University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
AC-10: Support for Research

UTRGV encourages student research and provides opportunities for their research to be recognized, such as through the ongoing Undergraduate Research Scholars Initiative.

The Office of Engaged Scholarship & Learning supports two awards: The Engaged Scholar Award for Undergraduate Research and The Engaged Scholar Award for Creative Works. These awards provide you with the opportunity to fund original academic research or creative works project. Receiving an ESA will help you:

Gain real-world experience. Develop a new project by submitting a formal project proposal.
Experience one-on-one mentoring. Work directly with a faculty mentor to map out your project step-by-step.
Apply your skills. Achieve project goals through rigor beyond what you may encounter in a classroom setting alone.
Build your CV, Résumé, or Portfolio. Present your project to a public audience to gain experience, exposure, and credibility in your field of study.
http://www.utrgv.edu/engaged/esa/index.htm#item1

The Undergraduate Research Scholars Initiative (URI) at UTRGV is a program where undergraduate students share in the excitement of research discoveries, work side-by- side with faculty and graduate students who are creating new knowledge, and learn valuable research techniques. The initiative allows undergraduate students to obtain real-world research experience in a field of interest related to their majors.
The purpose of the URI award is for undergraduate students to gain experience in proposing a research project and working directly with faculty members on that research. Students or small teams of students submit a proposal with a statement of support from a supervising faculty member. The proposals should be developed with the guidance of the faculty mentor, but the student will be responsible for the application process.
Benefits for Students
- The experience of designing a research project and submitting a formal proposal.
- A chance for in-depth learning and experience with academic research.
-The URI allows students to concentrate in specific academic areas with rigor beyond what they may encounter in a classroom setting alone.
- One-on-ony interaction with a faculty member in his or her research program.
Financial Benefits
The Student/Faculty research team will receive an award of up to $2,000. Up to $500 of the $2000 is reserved for the faculty mentor for travel to present the student-assisted research at an academic forum. Faculty sponsoring more than one URI award in an academic year are only eligible for one $500 faculty travel award. Faculty may choose to forego their travel funding and allocate to student wages or additional materials. The funding may be used for: student wages; student travel; allowable materials for research (see below). The allocation of funding should be appropriate to the research activities. Faculty and students should develop a budget that best suits the research project and goals.
http://www.utrgv.edu/_files/documents/student-experience/uri-ay-extended-application.pdf

Students were encouraged to display independent sustainability research posters at the Texas Regional Alliance for Campus Sustainability (TRACS) 2016 Summit. When presenting their posters, students interacted with other student presenters and members of the audience representing educational and business leaders. Poster-displaying students pay a reduced student rate when registering for the summit.
http://www.utrgv.edu/tracs/faq/student-poster/index.htm

Global Opportunity Grant
The purpose of the Global Opportunities Grants is to encourage faculty to think creatively and author projects that will contribute to globalization at UTRGV, or ensure that our faculty and students gain perspectives of different cultures, languages, and methods of teaching which make the university more diverse. Effective, accountable and inclusive institutions are at the core of sustainable development.
Travel abroad or to conferences by the applicant(s) will not be considered under these grants. Travel by invited speakers for events will be considered under these grants.
Examples of possible initiatives include, but are not limited to: the development of professional relationships (visiting scholars, etc.), forums or conferences, cultural showings or performances, presentations, education, and other experiences that will directly enhance internationalization of the campus or community in innovative ways.

Types of Global Opportunity Grants:
Please note that there are two types of GOG and that they are funded at different levels. The underlying objectives for each grant are the same.

I. Small GOG

A Small GOG is intended to assist individual faculty members advance internationalization through a single event. (E.g. a speaker, a film showing, activities that internationalize UTRGV, etc.) These grants have a maximum award level of $500. Funds requested from other sources are in addition to the $500.

II. Large GOG

A Large GOG is intended to assist an individual faculty member or group of faculty members advance internationalization through a recurring or series of events. (E.g. a film series stretching over the academic year, a semester-long speaker series, multiple and linked cultural events, inter-related outreach projects among faculty members, etc.) These grants have a maximum award level of $2,000. Funds requested from other sources are in addition to the $2,000.
Within 2 months following completion of the project, the PI must provide a final report (2 pages maximum) to OGE. The final report will provide:
Brief over view of event;
Assessment of impact (whom was engaged and impacted, and specifically how did this event promote internationalization) and whether the project achieved its stated goals.

As referenced above, the Undergraduate Research Initiative encourages faculty to conduct research along with students. The Student/Faculty research team will receive an award of up to $2,000. Up to $500 of the $2000 is reserved for the faculty mentor for travel to present the student-assisted research at an academic forum. Faculty sponsoring more than one URI award in an academic year are only eligible for one $500 faculty travel award.

The minimum research/scholarship required to meet expectations for promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor is (1) the authorship, since their last promotion, of at least four (4) peer reviewed publications with at least two (2) articles in refereed journals (may include up to 2 peer-reviewed book chapters), (2) the faculty member shall be the sole or lead author on at least one (1) of the four (4) publications, (3) the accumulation of at least 15 Activity points from the list of Activities below:

-Publication of a peer reviewed journal article(s) or book chapter(s) beyond the Minimum requirement of four (4) peer reviewed articles mentioned above (4 points each). This activity includes transdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary publications.

-Publication of a peer reviewed journal article(s) or book chapter(s) beyond the minimum requirement of two (2) peer reviewed articles mentioned above (4 points each). This activity includes transdisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary publications.

The UTRGV library database offers e-learning and articles about sustainable development across the board, from curriculum integration (featuring workshop literature from ICSAC) and LibGuides, an online resource tool for students (Research assistance, subject guides, and useful resources compiled by your friendly librarians) also provides additional information and e-books about sustainability as it pertains to fields as diverse as transportation and dance.
http://utrgv.libguides.com/srch.php?q=sustainability