Group awards more than $105,000 for undergraduate research

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S.C. Independent Colleges and Universities Inc. has awarded more than $105,000 in funding to undergraduate researchers in its 2022 Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program.

Thirty research projects to be conducted by 31 students at 11 SCICU member colleges and universities received funding, according to a news release. SCICU convened subject-area expert faculty from member institutions to review students’ academically diverse research proposals and select projects for funding.

“The SCICU Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program is approaching three decades of offering SCICU students exceptional professional research experience,” Jeff Perez, president and CEO of the organization, said in the news release. “Generous support from our donors allows our undergraduates to conduct the kind of faculty-mentored research typically conducted at only the graduate level.

Milliken & Co. provided the original seed money in 1995 to establish SCICU’s undergraduate research program, the release said. Since then, numerous donors have designated their SCICU support for student research.

The Belle W. Baruch Foundation, another long-term supporter of the SCICU student research program, is funding a Converse University student’s arts research project. The project will focus on Hobcaw Barony, a Georgetown County research reserve owned by the foundation. Hobcaw Barony’s 16,000-acre plantation includes more than 70 cultural sites, including cemeteries, slave cabins and the Baruch homes.

The latest SCICU donor to provide major support focused on the Undergraduate Student/Faculty Research Program is Power:Ed, the philanthropic arm of the S.C. Student Loan Corp. Power:Ed designated $25,000 for funding 2022 student research proposals submitted by students attending SCICU’s HBCU member colleges and universities. Students at Benedict College and Claflin University received funding for their research projects.

Student researchers began their research projects after funding was announced in April, and will have through mid-December to complete their work.

SCICU’s 2022 undergraduate research program will culminate with a symposium scheduled for Feb. 16, 2023. Student researchers will present the findings of their 2022 research via poster presentations or multi-media oral presentations.

Milliken and Co. will host the symposium at their corporate headquarters in Spartanburg.