Research funding
Research funding RECOMMENDATION ONE
The federal government should increase funding to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by creating an Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) allocation in their budget. NSERC policy states, “Undergraduate student participation in finalyear projects and summer projects is an important first phase in research training and plays a major role in encouraging excellent students to pursue research careers”. NSERC offers a strong model, providing “Undergraduate Student Research Awards” which are allocated among universities, advertised, applied for and selected within departments. Queen’s University, for example, receives 85-90 awards yearly. This is a fantastic model on which SSHRC and CIHR can build. The model can address the high number of social science, humanities and health students that are missing out on similar educational opportunities. Opportunities for undergraduates in fields covered by SSHRC and CIHR are much more limited. SSHRC targeted increasing undergraduate opportunities this year with their “Storytellers” contest — challenging students to effectively communicate the impacts of SSHRC-funded research on the lives of Canadians. While a good initiative, it provides no hands on research experience. CIHR has included in its funding mandate a commitment to equitable access to health research funds, which includes career stage as a measurable. UCRU believes that investing in more undergraduate research opportunities would allow CIHR to meet the career stage criteria of their equitable access mandate. David Lopatto from Grinnell College outlines the essential features of research as an opportunity that allows the researcher to prepare by reading relevant literature; receive support from a mentor and a learning community; the chance to design the research; experience working independently; and once the work is completed they should have an opportunity for professional quality communication. Lopatto’s findings exhibit the chance to diversify how undergraduates engage in research, while achieving desired outcomes and increase the channels of service delivery.
Our Mission: To advocate to the Federal Government of Canada for an affordable, inclusive, and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for research through a coalition of student associations from U15 universitities.
Antonio Brieva, UCRU Chair [email protected] (519) 888-4567 x32478
In order for social science, humanities, and health undergraduate students to obtain the same benefits as undergraduate students in science and engineering, SSHRC and CIHR must offer targeted undergraduate funding. In 2009-2010 NSERC allotted $18,579,024 directly to undergraduate funding — setting the foundation to produce outstanding, future researchers. The Benefits of Undergraduate Research : The Student’s Perspective, Penn State, Division of Undergraduate Studies, last modified May 1 2013, https://dus.psu.edu/mentor/2013/05/undergraduate-research-studentsperspective/ 15
Canada’s Fundamental Science Review. Investing in Canada’s Future: Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research, 2017, p.62 http://www.sciencereview.ca/eic/site/059.nsf/vwapj/ScienceReview_ April2017-rv.pdf/$file/ScienceReview_April2017-rv.pdf 16
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, The Storytellers, Government of Canada. Last modified October 4 2017, http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/storytellers-jai_une_histoire_a_raconter/ index-eng.aspx 18 Canadian Institute of Health Research, Equitable access to health research funding. Last modified August 15 2017, http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/50068.html 19 Lopatto, David, “The Essential Features of Undegraduate Research”, Council of Undergraduate Research Quarterly (2003), 139-142, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8b47/f05fecb485b85b17d9c371607a3422a822de.pdf 20 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Evaluation of NSERC’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards, Final Evaluation Report. 2012. http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/Reports-Rapports/USRAFR_e.pdf 17
RECOMMENDATION TWO
The federal government should mandate Tri-Councils to track data pertaining to the number of undergraduate student applications, field of study, number of successful undergraduate student funding applications and dollar value for each successful application. The tracking of this data should mirror the NSERC model of data collection, and should be released on an annual basis. SSHRC is clearly lacking an undergraduate outreach mechanism to foster undergraduate research. Unlike NSERC, it is difficult to find any information about the type of funds or total value of awards given to undergraduate opportunities offered by either of these funding agencies. Even with NSERC, the most recent data only outlines USRA usage from 2012 and only reports total funding awarded for the 2009-2010 year. If we are not able to track the research dollars dedicated to undergraduate research opportunities, we cannot identify gaps that exist. NSERC has published the amount of money allotted to undergraduate research programs at each school every year, from 2001-2010, but nothing since then. This information makes clear which universities (i.e. University of Toronto) that have received large amounts of undergraduate funding and allows inter-institutional comparisons. As a result, we ask that SSHRC and CIHR adopt the NSERC model of data collection, as well as follow NSERC’s practice of releasing this information on an annual basis. Our Mission: To advocate to the Federal Government of Canada for an affordable, inclusive, and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for research through a coalition of student associations from U15 universitities.
