Director's Office

CUR Announcement October 2007

Received 10/23/2007:

Deadline to Submit Workshop Session Proposals for 2008 CUR National Conference - November 1, 2007

Deadline to Submit Nominations for CUR Councilor - November 1, 2007

Deadline to Submit Abstracts for the 2008 Posters on the Hill Event - November 15, 2007

Deadline to Apply for the Workshop on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research, South Region at the University of Texas, El Paso - December 7, 2007

Deadline to Submit Nominations for CUR Officers - December 15, 2007 ** First Call **

Detailed Call Information:

Workshop and Interactive Session Proposals for 2008 CUR National Conference:

CUR is now accepting proposals for Workshops, Interactive Sessions, and Poster Presentations for the 2008 CUR National Conference to be held at the College of Saint Benedict, in Saint Joseph, Minnesota. The theme is "Frontiers and Challenges in Undergraduate Research". A description of the theme, as well as sub themes are available by visiting the conference web page at http://www.cur.org/conferences/CSB/CUR08NatConf.asp

Deadline for submissions for Workshops and Interactive sessions is November 1, 2007. For Poster Presentations, the deadline is February 1, 2008.

Nominations for CUR Councilor:

Divisional councilors serve CUR through the projects and initiatives of their division. The combined work of these individuals contributes to the national scope of undergraduate research. They play a key role in ensuring that our purpose and goals are fulfilled.

Elections for CUR Councilors will be held in January 2008 for the three-year term of Councilor from 2008-2011. Nominations will be accepted until November 1st, 2007. Nominees must be CUR individual members. To nominate yourself or another individual, please contact Robin Potochnik, at robin@cur.org. (Please note the change in contact.) Include the nominees name, email, institution, and division in the nomination.

Abstract Submissions for 2008 Posters on the Hill:

It is increasingly important that the scientific community works to ensure that those in the U.S. Congress who provide funding for science and science education have a clear understanding of the programs they fund and why these programs are important. Undergraduate research must be among those programs that members of Congress understand to ensure it's continued support.

Nothing more effectively demonstrates the value of undergraduate research than the words and stories of the student participants themselves. In the Spring of 2008, CUR will host its 12th annual Posters on the Hill, an undergraduate poster session on Capitol Hill that helps members of Congress understand the importance of undergraduate research by talking directly with the students whom these programs impact.

CUR is calling for students to submit an abstract of their research that represents any of CUR's divisions (Biology, Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematics/Computer Science, Physics/Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences). We are also accepting abstracts in the Humanities. In honor of International Polar Year, the Council on Undergraduate Research would like to encourage the submission of research abstracts for Posters on the Hill that involve polar research.

Posters on the Hill is tentatively scheduled for April 30, 2008 in Washington, D.C. The deadline for submitting applications is November 15, 2007. More information and the application are available at: http://www.cur.org/postersession.html. <http://www.cur.org/postersession.html>

Workshop on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research, South Region at the University of Texas, El Paso

The application for the CUR Regional Workshop Program on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research is now available online at http://www.cur.org/grants/ccliworkshops.asp

The Council on Undergraduate Research has received a grant from in the amount of $499,066 from the National Science Foundation. The program includes eight regional workshops over the next two years and follow-up activities for institutions that participate in the regional workshops. The purpose of the grant is to assist campuses in making institution-level changes to establish, formalize and expand undergraduate research opportunities. These workshops will be directed toward campuses that have not yet institutionalized undergraduate research. Workshop sites have been identified and dates have been confirmed. The application and further information are available on the regional workshop website at http://www.cur.org/ccli.html

CUR Officer Nominations:

The CUR Nominations Committee is issuing a call for nominations for the offices of President-Elect and Secretary. The Committee is proceeding under the assumption that CUR's General Council will approve the proposed changes to language in the Constitution & By-Laws that will facilitate contested officer elections, i.e., elections with more than one candidate for each position. Even if the changes are not approved, contested elections may still occur under the old language, and it is the appropriate time of the year to issue this call.

Before nominating an individual (or yourself), please read the following descriptions of the general qualifications and expectations for each position. Nominations (or self-nominations) should be sent by e-mail to CUR Nominations Committee Chair, Mike Tannenbaum ( Mike.Tannenbaum@marist.edu) and should include a short biographical statement that outlines the candidate's interest in, and qualifications for, the position. Nominations will close on December 15, 2007, after which all nominees will be vetted by a Nominations Vetting Committee (if the new constitutional language is approved) or by the Nominations Committee, if the new language is not approved. Every effort will be made to bring the names of at least two candidates for each position to the General Council for a contested election in Spring 2008. The Committee currently plans to hold these elections electronically between March 1-April 1, 2008. All names of potential candidates will be kept confidential, with only the names of those brought forward to the membership as nominees being revealed.

Eligibility: Candidates for both positions must be members in good standing of CUR, and must remain so throughout their terms (2 years for Secretary and 3 years for the president elect- one year each as President-Elect, President, and Past-President). In addition to attending the annual business meeting each June, all officers are expected to attend Executive Board meetings just prior to the June business meeting and once in mid-winter. If the new constitutional language passes, then candidates may NOT be members of the Nominations Committee or the Nominations Vetting Committee (the membership of which is still to be determined).

Candidates for Secretary must be detail-oriented, good listeners and writers, well-organized, and very responsive to requests for information. Experience as a Division Chair or Secretary (or service in similar roles at one's home institution or in another organization) is preferred, but not required. The term for the new Secretary starts at the conclusion of the 2008 Business Meeting and ends at the conclusion of the 2010 Business Meeting.

Candidates for President-Elect should be CUR veterans with a firm understanding of, and experience with, the operation of the organization and the Council. Candidates should be familiar with current Council business and should have served at least one three-year term as a councilor, though two terms is preferable. Candidates should have prior service as a Division Chair, as an Officer on the Executive Board, or have had other leadership roles within CUR that have provided a broad perspective on the organization. Well-developed public speaking ability is ideal, given the role the President may be asked to fulfill. The successful candidate will serve as President-Elect in 2009-09, President in 2009-10, and Immediate Past President in 2010-11, with terms starting and ending at the conclusion of the annual business meeting.

The CUR Nominations Committee appreciates your taking time to consider which individuals might provide leadership to CUR, and thank you for your service to CUR.

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