Students at WOU do a lot of research during their undergraduate careers. They use it as the foundation for academic papers, course finals and, sometimes, senior theses or capstone projects.

However, PURE involvement takes scholarly work further, always following professional academic standards and usually guided by faculty mentors. This type of research encompasses more than just writing papers; it might include performing arts, such as dance choreography or musical compositions, as well as oral presentations in front of an audience. Students often share their work in poster presentations or join topical panel discussions discussions based on their expertise.

Finally, students involved with PURE have the opportunity to submit their work in WOU’s academic journal, PURE Insights. If you aspire to seeing your research published in a scholarly journal, you no longer have to wait until grad school. Publication in an academic journal is a terrific boost to your career options and gives you the perfect starting point for building your curriculum vitae (CV).

Students have a lot to gain when they decide to get involved in PURE. The most long-lasting advantage is that you learn important skills that can be used throughout your time on campus and your career after graduation. These are abilities such as public speaking skills, strong communication strategies, self-confidence, organizational skills and, of course, expertise in your chosen academic field.

Plus, participating in the Academic Excellence Showcase or the PURE Insights journal is fun! You get to establish a rapport directly with faculty mentors and peers while also sharing your creative side and building your resume.

Contact faculty in your academic discipline to see what opportunities might exist in areas that interest you. Don’t be afraid to ask – most faculty love introducing students to research! If you can find anything that interests you, or if you have questions, please contact the PURE Coordinator

Students will be working with members of WOU’s faculty and staff. Project mentors generally are on the faculty, but staff members can also be mentors. Ultimately, participants may work with many members of the campus community, including other students!

Students have the opportunity to learn all kinds of skills, as we mentioned above, by participating in PURE’s activities and programs. However, there are some “official” learning outcomes as well, all of which align with WOU’s priority of integrated learning. Students will:

• Practice formal and professional communication of research and creative work conducted through the university’s academic programs
• Discuss scholarly and creative work in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary settings
• Demonstrate the role of empirical research, investigation, and original scholarly and creative work in the production of knowledge and meaning