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Documenting the Aspiration Gap in Institutional Language About Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work

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Abstract

We conducted a content-analysis of the websites of 100 institutional members of the Council of Undergraduate Research in order to examine the relationship between messages communicated on websites as compared to messages expressed within institutional procedures and policies. Findings show that public research institutions were more likely than baccalaureate institutions to have an Office of Undergraduate Research. Further incentives and supports provided by such offices are predominantly directed to students. Lastly, our analysis of promotion and tenure policies reveals that only 14 institutions out of the 100 in our sample explicitly mentioned mentoring undergraduate researchers in the evaluation criteria for faculty members. We offer implications for research and practice.

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Acknowledgments

This project was developed through Elon University’s Center for Engaged Learning, which sponsored a multi-institutional research seminar on “Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research.” We also want to thank Christopher Morphew and three anonymous reviewers for their review and advice as we further developed this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Economics and Management, Albion College, 611 E. Porter St., Albion, MI, 49224, USA

    Vicki L. Baker

  2. English and Women’s Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas, 5100 Rockhill Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64110, USA

    Jane Greer

  3. Cameron School of Business, University of North Carolina Wilmington, 601 S College Rd, Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA

    Laura G. Lunsford

  4. Higher Education, University of Louisville, 2301 S 3rd St, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA

    Meghan J. Pifer

  5. Music Education, Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR, 97116, USA

    Dijana Ihas

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  1. Vicki L. Baker
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  2. Jane Greer
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  3. Laura G. Lunsford
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  4. Meghan J. Pifer
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  5. Dijana Ihas
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Correspondence to Vicki L. Baker.

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Baker, V.L., Greer, J., Lunsford, L.G. et al. Documenting the Aspiration Gap in Institutional Language About Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Work. Innov High Educ 42, 127–143 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-016-9372-9

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