Antonio Brieva, UCRU Chair [email protected] (519) 888-4567 x32478
Many tri-council grant applications have a mandatory student training section, which requires some funds be used to train students in conducting research. The training allows some of the funding to be directed to student research assistant salaries. These positions can be filled by both graduate and undergraduate students. However, many U15 institutions house large and prestigious graduate programs — disproportionately limiting the number of opportunities available to undergraduate students. At Queen’s University, for example, research services estimates that out of all SSHRC grants received, graduate students make up approximately 85 per cent of the student trainees included in these research projects. At schools that do not have large graduate programs, there is a greater likelihood that undergraduates may fill these positions, but it is plausible that at most U15 universities, statistics similar to those of Queen’s would apply. However, we have no data about undergraduate student trainees at other universities across Canada to verify the estimate above. As result, it illustrates the need to track undergraduate participation in Tri-Council funded research projects. Until we obtain this information, we cannot create metrics for success
$
NSERC, Evaluation of NSERC’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards, Final Evaluation Report, NSERC Evaluation Division, (2012) http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/Reports-Rapports/USRAFR_e.pdf 21
NSERC, 2016 Competition Statistics Postgraduate Scholarships, Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships Programs, NSERC (2016) http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/ Students-Etudiants/2016StatsScholarships_e.pdf 22
Our Mission: To advocate to the Federal Government of Canada for an affordable, inclusive, and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for research through a coalition of student associations from U15 universitities.
Antonio Brieva, UCRU Chair [email protected] (519) 888-4567 x32478
The federal government should increase funding to the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) by creating an Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA) allocation in their budget. NSERC policy states, “Undergraduate student participation in finalyear projects and summer projects is an important first phase in research training and plays a major role in encouraging excellent students to pursue research careers”. NSERC offers a strong model, providing “Undergraduate Student Research Awards” which are allocated among universities, advertised, applied for and selected within departments. Queen’s University, for example, receives 85-90 awards yearly. This is a fantastic model on which SSHRC and CIHR can build. The model can address the high number of social science, humanities and health students that are missing out on similar educational opportunities. Opportunities for undergraduates in fields covered by SSHRC and CIHR are much more limited. SSHRC targeted increasing undergraduate opportunities this year with their “Storytellers” contest — challenging students to effectively communicate the impacts of SSHRC-funded research on the lives of Canadians. While a good initiative, it provides no hands on research experience. CIHR has included in its funding mandate a commitment to equitable access to health research funds, which includes career stage as a measurable. UCRU believes that investing in more undergraduate research opportunities would allow CIHR to meet the career stage criteria of their equitable access mandate. David Lopatto from Grinnell College outlines the essential features of research as an opportunity that allows the researcher to prepare by reading relevant literature; receive support from a mentor and a learning community; the chance to design the research; experience working independently; and once the work is completed they should have an opportunity for professional quality communication. Lopatto’s findings exhibit the chance to diversify how undergraduates engage in research, while achieving desired outcomes and increase the channels of service delivery.
Our Mission: To advocate to the Federal Government of Canada for an affordable, inclusive, and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for research through a coalition of student associations from U15 universitities.
