This webpage provides IST faculty with guidance on engaging undergraduate students in research in the college. This guidance was created based on input IST faculty, HR, Career Solutions, Advising, Undergraduate Education, Research, college and academic program leadership, and Penn State’s Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs.
The feedback received demonstrated that the process to engage undergraduate students in the college’s research activities should be formalized and that students should get something tangible in return for their efforts – either payment, credit, or both. Based on this input, the college identified three likely scenarios outlined below, along with recommendations for how each scenario should be addressed.
Faculty should review the information presented on the Undergraduate Research webpage for an overview of the process students must complete to secure and register their research experience.
Scenarios for Undergraduate Research
There are three scenarios for undergraduate students to engage in IST research. These recommendations are intended to provide flexibility. While there are unpaid options, faculty are encouraged to pay students when possible. Beyond the brief initial period (Scenario 1), these interactions should be structured, either as a for-credit experience, for payment, or both.
Importantly, the for-credit options should not result in new expenses for full-time students given how Penn State bills students. Students are responsible for registering for the for-credit experiences, just as they would for any independent study. The expectations for faculty are limited (e.g., submit a SAT/UNSAT grade at the end).
