The URC helps faculty with mentorship by coordinating the Student Research Assistantship Program (SRAP). Each year the URC also recognizes a member of the Occidental community with the Award for Distinguished Creative Activity & Research Mentoring.
Student Research Assistantship Program (SRAP)
Purpose
The URC provides funding for faculty to hire Student Research Assistants during the academic year. This program has two related purposes: (i) To provide valuable learning opportunities and financial assistance to students by creating opportunities for academic year faculty-mentored research, and (ii) to support faculty in their research and creative and scholarly work.
Eligibility
All full-time students in good academic standing are eligible to apply. All full-time faculty are eligible to apply.
Funding
Faculty-student teams can apply for a full study award ($750, approximately 50 hours of work for the student) or a partial award (either $250 or $500, with proportional hours expectations).
Funding priority will be given to applications from:
- Faculty who do not have extramural grants or department endowments that support student research assistance,
- Faculty who have not been previously funded through this program,
- Untenured, tenure-track faculty,
- Sophomore or junior-year students,
- Transfer students,
- Students who do not have previous faculty-mentored research experience,
- Students who are underrepresented in the relevant field of study.
- Students can receive up to two SRAP awards per academic year, but priority goes to those who haven't received one before.
This program is designed to provide students with substantive research experience; SRAs should not be used as general clerical assistance or as direct teaching support. SRAs can assist in areas such as, but not limited to, library research, data collection and analysis, and preparation of manuscripts, for both scholarly and pedagogical research projects.
Faculty and students funded by the program are expected to participate in a "Lightning Talk Reception" on their research in April 2026.
Application
Faculty mentors must submit the on behalf of their pre-selected student.
- Applications for Fall 2025 are due September 8, 2025
- Applications for Winter Break are due December 2, 2025
- Applications for Spring 2026 are due January 20, 202