FURM Institute applications open, deadline to register April 4
Mississippi University for Women’s Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) has opened applications for its second installment of the Faculty Undergraduate Research Mentor (FURM) Institute, set for May 13-16.
Founded in May 2024, FURM offers faculty the chance to sharpen their mentorship skills, opening the door for future collaborations with students seeking mentors for research projects.
“This is an innovative program aimed at enhancing faculty skills in mentoring undergraduate research through the development of Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CUREs). For those faculty who are already actively integrating research into their courses, the FURM Institute offers an opportunity to further enhance these existing practices. Participation will enrich their courses with additional resources and peer collaboration, and connect their excellent work to broader institutional initiatives. This institute also serves as a platform to exchange innovative ideas and share their successful strategies with colleagues in different fields,” said Dr. Reyna Vergara, assistant professor of Spanish, and one of the coordinators of the program this year.
The first cohort included six faculty members from the disciplines of speech-language pathology, communication, family sciences and biology.
These faculty members participated in the intensive four-day professional development workshop to help hone their mentorship skills.
Participants engaged with expert-led sessions on crafting accessible research assignments, establishing clear learning outcomes and applying inclusive mentoring practices. Also, they evaluated exemplary syllabi from other high-impact courses, received feedback on their own syllabi and Institutional Review Board (IRB) proposals and drafted detailed plans to integrate meaningful research experiences within their teaching.
Faculty participants who complete the Institute receive a $500 stipend along with access to teaching and learning resources to support their course development. After teaching their newly designed courses, participants’ syllabi and research materials will become part of The W’s OUR Assignment Repository. Additionally, these courses will carry a special course code designation in Banner, highlighting their value as high-impact learning experiences.
The deadline to register is Friday, April 4. For details and application guidelines, please visit muw.edu/our/furm-institute/. Questions can be addressed via email to thagey@muw.edu or revergara@muw.edu.