Student Research and Service Learning 

Washington and Lee University offers many unique opportunities for students to engage their education beyond the classroom.

R. E. Lee Undergraduate Research Program

Under this distinctive program, funds are available to encourage well-qualified and strongly motivated students to become familiar with research tools, techniques, and methodology.  Participation is an enriching and broadening experience.  It is particularly valuable to students who intend to pursue graduate work, for they are introduced to the kind of research activities they will encounter at the graduate level.

To learn more about this program and its scholars, visit R. E. Lee Undergraduate Research Program.

Student Summer Independent Research or Creative Work

Developed as a complement to W&L's established R.E. Lee Scholars program, which promotes research between students and faculty during the summer, the SSIR grants underwrite students on independent research and creative projects of their own, with faculty mentoring and supervision.

"The R.E. Lee Scholars program supports collaborative research--where students participate in and contribute to the research projects of their faculty mentors," said Hank Dobin, dean of the College at W&L. "That model works well in the sciences, but less well in the humanities and arts, where scholarly and creative projects tend to be solo efforts. Plus we wanted to encourage students who have developed their own interests and original projects by supporting their research during the summer before their senior year. We believe these opportunities will result in better and more satisfying honors thesis experiences."

The grants--up to $3100 each for four to ten weeks of work--cover travel and living expenses, as well as other costs associated with the recipients' projects. The program is funded by the College, the Williams School and the President's Office.

In this initial pilot year, the SSIR grants were awarded to rising seniors intending to pursue honors theses next year. The recipients were chosen from a pool of applicants by members of the College Council, based on the strength and originality of their proposed projects and the need for financial assistance to fund travel and other research-related expenses.
 

To view a list of this year's winners click here.
 

The Shepherd Poverty Program

This program of study and service learning supplements any undergraduate major or course of study in the law school.  It offers courses at the introductory and advanced levels, volunteer opportunities in the Rockbridge County area, subsidized summer service-learning projects working with impoverished people and communities, and a variety of lectures and seminars presented by national and international visitors.  

To learn more about the program's goals, visit The Shepherd Poverty Program.   

Leyburn Scholars Program in Anthropology

The Leyburn's program is designed to further study of and research in anthropology by enabling the University to provide stipends supporting student research during both the academic year and summer. Projects are structured to afford students the opportunity to develop skills in research design, data collection, field work, analysis and report preparation. All Washington and Lee undergraduates and alumni working in anthropology are eligible to compete for the stipends.

To learn more about the program, visit Leyburn Scholars Program or contact Professor John McDaniel.

Community-Academic Research Effort (CARE)

CARE is an example of community based research. CARE strives to employ campus resources to address community issues related to disadvantaged populations in the Lexington-Rockbridge area and to offer students relevant learning experiences. CARE provides free research and analytical study to community agencies. Projects are advised by trained researchers (faculty) and executed by students. CARE partners the campus and community in a commitment to perform collaborative participatory research, while meeting community-identified needs and honing student skills. Research may be performed as a component of a University course, an independent study project, or a co-curricular project organized by a student, a group of students, or a student organization. Accepted projects are significant and relevant to the community, thoughtfully, soundly, and ethically designed, and of educational value to faculty and student researchers implementing the project.

If interested in submitting a proposal, serving as a faculty supervisor, integrating research as a course component, or considering a research project for independent study (as a student), contact Aubrey Shinofield, Service-Learning Coordinator at (540) 458-8131 or ashinofield@wlu.edu. Visit http://care.wlu.edu for more information.

Science, Society, and the Arts: An Undergraduate Research Conference

Science, Society, and the Arts is a multi-disciplinary conference involving Washington and Lee Undergraduates in the presentation of their academic achievements before an audience of their peers and the undergraduate faculty. Conference participants may make oral presentations of research papers on traditional academic-conference-style panels, deliver research results in poster sessions, or present creative work. Students may also choose to participate in colloquia organized around common readings proposed by interested students and faculty.

To learn more about this conference, planned for November 13, 2004 on the Washington and Lee University campus, visit this link at http://ssa.wlu.edu/.

The Global Stewardship Program

As part of Washington and Lee’s continued efforts in international education, the Global Stewardship Program allows students and faculty to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of the world within a global context. The core of the program--global stewardship--is defined as a "commitment to the responsible management of world resources (natural, human, and economic) through informed leadership."

Under the sponsorship of the Global Stewardship Program, five W&L students spent eight-weeks this summer participating in a full-time, international internship experience that each sought out and proposed in relation to his or her global interests. Beth Creasy dealt with eco-certification for shade grown coffee at the Center for Field Studies in Costa Rica under the tutelage of Dr. Juan Aguirre. Adrienne Fleurke assisted a medical missionary team in Bolivia . In London Aniesa Bosch offered advice on children’s texts about the Middle-East for Stacey International Publishing. Patrick Hastings conducted research while employed at the Shakespeare and Company Bookstore in Paris . And Dun Grover taught English and Science in Ghana . Hear more about their stories.

National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR)

...the mission of the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research (NCUR®) is to promote undergraduate research scholarship and creative activity done in partnership with faculty or other mentors as a vital component of higher education....    To learn more about NCUR, visit http://www.ncur.org/ 

Past Conferences:

To learn more about the 2005 conference co-sponsored with VMI, visit the 2005 NCUR conference page.

For a brief introduction to the co-sponsored conference click here.

For information about the 2004 conference in Indianapolis (with abstract submission deadline) visit
http://ncur.cs.iupui.edu/ (site may no longer be accessible).

For the official site for the 2003 conference at the University of Utah, visit
http://conferences.utah.edu/ncur2003/index2.html (site may no longer be accessible).

For the official site for the 2002 conference at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater visit http://www.uww.edu/ncur2002/