Faculty, staff can nurture undergrad creativity

At UW–Madison, many undergraduate students do more than keep up with daily homework assignments. Each year, about 3,000 of these collegians conduct original research or participate in service-learning projects.

These students can share their work with the campus and public during the sixth annual Undergraduate Symposium scheduled for April 15. Faculty and staff mentors or advisers are invited to encourage students who may like to participate in the symposium to submit proposals by Friday, Feb. 27.

A showcase of the creative enterprise of undergraduate students in all fields — the arts and humanities and biological, physical and social sciences — the symposium features everything from posters explaining research findings to artistic performances. It highlights the important role faculty and staff mentors play in guiding students as they explore new ideas and find the voice to express them.

One way faculty and staff can further guide students is by encouraging them to share their original work or creative projects during the all-day symposium.

“Students are easily convinced about the fun and benefits of presenting their work and sharing with others, especially those outside their field of expertise,” says Virginia Sapiro, associate vice chancellor for teaching and learning, and a professor of political science and women’s studies. “But many students — and perhaps most — need direct and specific encouragement from their faculty mentors, who can also help them with the confidence that they will be successful in this public venue.”

Although the event strives to represent all academic areas each year, the arts and humanities have been less represented than the sciences and social sciences, says Sapiro. For this reason, she especially urges arts and humanities faculty and staff to provide that extra encouragement so more work from these areas is included.

The symposium, to be held at the Memorial Union, is an event to be enjoyed by the entire UW–Madison community, says Sapiro. “The sense of excitement and accomplishment on the part of undergraduates throughout the daylong celebration of student research and creative work is very catching.”

The Undergraduate Symposium is sponsored by the Brittingham Foundation and the Office of the Provost in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program, the Center for Biology Education, the Memorial Union and the Morgridge Center for Public Service.

More information, including instructions on how to submit a proposal, is available online.