Newswise — Washington, D.C.—On January 22, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) will be celebrating the achievements in undergraduate research at Allegheny College, George Mason University, and The College of New Jersey. These institutions are recipients of the Campus-wide Awards for Undergraduate Research Accomplishment (AURA), annual awards modeled on the CUR's Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research, which recognizes institutions that have devised exemplary programs providing high-quality research experiences to undergraduates

A ceremony will take place during the CUR Executive Board reception on January 22, 2016, at the American Association of Colleges and Universities annual meeting in Washington, D.C. at the Grant Hyatt Hotel (Room: Declaration B Salon). The reception will follow the 4:15-5:30 PM session (Room: Independence DE), "Achieving an Institution-Wide Culture and Practice in Undergraduate Research" which will feature the awardees and be presented by Roger Rowlett, Gordon and Dorothy Kline Professor of Chemistry, Colgate University, and President, Council on Undergraduate Research; Susan Larson, Professor of Psychology and Director of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, Concordia College; Amelia Ahern-Rindell, Associate Professor, University of Portland; and Elizabeth Ambos, Executive Officer, Council on Undergraduate Research.

AURA recognition requires campuses to have depth and breadth in their undergraduate research initiatives, and evidence of innovation of a sustained nature. Nominations are open to all types of higher-education institutions. Three awards were made this year to recognize outstanding institutions from different Carnegie classification groups. These three institutions portray exceptional national models for other campuses to emulate. CUR is proud to celebrate their commitment to undergraduate research. For more information concerning the panel or reception, please contact [email protected].

##Council on Undergraduate Research: The Council on Undergraduate Research (www.cur.org) supports faculty and student development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research, scholarship, and creative activities. More than 700 institutions and over 10,000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.

Allegheny College: Allegheny College is a national liberal arts college where 2,100 students with unusual combinations of interests and talents develop highly valued abilities to explore critical issues from multiple perspectives. A selective residential college in Meadville, Pa., Allegheny is one of 40 colleges featured in “Colleges That Change Lives,” among many other guidebooks. Allegheny, which is celebrating its bicentennial in 2015, is known for academic excellence and its extensive research and creative opportunities for students, as well as for taking a national leadership role on civility in public discourse and on sustainability, among other critical issues of our time.

George Mason University: George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls more than 33,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility.

The College of New Jersey (TCNJ): TCNJ is a highly selective institution that has earned national recognition for its commitment to excellence. Founded in 1855 as the New Jersey State Normal School, TCNJ has become an exemplar of the best in public higher education and is consistently acknowledged as one of the top comprehensive colleges in the nation. TCNJ currently is ranked as one of the 75 “Most Competitive” schools in the nation by Barron’s Profiles of American Colleges and is rated the No. 1 public institution in the northern region of the country by U.S. News & World Report.

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