The Office of Undergraduate Research has invested in the assessment tool EvaluateUR. The main objectives of EvaluateUR are to complement and enhance the mentoring process of undergraduate research. The program is comprised of three assessments: pre-research, mid-research, and end of research. Automated messages are generated to keep students and mentors on track. At each assessment point, students and faculty mentors discuss their reasoning for assigning particular scores. At the end of the research project, EvaulateUR will automatically do the quick stats for student gains in communication, creativity, autonomy, overcoming obstacles, creative thinking/problem solving, inquiry, discipline knowledge, ethical conduct, and intellectual development. There are many benefits to both the student and mentor in utilizing EvaluateUR. One of the greatest strengths of EvaluateUR is that students can see growth in skills and gain confidence even in the absence of a research project that generates publishable data/deliverable. For faculty, EvaluateUR creates a more consistent and reliable assessment of their students’ academic strengths and weaknesses. This in turn allows for a greater ability to focus mentoring efforts and make the research more productive.
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