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Undergraduate Research Assistantships
Student Information
Resources
Contacts:
Megan GeyerUndergraduate Research [email protected]
Stephanie ZobacAssociate [email protected]
Resources:
http://oseel.niu.edu/engagedlearning/research/undergraduate_assistantships.shtml
Program Overview
• The Undergraduate Research Assistantship (URA) program supports approximately 15-20 students during the fall, spring, or summer semesters.
• Students selected for a URA are able to work under the guidance of a faculty member in a position that is directly related to their career path and/or academic discipline.
Benefits
• Students selected as a URA will develop their research skills while boosting their resume.
• Faculty have the opportunity to mentor students and gain extra help on their research projects.
• NIU benefits from developing students in ways that lead to increased retention and job opportunities after graduation.
Eligibility & Enrollment Requirements
• These opportunities are for Undergraduates Only!
• Student must be able to work in the U.S.• Preference given to students who meet
faculty profile.• Students must be enrolled in classes at the
time of the assistantship.
12 credits in the Fall or Spring 6 credits during the Summer if
international Must get special permission if these
requirements are not met
Getting Hired
• If student has been employed in the last year, they will only have to fill our a Declaration of Status form.
• If student has not been employed in the last year, s/he must make an appointment with Megan Geyer ([email protected]) ASAP to collect and fill out New Hire paperwork.
Getting Hired
1.Student contract with OSEEL2.Hiring paper work – won’t move
forward without3.URA Student-Mentor Contract (see
website)4.Student Info Sheet
Conducting Research
• Any student representing Northern Illinois University while participating in the URA program is expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects upon themselves and the University positively.
Conducting Research
• Participating in faculty-mentored research is a privilege.
• Respect the work and time your mentor is putting in by doing the same, and always behave in a professional manner.
• Ask the OSEEL staff for guidance if you are feeling lost, we are here to help!
Conducting Research
• All students are governed by the University Student Code of Conduct. – Any violation of the Code of Conduct may result in
appropriate disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, loss of privileges to participate in undergraduate research programs through OSEEL and/or restitution of funds.
Starting the Assistantship
1. Job Description • You should be provided with a job description from your faculty mentor
2. Deadlines • Discuss with your mentor deadlines, both in regards to the research and pay roll aspects of the program.
*It is highly recommended that ALL of this information is discussed at the very beginning of your employment.
An Alternate Contact
• Ask your mentor for an alternate contact.
• In the event of your mentor’s absence, who is responsible for this project?
• OSEEL would like to ensure open and timely communication throughout the pool of individuals involved in this program. By adding an alternate contact, you will help in making this possible.
Time-Sheets and Payments
• Students will be expected to work 10 hours per week for the duration of 15 weeks unless otherwise specified.
• Any difference to this set-up must be cleared with OSEEL prior to the start of the Assistantship.
• If mentor and student agree to more than 10 hours per week, student must understand that s/he will only be paid for a total of 150 hours for the entire program. This set-up may alter the number of weeks in the program.
Time-Sheets and Payments
• Students will be paid in the amount of $10.00 per hour.
• Students will be required to fill out both a program time sheet and sign off on a university time sheet in order to be paid. *Timesheets can no longer be processed without student signatures as of January 2015.
• You are responsible for monitoring your completion of hours and reporting these hours to OSEEL.
• The Office of Student Engagement & Experiential Learning will provide you with dates that paperwork will be due to our office.
Time-Sheets and Payments
Program Time Sheet NIU Time Sheet
The dates on the page correspond with one of the two date ranges.
Harry is reporting for the 1st pay period of the month.
Harry worked on 5/1/13 for 5 hours reading articles on Gillyweed and journaling.
Time-Sheets and Payments (cont.)
The Process for Program Time Sheets
Student fills out program time sheet for the appropriate
time period.
Student e-mails or delivers signed sheet
to mentor at least one day in advance of paperwork being
due to the OSEEL office.
Mentor verifies time reporting.
Mentor e-mails or delivers signed sheet
to The Office of Student Engagement
& Experiential Learning.
Time-Sheets and Payments
*Please note that e-mails will suffice as signatures. If the student e-mails to the mentor, the mentor should forward the original message from the student to OSEEL. Mentor and Student need to decide if this will be an electronic or a paper process in advance.
**It is advised that Mentors and Students save copies of the time reports and track their hours.
Time-Sheets and Payments (cont.)
The Process for NIU HR Time Sheets
OSEEL fills out the Time Sheet and has employee sign them at the beginning of the
program.
After receiving the Program Time Sheet, OSEEL will verify
the time and fill in a lump sum that reflects the number
of hours at $10/hr.
OSEEL reports the time and delivers sheet to HR.
Time-Sheets and Payments
*Please note that there is a delay in the pay periods. For example: The time a student works from 5/1/15-5/15/15, will not be paid until 5/30/15.
**Paydays are on the 15th and the last day of each month. If either of these dates falls on either a holiday or a weekend, the date changes (typically to the closest business day prior to the closure).
• Students are required to attend one Undergraduate Research Workshop as part of their professional development as a URA.
• The available workshops are found on the website: http://www.niu.edu/engagedlearning/research/urw/index.shtml
• They must register for the undergraduate workshops online.
• See Undergraduate Research Coordinator with any concerns.
Workshops
What Ifs What if you aren’t meeting expectations?• Example: not showing up to lab, being careless
in the lab or not following safety procedures, etc.
• Your mentor reserves the right to terminate you if you are not meeting expectations. They should first explain to you what you are doing wrong. If there is no improvement, they may proceed with termination.
Extension Requests
What if you have left over hours at the end of the semester?• Either the student or the faculty member can
fill out an Extension Request form.• There must be justification why the project
needs an extension.• Project can be extended up to 8 weeks. • Filling out the form is not a guarantee that the
project will be extended.
End of Program
• Two pay periods before you finish your hours, you will receive a notice email.
• Final Report Guidelines
• Final Report Coversheet
• Final Evaluation
Final Report
• Cover Sheet: Final reports will not be accepted without a cover sheet (see next page) signed by both the student and faculty supervisor.
• Narrative report (limit 5 pages) that should include the following sections
• A summary of your project and the results/outcomes
• A discussion of how effectively you accomplished your original objectives
• A discussion of the impact that the URA program had on your academic experience
Final Report
• Final reports should be written using 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
• Write for general audience• You are welcome to include other materials in
addition to your report (i.e. a published paper or final report written in conjunction with your faculty supervisor), but these should not take the place of your summary
Final Report
The report must be signed by both the student and the faculty supervisor.
If a student fails to submit a final report, he/she will not receive his/her final paycheck, and will be ineligible to apply for a future programs administered by OSEEL.
Evaluation
• URA Evaluation: Your evaluation of the URA program will be kept confidential. Please keep in mind that we may want to quote excerpts from your final report to market the program. If you prefer that your name not be used, please indicate this on the evaluation.
Final Expectations
• You will be provided with a performance review by your faculty mentor at the end of your URA.
• This may go into your file at OSEEL and would be used to make decisions about participation in other research programs
• Please plan on working with OSEEL to provide stories for the OSEEL newsletter.
• You are also expected to complete a program evaluation.
Questions?
