The University of Arizona is committed to student success, pioneering research, and serving Arizona communities. Engaging undergraduates in research is essential to achieving these goals. As a high-impact practice, participating in undergraduate research and creative inquiry supports student retention and academic achievement—particularly among those who benefit most from developing critical thinking skills and finding a supportive scholarly community. Cultivating research skills early in a student’s academic journey helps shape the next generation of scholars contributing to Arizona’s ground-breaking research as a globally-ranked Research One Institution. And all of this—building student success, supporting community-engaged research, and developing the next generation of scholars and leaders—reinforces the symbiotic relationship between the University of Arizona and the communities we serve.
Undergraduate Research at the University of Arizona is supported by a long-standing tradition of faculty, staff, and administrators devoted to expanding research opportunities. These efforts are institution-wide: from faculty who incorporate research into their classrooms to building administrative structures that support student research activities. To reflect this broad commitment, undergraduate research offices exist within both the academic and research arms of the university.
Each unit in this collaboration contributes distinctive administrative expertise toward the support and development of undergraduate research experiences:
The Office of the Provost (OP) oversees faculty advancement and academic initiatives, academic excellence, and student success. The OP oversees student recruitment, undergraduate admission and orientation, undergraduate curriculum, and faculty academic support and is highly invested in expanding access to high-impact practices like undergraduate research that have measurable impacts on academic excellence and post-graduation success.
The Office of Research & Partnerships (ORP) supports workforce development and building the next generation of scientists and future researchers. ORP supports faculty research funding efforts, supports professional development and guidance for faculty to initiate and administer high-quality workforce development programs to ensure successful outcomes for research grants and partnerships, leverages connections to university research centers and institutes to provide real-world training experiences for students, and facilitates seed-grant funding to establish long-term student participation in these centers and institutes.