Projects to be displayed at 7th annual Symposium

On Friday, April 27, the Moakley Center will host the 7th annual Undergraduate Symposium. Undergraduates from a wide variety of disciplines will be showcasing faculty-mentored research, their own scholarly projects, and creative and artistic work from an independent study or a classroom project. ''We will have 90 students making presentations in the fields of Foreign Languages, English, Criminal Justice, History, Political Science, Music, Arts and Theatre and Social Work,'' said Dr. Lee Torda, Director of the Office of Undergraduate Research.

The program starts at 11:30 a.m. and will run until about 5 p.m. Refreshments will be served and all students and faculty are encouraged to attend the all day event.

While the Office of Undergraduate Research services students who are interested in working within their chosen field, Torda says that all students are encouraged to participate in the program.

''I think that this is a rare opportunity for students to work and really get the bang for the buck with their education,'' said Torda. ''While it's true that a majority of the students that participate in Undergraduate Research are Honors students, we are here for all students on campus. We even encourage the students that don't have high GPA's to take part in the program. All we ask is for the commitment.''

Torda said that she is happy that BSC President Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria is making a promise to support the Undergraduate Research program.

''The President said that he wants all students to experience the opportunity of studying abroad, to work out into the community, and to engage with Undergraduate Research,'' said Torda.

The program itself is supported by a $200,000 grant that helps pay for undergraduates to travel and participate in conferences. It also helps students pursue individual, creative and scholarly endeavors under the mentorship of a member of the college's experienced faculty.

The Undergraduate Research program is supported by various grants and program's that include the Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate research. Since the programs inception in the year 2000, the funding for the program has grown every year since then, and will continue to grow, according to Torda.

Over the summer, the department will also award students with funds that allow for upwards of $3,000 dollars to pursue a project within one's discipline. Another program allows students to travel to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research to present their work to faculty and other schools from around the country. Bridgewater State had 41 students from different majors attend this year's conference in San Francisco.

The "Undergraduate Review" is supported through this funding too. This annual journal is put out by the department of Undergraduate Research allowing students to publish their work professionally. The third edition of the publication will soon be around campus sometime at the end of the semester.

Torda said that she hopes the department will grow and allow for more students to participate in the next couple of years.

''As the School of Education expands, it is our responsibility to engage along with teacher research,'' said Torda. ''We want to engage our students along with whatever is the most 'cutting edge' in the field of Education, because it is within our history and tradition in being the first 'normal' school in Massachusetts.''

Torda said that she has never heard a student who regretted engaging in the field of undergraduate research.

''The students live in the experience,'' said Torda. ''One student once told me that the NCUR conference was a 'summer camp for nerds,' and it was, but in a really great way.''

In addition, Torda said that it is because of their experience; it has helped them get jobs and into graduate schools because of participating in the undergraduate Research program.

If anyone is interested for further information in the Undergraduate Research Program, the office is located in room 200 of the Maxwell Library. The website is www.bridgew.edu/OUR.