First-Year Scholars Program

The goal of this program is to introduce first-year students to the undergraduate research experience. We encourage students to apply for projects they find interesting, regardless of whether the projects are in their majors.

The students will serve as apprentices and will be integrated into the research programs of their Primary Investigator (PI), learning from both the PI and peers. This program helps students gain early research experience, which sets them on a path for future success. Research shows that early engagement in research is associated with positive outcomes, such as improved retention, progression, and graduation rates (Nagda et al., 1998; Schneider et al., 2015) and enrollment in graduate school (Hathaway et al., 2002). The Office of Undergraduate Research is pleased to support early involvement in undergraduate research.

• Funding Details
  • First-Year Scholars receive up to $1,000 in the Fall and up to $1,000 in the Spring. They are expected to work on the research project for about 5-10 hours per week. 
  • Primary Investigators (PIs) can receive up to $1,000 per student, for up to 5 students (the number of First-Year Scholars is not guaranteed). These funds must be used to support the First-Year Scholar Program project. PIs will create a budget for their project in the application. Please contact us at our@kennesaw.edu with questions regarding allowable expenses. These funds must be spent by the end of December unless the proposal includes funding for a conference presentation in the Spring. Funding that cannot be used for the purposes described in the application will be forfeited.
• Recruitment of Primary Investigators (PIs)
  • Full-time KSU faculty members and postdoctoral researchers who are interested in mentoring a first-year student are eligible to apply. 
  • Mentors may only submit one project as the Primary Investigator (PI).
  • Selection is competitive; you will be notified if you have been selected within two weeks of the deadline. 
  • PI funding will become available after the students have been selected. 
• How are projects selected for inclusion in the First-Year Scholars Program?

  The following criteria are used to evaluate proposals for inclusion in the First-Year Scholars Program: 

  1. The PI has a strong track record of mentoring undergraduate researchers (or strong interest if new to KSU or new to undergraduate research mentoring)
  2. The PI has a productive research program (e.g., strong publication record, external funding, strong conference participation)
  3. The proposed project meets the definition of undergraduate research as defined by the Council on Undergraduate Research
  4. Consideration will be given to feedback from end-of-year reports received by the Office of Undergraduate Research
  5. Consideration will be given to use of prior awarded funds and their deliverables from the Office of Undergraduate Research
• Recruitment of Students 
  • Students interested in applying should complete the form here. Before starting on the form, make sure you know the name of the project(s) you'd like to apply to. The listing of projects can be found here. and various social media platforms.
  • Advertisement will occur through direct emails, Student Inform, and various social media platforms.
  • To help you prepare for the application, the questions you will be asked in the application portal are listed below:
    
    1. Your name
    2. Your KSU email address
    3. Your major
    4. Title of the project you are applying for (this will be a drop-down menu with each project listed). You are encouraged to apply for multiple projects if you want, but you will need to complete this form separately for each project. Please note that you will only be permitted to work on one (1) project as part of the First-Year Scholars Program.
    5. Relevant Prior Experience (500 words max). For example: involvement in clubs, work experience related to this project, internships, previous research experiences [even in a different discipline], coursework related to the project, coursework related to research methodology, coursework on statistics/data analysis, etc.
    6. Statement of Interest (500 words max). For example: Why are you interested in this project? How do you see this project influencing your college career? What are your career aspirations? We encourage you to tailor this section to the project to which you are applying.
• Requirements for Students
  • Students must be in their first year of college.
  • Students must be enrolled at KSU with fewer than 30 transfer credits (not including AP and dual enrollment credits).
  • To remain in the First-Year Scholars Program in the Spring, students must be enrolled in classes and in good academic standing. Student participation in the Spring is at the discretion of the PI and the Office of Undergraduate Research.
  • To receive stipend payments each semester, students in the First-Year Scholars Program are expected to participate in mandatory orientation meetings, as well as attend events and/or workshops hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research and Peer Mentors. Requirements vary for each semester, and can be found here.
  • The project will be presented at the Symposium of Student Scholars in April.
    • First-year scholars will submit their Symposium abstract in March.
      • They will provide a draft of their presentation to the peer mentors by February 26, 2024.
      • Peer Mentors will provide feedback and return to each first-year scholar by March 6, 2024.
  • Progress Reports and end of semester evaluation forms will be submitted on time to the Office of Undergraduate Research.
  • Students who would like more information or training about undergraduate research topics are encouraged to register for workshops, read the online resources, and watch the online videos. These activities are optional, although mentors may require their students to engage in these activities. 

