Westminster College Undergraduate Research Fast Facts:
- 56% of Westminster College seniors have performed a mentored undergraduate project with a Westminster faculty member. That’s one third more than seniors than at other regional schools.
- In Fall 2018 semester alone, more than 45% of students are participating in a Westminster course that involves an undergraduate research experience.
- On average, 100 students are supported annually with Research and Travel Grants from Westminster’s Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research.
- Student presenters at Westminster’s annual Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration (URAC) in 2018 represented 100% of majors offered at the college.
Drinko Center Mission Statement
The Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research seeks to promote and provide students with a variety of research, scholarly, and creative opportunities in all academic disciplines. The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) defines undergraduate research as a mentored investigation or creative inquiry conducted by undergraduates that seeks to make a scholarly or artistic contribution to knowledge. At Westminster College, the Drinko Center for Undergraduate Research supports and encourages the undertaking of research and creative works by students at any academic level and in any of the many disciplines represented by our liberal arts mission. This support includes providing instructive resources for students interested in beginning or furthering their training and education through research; financial support for the undertaking and dissemination of academic scholarship by our undergraduates; and organization of the Undergraduate Research and Arts Celebration (URAC), a day-long event showcasing the collaborative work between Westminster faculty and students through, oral presentations, video productions, art exhibitions, poetry readings, live musical performances, and more.
Research Professions Advisory Committee (ResPAC)
In addition to the services of the Drinko Center, the professional development of students participating in research and those seeking careers in research related fields is supported by the Research Professions Advisory Committee. The committee is a faculty-run committee comprised of representatives from the departments of Biology, Chemistry and Math and Computer Science. The ResPAC committee organizes regular workshops which provide students with information about career and internship opportunities, help them to find and apply for appropriate graduate programs and help them prepare for standardized tests.