Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities

The Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (CURCA) serves the Northeastern State University community through efforts to support students and faculty participating in undergraduate research and creative activities. Faculty across NSU are actively engaged in providing immersive learning opportunities for students. These opportunities include mentored research experiences, course-based research experiences, internships, case studies, service-learning projects, supervised interactions with patients or clients, and many other opportunities. The center has three main functions: supporting and promoting student participation in undergraduate research (UR) and creative activities (CA), supporting and promoting faculty involvement in research and creative activities involving students, and assessing the impact of these activities.

What are undergraduate research and creative activities?

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defines undergraduate research as: A mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge. (CUR 2021)

What Are the Benefits of Undergraduate Research?

• Enhances student learning through mentoring relationships with faculty
• Increases retention and graduation in academic programs
• Increases enrollment in graduate education and provides effective career preparation
• Develops critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and intellectual independence
• Develops an understanding of research methodology
• Promotes an innovation-oriented culture
• Develops competencies that speak to career-readiness (CUR 2021)

Undergraduate research and/or creative activities refers to problem based learning and encompasses scholarly activities in which students learn the analytical and investigative processes of their discipline in an active manner. It is an introduction to the culture of learning by doing through self-directed inquiry under the guidance and direct supervision of an expert faculty mentor. Students and their mentors collaborate as partners while exploring topics of interest to them. Thus, students become producers, not only consumers, of knowledge.

Contact

Jessica Martin

Associate Dean / Professor of Chemistry

martinj@nsuok.edu

918-444-3830

Link to directory: https://www.nsuok.edu/directory/profiles/martinj.aspx

About Us

The purpose of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities is to encourage, sustain, and grow the culture of student-centered research and creative activities. 

How does this Center support our mission at NSU?

NSU’s Mission: 

Founded on the rich educational heritage of the Cherokee Nation, the campuses of Northeastern State University provide its diverse communities with lifelong learning through a broad array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional doctoral degree programs. With high expectations for student success, the University provides quality teaching, challenging curricula, research and scholarly activities, immersive learning opportunities, and service to local and professional communities. The institution’s dedicated faculty and staff offer a service-oriented, supportive learning environment where students prepare to achieve professional and personal success in a multicultural and global society. {Bold added for emphasis}

The mission of NSU highlights lifelong learning, challenging curricula, research and scholarly activities, and immersive learning opportunities. Participation in UR and CA are a central part of challenging curricula and have been shown to promote development of lifelong learning. Of course, student-focused research and creative activities are examples of research and scholarly activities that directly benefit student participants. The opportunities provided to students through UR and CA are immersive learning experiences, where students make real contributions to the advancement of their field while developing academic, professional, and personal skills. Benefits for students who participate in UR or CA include advances in cognitive development and intellectual growth, professional growth and enhancement, personal growth, and specific benefits for underrepresented groups. Encouragement of student-centered research and creative activities strongly supports key aspects of our mission at NSU.