Wisconsin Council on Undergraduate Research (WisCUR)

Welcome to WisCUR!

The Wisconsin Council on Undergraduate Research (WisCUR) provides leadership to advance undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activities (URSCA) across Wisconsin. Its roots date back to 1999, when the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse hosted the first Universities of Wisconsin Symposium for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity.

Over the past decades, strong collaboration among leaders of undergraduate research programs at Universities of Wisconsin campuses has fostered innovative partnerships and expanded opportunities for student research. In 2010, WisCUR received a grant from the national Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) as part of an NSF-funded initiative on Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research. In 2013, with support from a Universities of Wisconsin Growth Agenda Grant, WisCUR was formally established with an elected Executive Committee.

WisCUR’s goals are to:

  • Expand participation in undergraduate research across disciplines;

  • Share strategies for evaluating program success;

  • Build a sustainable community to advocate for undergraduate research;

  • Foster collaboration among Wisconsin institutions;

  • Strengthen WisCUR’s organizational structure;

  • Contribute to the national dialogue on undergraduate research.

WisCUR’s activities include:

  • Participating in Research in the Rotunda, an annual legislative outreach event at the State Capitol;

  • Convening an annual statewide meeting of undergraduate research program leaders;

  • Organizing the annual Universities of Wisconsin Symposium for Undergraduate Research, Scholarly and Creative Activity.

WisCUR Contacts

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Executive board leadership includes:

Individuals from each participating institution can be found below:

  • Catherine Chan (UW-Madison)
  • Scott Cooper (UW-La Crosse)
  • Karen Havholm (UW-Eau Claire)
  • Kyla Esguerra (UW-Milwaukee)
  • Julie O’Leary (UW-Superior)