A History of Undergraduate Research at USU
2025
The Year of Undergraduate Research celebrates 50 years of undergraduate research at USU and looks forward to the next 50 years of innovation.
2021
Creation of the Academic Opportunity Fund (2001)
The scheme started at $2500 and grew to $20K providing academic support to students.
2020
USU receives the Council on Undergraduate Research Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments, recognizing excellence in our campuswide culture of UR
2019
David and Terry Peak inaugurate the Peak Summer Research Fellows
The Peak Summer Research Fellowship is an opportunity for those highly engaged and motivated researchers within the Colleges of Science or Humanities and Social Sciences. 12 students were accepted to be a part of this program for the 2019 summer.
2018
David Peak is recognized
2012
Joyce Kinkead is recognized
The Council on Undergraduate Research awarded their Fellow award to Joyce Kinkead, recognizing one individual annually, the first and only humanist to be so honored.
2010
USU’s Undergraduate Research program celebrates 35 years
2007
Undergraduate Research Scholar Transcript Designation created
2007
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities listed the Undergraduate Research Program as one of the six commendations given to USU during its accreditation visit
2007
The Undergraduate Research Program receives the Robins Achievement of the Year
2006
Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research is created
USU in partnership with The University of Utah led the creation of the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research. Working with Utah System of Higher Education to include all institutions, public and private, to provide a state venue for student researchers.
2005
USU hosts its first ever Research Week
Utah State University celebrated its first ever Research Week from April 11-15. Hosted by the Vice President for Research office, each day of the week will highlight one aspect of university research. Celebration days included Faculty Research Day, Undergraduate Research Day, Graduate Student Research Day. Integrity Matters Day, and Economic Development Day.
2004
David and Terry Peak endow the Undergraduate Researcher of the Year Award
Stands and serves as a lasting tribute to the life work of David and Terry Peak.
2003
Undergraduate Research Fellows program launched
2003
Undergraduate Research Mentors Award is inaugurated
2001
Research on Capitol Hill initiated by Joyce Kinkead and Steve Roens
1985
First Student Showcase of Undergraduate and Graduate Research
1982
First student-generated space research project launched by NASA on the Space Shuttle
The work of USU’s Getaway Special (GAS) team. USU has had more experimenters used in the NASA Space Shuttle Program than any other university. 28 experiments have been designed and constructed by USU undergraduates, then flown in space.
1976
URCO expanded to all eight colleges
At a review discussion that included all the student and faculty participants at the end of spring quarter, along with the legendary Professor Margaret MacVicar of MIT, essentially the inventor of dedicated undergraduate research support, there was a strong consensus that the program had worked, was valuable, and should be continued. USU’s centralized support of UR expanded institution-wide, the first such initiative at a public university.’
1975
Launch of the pilot URCO program by President Glen Taggart
In February of 1975, USU President Glen Taggart wrote a letter to the students of USU stating:
"For years I have hoped that more undergraduate students at Utah State University would take advantage of the tremendous resources our faculty have to offer outside the classroom through their ongoing research and creative activities."
He announced an “experiment” in the Colleges of Agriculture and Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences called the Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities grant, and promised that if it proved successful, it would be expanded to all colleges in the 1975-1976 academic year. The designation of hands-on learning–undergraduate research–as a hallmark of an undergraduate's education at Utah State, initiates the marriage of the university’s education and research missions.
