The Mentored Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors (MURACE) program connects teaching excellence with learning beyond the classroom in providing unique undergraduate research experiences for students. The campus follows the best practices outlined in the newly released Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research (COEUR) 2.0 by the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) in providing support for highly effective undergraduate research contexts.
MURACE adopts and adheres to the CUR definition of undergraduate research as "an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that makes an original, intellectual, or creative contribution to the discipline(s)." It is committed to supporting all students and faculty mentors in their research and creative activities. MURACE continues to improve and encourage participation in undergraduate research and creative endeavors across the university.
GCSU has developed a system to track students’ participation in undergraduate research and creative endeavors. The numbers are updated annually. In Fall 2025, a new assessment process is being implemented. MURACE is developing an assessment instrument to measure students’ learning outcomes based on AAC&U high impact practices in six core competency areas, including critical thinking, written communication, oral communication, information literacy, problem solving and integrative learning. A pre- and post- measurement are being implemented and piloted in two departments. The goal is to expand it to more departments in the upcoming years.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
- Participation and participation numbers
- Evaluation of student learning outcomes
Baseline measure (for each KPI):
- The previous year’s participation numbers (1776 students)
- Pre-test evaluation (starting Fall 2025)
Current/most recent data (for each KPI):
- For 2024-2025, the number of participants is 1448.
- Pre- and post-measurements are currently being implemented in two departments. Data to be collected.
Goal or targets (for each KPI):
- Increase participation in MURACE
- Measure students’ learning outcomes/competencies.
As an institution the Department Chairs have been encouraged to review and examine their courses to make sure the course outcomes are captured and representative for the Undergraduate Research and Creative Endeavors. This resulted in numerous courses no longer being counted as a Creative Endeavor but better captures the courses where students are making a novel intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline. The data we are now reporting is more accurate and better captures the courses that are High Impacts Practice courses.
GCSU continues to host Research Day, showcasing student success and combining undergraduate and graduate research. A total of 530 people (440 undergraduate and graduate students and 90 GCSU faculty) participated. It represented 255 presentations in total. GCSU is expanding Research Day 2026 to include GC Journeys projects in a campus-wide celebration of student success. Classes on the day of Research Day 2026 will be reassigned to allow all students, faculty, and staff to participate.
A full-time Coordinator of Undergraduate Research was hired and started in January 2025 to facilitate and support MURACE operations.
Planning has begun for the expanding Research Day 2026. Classes on the day of the student research symposium will be reassigned so that all can attend and participate in the campus-wide celebration of student success. Discussions have begun on how to increase submissions and how to involve broader student work from other areas within GC Journeys. MURACE will partner with various campus organizations, offices, and departments in the planning and facilitation of Research Day 2026.
Additionally, MURACE will support an increased amount of travel funds for undergraduate students with conference travel funds throughout the 2025-2026 academic year. This increase is intended to increase the number of students who disseminate their original undergraduate research.
There are considerations regarding the new assessment initiative, particularly with faculty and student commitment to the pre- and post- measures. An incentive grant for departments would likely prove very helpful in alleviating these concerns.
