Research and Scholarship Committee
February 23, 2006 – 3:30-5:00 pm
Harrison Institute/Small Special Collections Library – The Byrd Room

Meeting Minutes

Present:  Susan Kirk, Robert Davis, Elizabeth Powell, Stephen Wilson, John Wilson, Richard Steeves, Steven Nock, Houston Wood

Guest:  Nicole Hurd, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Excellence

Susan Kirk, Chair of the Research and Scholarship Committee, called the meeting to order.

Discussion and Selection of the David Harrison Undergraduate Research Awards

Issues:

• Timeline for receiving applications next year may need to be revised
• Clarification for proposals regarding what the Committee is looking for
• Quality of proposals and specific problems with some of the proposals
• Lack of methodology in some of the proposals
• International travel
• Identification of perceived outcome of the proposal
• Student funding amounts and how to refine or suggest alternative means , or adjusted finances
• What amount of each award will be allowed for equipment purchases, or services such as Kinkos

Nicole Hurd distributed scoring sheets, detailing the scores for each of the 177 applications.  Forty-Seven awards will be given this year.

The Committee reviewed the applications and the scores of each applicant.  Proposals for funding were selected (47), and the group selected several other proposals that will be funded, providing funds are available.

In closing, Houston Wood asked Ms. Hurd to appoint one of last year’s Harrison Award recipients to speak at the April Board of Visitors meeting in support of the program. 

The Research and Scholarship Committee expressed thanks and appreciation to Nicole Hurd and her staff for the many hours of hard work on behalf of the Harrison Undergraduate Research program.

The meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m.