Antonio Brieva, UCRU Chair [email protected] (519) 888-4567 x32478
In order for social science, humanities, and health undergraduate students to obtain the same benefits as undergraduate students in science and engineering, SSHRC and CIHR must offer targeted undergraduate funding. In 2009-2010 NSERC allotted $18,579,024 directly to undergraduate funding — setting the foundation to produce outstanding, future researchers. The Benefits of Undergraduate Research : The Student’s Perspective, Penn State, Division of Undergraduate Studies, last modified May 1 2013, https://dus.psu.edu/mentor/2013/05/undergraduate-research-studentsperspective/ 15
Canada’s Fundamental Science Review. Investing in Canada’s Future: Strengthening the Foundations of Canadian Research, 2017, p.62 http://www.sciencereview.ca/eic/site/059.nsf/vwapj/ScienceReview_ April2017-rv.pdf/$file/ScienceReview_April2017-rv.pdf 16
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, The Storytellers, Government of Canada. Last modified October 4 2017, http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/society-societe/storytellers-jai_une_histoire_a_raconter/ index-eng.aspx 18 Canadian Institute of Health Research, Equitable access to health research funding. Last modified August 15 2017, http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/50068.html 19 Lopatto, David, “The Essential Features of Undegraduate Research”, Council of Undergraduate Research Quarterly (2003), 139-142, https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/8b47/f05fecb485b85b17d9c371607a3422a822de.pdf 20 Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Evaluation of NSERC’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards, Final Evaluation Report. 2012. http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/Reports-Rapports/USRAFR_e.pdf 17
RECOMMENDATION TWO
The federal government should mandate Tri-Councils to track data pertaining to the number of undergraduate student applications, field of study, number of successful undergraduate student funding applications and dollar value for each successful application. The tracking of this data should mirror the NSERC model of data collection, and should be released on an annual basis. SSHRC is clearly lacking an undergraduate outreach mechanism to foster undergraduate research. Unlike NSERC, it is difficult to find any information about the type of funds or total value of awards given to undergraduate opportunities offered by either of these funding agencies. Even with NSERC, the most recent data only outlines USRA usage from 2012 and only reports total funding awarded for the 2009-2010 year. If we are not able to track the research dollars dedicated to undergraduate research opportunities, we cannot identify gaps that exist. NSERC has published the amount of money allotted to undergraduate research programs at each school every year, from 2001-2010, but nothing since then. This information makes clear which universities (i.e. University of Toronto) that have received large amounts of undergraduate funding and allows inter-institutional comparisons. As a result, we ask that SSHRC and CIHR adopt the NSERC model of data collection, as well as follow NSERC’s practice of releasing this information on an annual basis. Our Mission: To advocate to the Federal Government of Canada for an affordable, inclusive, and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for research through a coalition of student associations from U15 universitities.
Antonio Brieva, UCRU Chair [email protected] (519) 888-4567 x32478
Many tri-council grant applications have a mandatory student training section, which requires some funds be used to train students in conducting research. The training allows some of the funding to be directed to student research assistant salaries. These positions can be filled by both graduate and undergraduate students. However, many U15 institutions house large and prestigious graduate programs — disproportionately limiting the number of opportunities available to undergraduate students. At Queen’s University, for example, research services estimates that out of all SSHRC grants received, graduate students make up approximately 85 per cent of the student trainees included in these research projects. At schools that do not have large graduate programs, there is a greater likelihood that undergraduates may fill these positions, but it is plausible that at most U15 universities, statistics similar to those of Queen’s would apply. However, we have no data about undergraduate student trainees at other universities across Canada to verify the estimate above. As result, it illustrates the need to track undergraduate participation in Tri-Council funded research projects. Until we obtain this information, we cannot create metrics for success
$
NSERC, Evaluation of NSERC’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards, Final Evaluation Report, NSERC Evaluation Division, (2012) http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/Reports-Rapports/USRAFR_e.pdf 21
NSERC, 2016 Competition Statistics Postgraduate Scholarships, Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarships, and Postdoctoral Fellowships Programs, NSERC (2016) http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/_doc/ Students-Etudiants/2016StatsScholarships_e.pdf 22
Our Mission: To advocate to the Federal Government of Canada for an affordable, inclusive, and high-calibre undergraduate university education with opportunities for research through a coalition of student associations from U15 universitities.
Antonio Brieva, UCRU Chair [email protected] (519) 888-4567 x32478
