Student Research Programs
1. Student Research - Undergraduate and Graduate Students
The Division of Research and Academic Resources at Bay Path encourages and supports undergraduate and graduate students in all majors and programs to undertake special research projects, scholarly activities, or creative works under the guidance of a faculty mentor. Students may submit proposals for individual grants to support their research. Grant money may be used to purchase items necessary to conduct the research including supplies, materials, journals and publications, approved travel, museum admission, conference attendance, et cetera. The typical maximum amount that can be awarded per project is $500. Projects for undergraduate students may carry academic credit from one to three credits at both the lower and upper levels. Projects for graduate students may also have credit attached. Grant recipients are required to present their findings at Bay Path's Academic Achievement Day in April.
2. Summer Scholars Program - Traditional Undergraduate Students
The Summer Scholars Program at Bay Path University provides traditional undergraduate students who are currently first-years, sophomores or juniors the opportunity to conduct student research, scholarly activity, or other creative work in collaboration with a faculty mentor to enhance the Bay Path University experience. The program supports a student, with direct oversight from a faculty supervisor, as the student develops and implements a plan for an activity, conducts the activity, analyzes the data, and creates written and oral presentations of the results to share with their peers at the university's annual Academic Achievement Day. The student is required to meet over the summer and into the fall semester their mentor to discuss their progress. The student will receive three credits for their work (a minimum of 135 hours) in a designated research course, which will be reflected as a letter grade on their fall schedule as part of that semester’s load. Students selected for this honor will receive a stipend of $1000, in addition to the funds provided for materials and supplies. The faculty mentor receives a stipend of $500.
In order to be considered for this program, a student must:
- be an undergraduate in good standing with the institution;
- have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25;
- have completed a minimum of one semester as a full-time student at Bay Path University;
- have first-year, sophomore, or junior status; and
- return for their sophomore, junior or senior year as a full-time student.
Selection is based on the strength of the proposal, including a confidential recommendation from the supervising faculty member, and the academic record of the student.
3. Student-Assisted Faculty Research
The Student-Assisted Faculty Research Grant provides student assistance to a full-time faculty member who is conducting research. The student gains experience with the research process and earns an hourly pay for their work. There is no academic credit associated with this opportunity.
4. Student Academic Conferences
Funds are available to support students to attend professional conferences with priority given to students who are presenting. Proposals for funding must be submitted by a sponsoring faculty member. Due to the nature of conference scheduling and associated paperwork, please submit proposals no later than 2 months prior to the conference date. A maximum of $1,000 is available to help defray conference and travel fees.
Details for all above programs may be found on the Division of Research and Academic Resources page on the BPU Community portal.