Berry Summer Thesis Institute

The Berry Summer Thesis Institute is a new program planned to begin in the summer 2012. The Institute will engage a cohort of 10 mid-career Honors students (between sophomore and junior year) from different disciplines/majors in a 10-week on-campus program that provides the students with intensive disciplinary research and scholarship opportunities, academic Honors credit, professional development workshops, and public presentation forums.

Program Goals and Outcomes

The projected outcomes of this program include the following:

  • Attract more of the top performing students from all majors to undergraduate research by exposing them to both the need for research and the intellectual rewards of it.
  • Provide additional training and support for students in the research and writing process.
  • Introduce students to scholarly research in their sophomore year rather than their junior year.
  • Position more students for prestigious national fellowships.
  • Result in additional opportunities for students to publish Honors thesis research, and present at national and international conferences.
  • Further enrich the culture, climate and intellectual and creative environment supporting undergraduate research on campus.
  • Enhance the sense of community that exists among undergraduate researchers.

Summer Thesis Fellows Benefits

The Berry Summer Thesis Institute will engage high-performing mid-career undergraduate Honors students in research/scholarship in their major under the guidance of a faculty mentor (~25 hours per week). The intent is that the research project developed during this 10-week period will lead to the development of an Honors thesis project.

Berry Summer Thesis Fellows will:

  • Enroll in a multidisciplinary, team-taught Berry Summer Thesis Fellows Course. The course will involve an experiential or service-learning component, leadership skill development and a 10-week group project.
  • Attend a series of workshops offered by the UHP Associate Director of National Scholarship Advising to learn about prestigious fellowship and scholarship opportunities, how to prepare personal statements, and begin to prepare fellowship applications.

Berry Thesis Fellows

Students who successfully complete the Berry Summer Thesis Institute and commit to long-term thesis research may apply to become Berry Thesis Fellows. In addition to doing thesis projects, Berry Thesis Fellows agree to take leadership roles in the annual Honors Students Symposium, support new cohorts of the Berry Summer Thesis Institute, and apply for prestigious national scholarships and fellowships. Thesis fellows will also receive upper level Junior/Senior scholarships ($3000/year) and be eligible for a second round of Honors thesis funding.

Eligibility

Third semester (Sophomore) Honors students in good standing with a cumulative 3.75 GPA and a strong record of leadership are eligible to be nominated and apply.

Faculty Nominations

Eligible students are nominated by a faculty mentor willing to guide their research over the 10-week summer program and potential Honors thesis. Faculty mentors should submit the names of potential Thesis Fellows to the University Honors Program by December 9, 2011.

Applications

Nominated students who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited by the UHP to submit a formal proposal (due February 24, 2012). Application materials include:

Cover page

One-page letter describing:

  • Achievements, leadership, service, etc. while at the University of Dayton
  • Short-term goals and long-term career plans
  • Motivation for applying to participate in the Berry Summer Thesis Institute / Berry Thesis Fellows Program

Brief description of the potential area of summer research (500 words)

Letter of recommendation from faculty mentor who nominated you 

All faculty-nominated student application materials are due to the UHP by 5:00 pm on February 24, 2012.

A committee comprised of the UHP Director, Associate Director for Honors thesis Research, Associate Director for National Scholarship Advising, and faculty representatives from the College of Arts and Sciences (1 from the arts/humanities, 1 from the natural/social sciences), School of Education, School of Business, and the School of Engineering will evaluate applications. The 10 Summer Thesis Fellows will be informed of the decision the week of March 18, 2012. Names will be announced formally at the 2012 Honors Students Symposium on March 23, 2012.

Budget Request

DUE APRIL 1, 2012 to the University Honors Program

Students selected as Berry Summer Thesis Fellows should submit an itemized budget (up to $1500) and justification for summer thesis research expenses for summer 2012. The budget requests will be reviewed and funding levels determined in April 2012.

UHP Contact

Please direct your questions to: 

Dr. Carissa Krane
Associate Director for Honors Thesis Research
University Honors Program
Carissa.Krane@notes.udayton.edu
937.229.4278
125 Alumni Hall