Berry Summer Thesis Institute

The Berry Summer Thesis Institute (BSTI) engages a cohort of 10 Honors students between sophomore and junior years from different disciplines/majors. During the 12-week, on-campus program the Institute provides the students with intensive disciplinary research and scholarship opportunities, professional development and leadership workshops, community service opportunities, public presentation forums and cohorted social activities. In addition, completion of the program earns the student 3 Honors credits.

The 2013 Berry Summer Thesis Institute is from May 13 through August 1.

Program Goals and Outcomes

The Berry Summer Thesis Institute is designed to:

  • Attract more top-performing students from all majors to undergraduate research, exposing them to the need for research and its intellectual rewards
  • Provide additional training and support for students in the research and writing process
  • Introduce students to scholarly research in their sophomore year
  • Position more students for prestigious national fellowships
  • Result in additional opportunities for students to publish and present Honors thesis research
  • Enrich the intellectual and creative climate for undergraduate research and faculty mentorship on campus
  • Continue to create and enhance a sense of scholarly community among undergraduate researchers

Program Components

Each Berry Summer Thesis Fellow will:

  • Be a high-performing mid-career undergraduate Honors student engaged in research and scholarship in his or her major under the guidance of a full-time UD faculty mentor for about 20 hours per week
  • Actively participate in weekly leadership and professional development workshops and activities for about 5 to 6 hours per week
  • Participate in community service with a Dayton Community Partner for about 5 to 6 hours per week
  • Orally present a Midterm Thesis Research Progress Report
  • Orally present a thesis research report at the end of the program at the Berry Summer Thesis Institute Symposium
  • Prepare and submit a preliminary and final draft of an original research manuscript or thesis topic literature review to be peer-reviewed and published in the Proceedings of the 2013 Berry Summer Thesis Institute
  • Actively participate in three Cohort Summer Book Reads and discussion
  • Coordinate one lunch event and one social activity for the cohort during the summer

Program Benefits

Berry Summer Thesis Institute Fellows will:

  • Receive full third-term on-campus housing in an Honors house with other cohort members
  • Receive $2,000 as a summer fellowship
  • Receive a thesis research fellowship, a maximum of $1,500 per year
  • Earn 3 Honors credits upon the successful completion of the BSTI requirements

Berry Thesis Fellows

A student who successfully complete the Berry Summer Thesis Institute and commits to completing an Honors thesis may apply to become a Berry Thesis Fellow.

In addition to continued thesis research, a Berry Thesis Fellow agrees to:

  • Take a leadership role in the annual Honors Students Symposium
  • Support new cohorts of the BSTI
  • Meet with the Associate Director for Prestigious Scholarships to discuss opportunities available to apply for national scholarships and fellowships

Thesis fellows will also receive junior and senior scholarships of $3,000 per year and be eligible for a second round of thesis research fellowships.

Tentative Schedule of Events

Cohort students are required to do the following:

  • Participate in the week-long orientation held the first week of the Institute
  • Attend all weekly programming, beginning in Week 2 (weekly programming is scheduled for Tuesdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm)
  • Attend the weekly cohorted lunches on Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:30 pm

Below is the tentative programming for the BSTI:

Week 1:  Orientation, Introduction to Research, Fitz Center Tour, Introduction to Community Service

Week 2:  Disciplinary Research Methods and Approaches

Week 3:  Library Research Tools and Resources Workshop; Book 1 discussion

Week 4:  Prestigious Fellowships and Scholarships

Week 5:  How to Prepare a Personal Statement

Week 6:  Midterm Research Progress Reports and Presentations

Week 7:  Resume and Career Center Resources; Book 2 discussion

Week 8:  July 4 Recess (no Institute programming)

Week 9:  Draft of research paper due; Peer Review

Week 10:  Graduate School Workshop; Book 3 discussion

Week 11:  Community Service Reflection

Week 12:  Program Assessment

BSTI Symposium

The Berry Summer Thesis Institute Symposium is held at the program's completion. All are welcome to attend one or several of the 12-minute presentations made by the cohort members.

The 2013 BSTI Symposium will be held:

Thursday, August 1
1:00 to 5:00 pm
Reception to follow 

To read the abstracts of the 2012 presentations, click here:  BSTI12 Symposium Program (pdf)

Eligibility

Third semester (sophomore) Honors students in good standing with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher and a strong interest in conducting a thesis research project are eligible to be nominated and apply.

Faculty Nominations

Eligible students are nominated by a faculty mentor willing to guide their research over the 12-week summer program and potential Honors thesis. The faculty mentor must be a full-time UD faculty member.

By nominating a student, the faculty mentor agrees to:

  • Work closely with the BSTI fellow to develop the Institute proposal and budget request
  • Be available to provide thesis mentorship throughout the 12-week summer program
  • Attend the Midterm Progress Report and end-of-program Berry Summer Thesis Institute Symposium
  • Provide guidance and critical review of the original manuscript or literature review that the student will prepare for publication in the Proceedings of the Berry Summer Thesis Institute

To nominate a student for this program, the faculty mentor should:

  • Provide a letter of recommendation to the University Honors Program
  • For Summer 2013 nominees, email such nomination letters to BSTI@udayton.edu by December 1, 2012

Student Proposals

Students who meet the eligibility criteria and are nominated by a faculty mentor will be invited by the Honors Program to submit a BSTI proposal.

Application materials are due February 1 and include:

  • Cover page
  • BSTI Proposal
  • BSTI Budget Request

Those who are nominated will receive an invitation to submit application materials, details provided at that time.

Selection of Fellows

A review committee is comprised of the following members will evaluate applications:

Honors Program representatives

  • Director
  • Associate Director for Honors Thesis Research
  • Associate Director for Prestigious Scholarships and Graduate School Guidance

Faculty representatives

  • College of Arts and Sciences
  • School of Education and Allied Professions
  • School of Business Administration
  • School of Engineering

BSTI fellows will be informed of their acceptance during the first week of March. Names of the new BSTI cohort members will be announced formally at the Honors Students Symposium. a pre-program Orientation and Meet and Greet will be held for fellows and mentors in April.

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