WORCESTER— Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has received the prestigious Council of Undergraduate Research (CUR) 2023 Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments (AURA), underscoring the university’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, inquiry, and academic excellence, the school announced on Wednesday.
CUR is a leading advocate for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. The AURA acknowledges institutions that demonstrate exceptional support for undergraduate research and creative inquiry experiences in classrooms, teaching laboratories, and faculty-led research groups, highlighting dedication to empowering students to engage in meaningful research experiences.
“At WPI, we are deeply committed to providing our students with transformative educational experiences in the classroom and beyond,” said Grace J. Wang, PhD, president of WPI. “This distinguished award from the Council of Undergraduate Research is a testament to the outstanding efforts of our students, faculty, and staff in pushing the frontiers of knowledge and advancing technologies through collaborative research efforts.”
WPI has long been a leader in experiential education and research and maintains a holistic and deliberate approach to project-based education. In addition to having project experiences in the majority of their classes, all WPI undergraduate students must complete three research projects before graduation, including the Interactive Qualifying Project (IQP), Major Qualifying Project (MQP), and a humanities and arts project requirement. Nearly a third of first-year students also take part in a Great Problems Seminar.
This commitment to hands-on research, design, and creative inquiry ensures that WPI is empowering the next generation of innovators, scholars, and leaders who will shape the future and make a positive impact on society, the press release states.
According to the CUR press release, “WPI exemplifies how investing in their faculty and students, showing passion for undergraduate research, and building a career-readiness mindset around undergraduate research provides a model for many other campuses to follow.”
2023 AURA awardees also include the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, and the University of Florida. CUR will hold a virtual award celebration honoring this year’s awardees on June 11, 2024, 2–3:30 p.m.