  Students who drop out of the program may not be eligible for future funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research. Please email our@kennesaw.edu for more information.

• Requirements and Guidelines for Primary Investigators (PIs)

  Thank you for your interest in serving as a mentor to a first-year student! We appreciate your dedication to student engagement. We hope that you and your student(s) have an amazing year and that the research partnership continues after this first year.

  Below are a few guidelines regarding mentoring First-Year Scholars:

  • Remember that they are in their first year – be nice! :)
  • Keep expectations reasonable (the students likely have no background in research)
  • Integrate them into existing work and with other team members if applicable (e.g., other faculty mentors on the project, postdocs, grad students, other undergrad researchers)
  • Aim for presentations/publications as appropriate
  • PIs are not obligated to work with their first-year scholars past May, but we encourage you to continue working with them if the experience has been positive

  As a mentor to a First-Year Scholar, you will be responsible for ensuring that each student in the program:

  • works on the project for an average of 5-10 hrs/week
  • presents at the Symposium of Student Scholars in April

  You will also be required to attend mandatory orientation sessions, complete progress reports, and  submit end of semester evaluation forms. If you do not complete these forms, you may not be eligible for future funding from the Office of Undergraduate Research - please email our@kennesaw.edu if you have any questions. 

• Assessment
  • OUR will coordinate with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to track Retention, Progression, and Graduation (RPG) rates for participating students.
  • Mentors and first-year scholars will be surveyed regarding impact on research productivity.
• Previous Projects

  To view previous projects, please click on the links below:

  • 2019-2020
  • 2020-2021
  • 2021-2022
  • 2022-2023
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
  • I have served as a First-Year Scholar mentor before. Am I eligible to participate again?

    Yes! We encourage PIs to continue participation in the program.

  • What happens if I'm a PI and my project doesn't get any student applications?

    Unfortunately, PIs cannot participate in the program if their project does not receive any student applications. We encourage you to be proactive in recruiting students. Consider visiting introductory classes in your department to talk to them about the program and your project specifically.

  • How do I know if I'm eligible to participate as a student?

    Students must be in their first year of college at KSU with fewer than 30 transfer credits (not including AP and dual enrollment credits). To remain in the First-Year Scholars Program in the Spring, students must be in good academic standing. Student participation in the Spring is at the discretion of the PI and the Office of Undergraduate Research.

  • Are students permitted to apply for more than one project?

    Yes! We encourage students to apply for as many projects as they are interested in. This is often a good way to increase your odds of being chosen for at least one of the projects. You will need to complete a separate application form for each project.

  • Can students apply for projects outside of their major?

    Definitely! We encourage students to branch out and participate in whatever projects interest them. Do not feel constrained by your home college/department; there might be a perfect fit for you elsewhere.

  • How much time will I work as a First-Year Scholar?

    Students work on average 5-10 hours per week, although you should ask your PI for more specifics.

  • If the project goes well and the student and PI would like to continue working together into the student's second year, is there support for that? 

    Some faculty/student pairings can participate in the Sophomore Scholars Program, which has limited funding. If the student and PI are not part of that program but would like to continue to work together in the student's second year, there are options:

    • Students can take Directed Study/Directed Methods (or the departmental equivalent)
    • Students can apply for URCA funding to subsidize undergraduate research in the sophomore, junior, and senior years
• References
  • Hathaway, R. S., Nagda, B. A., & Gregerman, S. R. (2002). The relationship of undergraduate research participation to graduate and professional education pursuit: An empirical study. Journal of College Student Development, 43, 614-631.
  • Nagda, B. A., Gregerman, S. R., Jonides, J., von Hippel, W., & Lerner, J. S. (1998). Undergraduate student-faculty research partnerships affect student retention. The Review of Higher Education, 22, 55-72.
  • Schneider, K. R., Bickel, A., & Morrison-Shetlar, A. (2015). Planning and implementing a comprehensive student-centered research program for first-year STEM undergraduates. Journal of College Science Teaching, 44(3), 37-43.