduate research initiatives and evidence of continual innovation.
One such initiative at Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s is our Emerging Scholars Program – designed to make undergraduate research accessible to students from all backgrounds and abilities. The program caters to first-year students who have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education or their field of study.
Students selected for the program are offered a full-time, paid on-campus research position for an academic year under the mentorship of a faculty mentor. The program is still young, but 100% of the first cohort of students graduated on time.
Almost 30% of Bennies and Johnnies are engaged in undergraduate research, and approximately 40% of faculty regularly serve as mentors. Even without the resources of most AURA-receiving schools, CSB and SJU have built an enviable suite of programs that demonstrate how innovation driven by a clear vision can yield exceptional outcomes.