Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry

The Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry is located in Johnson Hall, Rm 223. We can be reached via email at [email protected]

Who We Are

Undergraduate Research is inclusive of all disciplines (including those in liberal arts, business and STEM) and is defined as an inquiry or investigation conducted by an undergraduate student that seeks to make an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline . The Office of Undergraduate Research and Artistry (OURA) works with anyone connected with undergraduate research, from prospective and actively engaged undergraduate researchers to research mentors (faculty, staff, graduate students, and post-docs), program administrators, university administrators, and external partners.

The mission of OURA is to serve as a resource at Colorado State University to promote and expand experiential learning for undergraduate students through quality research, artistic, and other creative experiences with skilled mentors. We embrace CSU’s Principles of Community in our daily work and highly value the contributions of all undergraduate researchers and artists in all disciplines across all 8 colleges. OURA’s vision is to provide opportunities for all undergraduate students to discover, realize, and act on their interests and passions. A core value of OURA is that our success will be the result of intentional efforts that are focused on student need paired with assessment and revision.

OURA focuses on understanding and meeting students where they are and matching what students need to thrive and achieve. As a team we are committed to continuous improvement and learning how to best support all CSU students and have engaged in professional development programs to help advance our own capabilities to meet student needs.

What We Do

OURA coordinates efforts across campus and provides support for disciplinary programs, mentors and undergraduate students. Our aims are to promote and highlight student creative activities and to centralize the tracking and assessment of research and artistic engagement across campus for the benefit of students and faculty. OURA provides undergraduate students with opportunities to develop skills, learn about and connect with research mentors, and to share their work with others. OURA conducts formal and informal training, which helps students to enhance their research experience, deepen their understanding of disciplinary material, and increase their value to graduate programs and future employers. OURA also supports mentors (at all levels) by connecting them with interested students and by providing opportunities for them to strengthen their mentoring skills.

The following guiding principles drive OURA’s work: Evidence-based impact, Student-Centered, Place making, Collaboration, Growth and Reflection, Access and Inclusion.