Undergraduate Research
The SLCC Honors Program encourages students to engage in undergraduate research because students develop transferable skills that include critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and collaboration. Students and faculty work together and build mentorship relationships in order to formulate significant questions, develop investigative procedures, gather and examine evidence, evaluate results, and share conclusions with the community. Undergraduate research also offers students opportunities that include research and travel grants, as well as opportunities for publication and presenting at conferences.
Salt Lake Community College is a member of the Western Regional Honors Conference (WRHC). WRHC represents honors programs across 13-state Western Regions through an annual conference. The SLCC Honors Program helps to offset student conference costs (registration fees, flights, hotels, etc.) for students who submit an abstract and proposal for a poster or oral presentation session. This is a great opportunity for students to share their research and to also meet other honors students and faculty from the western region.
The Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research (UCUR) is often held at Utah State University and it is a celebration of academic, professional, and personal achievements. Undergraduate students from across Utah and from all disciplines are invited to apply for the conference. Presentation opportunities include poster displays, oral presentations, and creative performances. There will also be a juried art exhibit for creative pieces. Learn more about UCUR.
- Present your research at the SLCC Bruin Brains Research Conference - an inclusive and diverse interdisciplinary research conference.
- Submit a research abstract and participate in SLCC’s Undergraduate Projects & Research Conference (UPRC). Please review the oral presentation and poster presentation resources here.
The Westminster College McNair Scholars Program draws students from three campuses: Westminster College, Salt Lake Community College, and College of Southern Idaho. The program is dedicated to the success of low-income/first-generation college students and students from underrepresented groups who aspire to graduate studies. By encouraging and supporting qualified students through undergraduate school and the transition to graduate school, the ultimate goal is to increase faculty diversity in colleges and universities.
Program benefits include:
- Eligibility to receive a $2,800 stipend for summer research project
- Establish a relationship with a research mentor for guidance through a research project
- Free summer tuition at Westminster College
- And more! Learn more about the McNair Scholars program and apply here.
How to write an abstract
An abstract provides readers with a quick overview of your research paper or presentation. Learning to write an abstract is an important skill to develop because abstracts are needed when submitting articles to journals, applying for research grants, writing a book proposal, completing a thesis, or writing a proposal to present at a conference or research symposium.
Well-written abstracts have these characteristics:
- identifies the purpose and intent of the content in a concise, organized, and specific manner
- captures the attention of the reader
- adheres to the abstract submission guidelines (i.e. word count, use of abbreviations and acronyms, deadlines, grammar, etc.)
- describes intended learning outcomes for the audience/reader
- mentions the benefit and contribution to the field of study
Student Poster Presentation
Unlike formal verbal presentations, poster sessions are more casual as it provides one-on-one interactions between the student researcher and the audience. Students are encouraged to remain at the poster for the entire session and it is a great opportunity for students to engage with the poster reader. Students should introduce themselves, provide the reader with a short, concise explanation of the research, ask them if they have any questions, and ask for feedback on the research.