Students expernment
with research, lab work
Program pairs students, professors
By WHI McCahill
Daily Staff Reporter
Anyone at the University can tell you
there's a whole lot of research going on
here.
You might be surprised to learn, how-
ever, that some of it is being done by
undergraduates, not just high-powered
professors.
The Undergraduate Research Oppor-
tunities Program allows first- and sec-
ond-year students to work alongside
University professors in a wide variety
of fields, said program director Sandy
Gregerman.
"Basically, we create research part-
nerships between (undergraduates) and
faculty members campuswide,"
Gregerman said.
The program, which allows students
to earn academic credit or work-study
dollars, involves approximately 700
undergraduates and 450 professors.
Students from all schools and colleges
are eligible to apply, and starting this
summer, applications were mailed out to
all incoming first-year students.
Gregerman said the program general-
ly receives 2,000 applications, from
which approximately 800 students are
selected.
"It's a fairly random selection
process," she said. "We're not an honors
program per se - we really want a wide
variety of students to have the opportu-
nity to participate in research on cam-
pus.
When the program was started in
1988, the focus was on getting women
and minorities interested and involved in
research. Getting these groups involved
early in their undergraduate careers was
particularly important, Gregerman said.
About half the students selected are
involved with medicine-related research,
with another quarter involved with
social science research.
Since the majority of applications are
for biomedical research, getting into that
facet of the program is more difficult
than getting into humanities or social
science research.
"In the social sciences or humanities,
(students) have a good shot at getting
admitted, whereas in biomedical
(research), you may think that no one
gets admitted," Gregerman said. "The
entire freshman class wants to become
doctors."
Applications for engineering-related
research have also increased in recent
years, Gregerman added.
Once students are admitted to the pro-
gram, they go through a process of
choosing a specific area in
their field. The students
answer questionnaires, "(II f
and then go through inter-
vi ews with professors vie we
engaged in research in the
students' fields of interest. nice W
Students are then paired
with professors after have
mutual approval.
The University pro- studeI
gram is one of only a few
in the nation, and is rare in take
that it offers students the
chance to do research advani
year-round, instead oft
exclusively in the sum- t re
mer, as well as that it g
focuses on first- and sec- , t $
ond-year students. - Sandy
"It's becoming more of Sny
a trend, having undergrad- UR
uate research programs,"
Gregerman said.
She said she has worked with officials
at other institutions interested in giving
undergraduates similar opportunities.
What sets this program apart even
more is its peer adviser program, where
older students - UROP alumni - keep
track of younger students.
"Peer advisers work with students to
help them find a research project,
make sure the projects are going well,"
Gregerman said.
The peer advisers also help provide
general academic support aside from
teaching their students about basic
research techniques, future research
opportunities and post-graduate research
programs.
Helping younger students keep in
touch with the professors themselves is
another task the peer advisers m
shoulder.
"The
that the
fessors,
ly is
ras a
vay to
ris
r advisers also make sure
ents are finding their pro-
ause there are all sorts of
issues that come up in a
community like this,
where the faculty are so
busy," Gregerman said.
Gregerman said UROP
helps to put a positive
spin on research, which*
often viewed as detract-
ing from overall under-
graduate education.
"There is a lot of atten-
tion paid at large research
universities to the fact
that states don't like the
fact that research takes
priority over teaching'
she said, "so (UROP) is
viewed as a nice way t
have students take advan-
tage of the research going
on ... instead of suffering
from it."
Currently, funding for
the program comes from
support both your academic dreams
lage of
search
on "
Gregerman
OP director
a variety of sources at the University,
state and federal levels. In addition, pri-
vate funding comes from companies
including Coca-Cola.
A campaign is under way to rais9
funds that would enable UROP to give
students a chance to do research all four
years.
11
[DIANE COOK/ Dail
iSA senior Ben Sarason lifts weights in the Central Campus Recreation Building. Many students use one of the four recreation 4
buildings on campus regularly to keep fit and work off stress.
Conditioning to competing,
exercise options plentiful
f -.,
01
By Erena Baybik
Daily Staff Reporter
For those who exercise on a daily basis or participate in any
sport, the University provides several programs as well as
facilities across campus.
Some of the sports programs offered to students, as well as
the general public, include swimming, skin and scuba diving,
aerobics, ballroom dance, weight training, volleyball, tennis
and tae kwon do.
A recreational sports program and policy guide explain the
range of activities the University offers. It is available at any
recreation building.
All students are permitted to use the facilities as long as they
bring their student identification card. Non-students can also
use the facilities by purchasing a Recreational Sports Facilities
User Pass.
There are four main recreational sports facilities along with
several outdoor courts and fields scattered around campus for
student use. At least one of the four facilities is open 358 days
a year. Lockers are available at each.
The Central Campus Recreation Building, located at the
corner of Washtenaw and Geddes avenues, provides the most
sporting opportunities - including tennis courts, basketball
courts, dance studios, weight rooms, an indoor and outdoor
track, and an indoor pool for students.
"I live fairly close, so I use the track and tennis courts on
almost a daily basis," LSA sophomore Angela Freedman said.
Other sports programs offered on campus include more than
m
m