Tips for Students & Faculty

Summer Scholars (Student) Requirements

1. Work full-time on project for 8-12 weeks during the summer.
2. Meet with faculty mentor at least once a week.
3. Attend opening and closing cookout (times and location TBD).  
4. Attend and present at colloquia
5. Make at least one appointment with RC Reference Librarian
6. Complete appropriate modules from CITI (www.citiprogram.org)
7. Volunteer for at least one shift for Spring into Maroon (SIM) days, held on June 10th, 14th, 17th, and 21st in Olin Gallery. The resource fair will start at 11:30am and go to 4:30pm on all four SIM days. Parents will visit the fair from 11:30 - 12:30. Students will visit the fair in groups of approximately 40 students/ hour from 1:30 - 4:30. There will be a one hour break from 2:30 - 3:30.
8. Talk to Dr. Lyon about any issues, concerns, or suggestions as they arise. Her office is 238 West Hall, office phone: 540-375-4939
9. Submit final research paper (for inclusion in the College archives) by September 15 (electronic form to Dr. Lyon, lyon@roanoke.edu)
10. Submit final reflection paper (see guidelines) by September 15 (electronic form to Dr. Lyon, lyon@roanoke.edu)
11. Participate in assessment efforts (e.g., surveys)
12. Present research during Family Weekend (Sept. 27-29). Our showcase will likely be on Friday, September 27, 2013 in the afternoon/evening.

Summer Scholars (Faculty) Requirements

1. Be available to help with project for 8-12 weeks during the summer.
2. Meet with student mentee at least once a week.
3. Attend opening and closing cookout (time and location TBD). 
4. Attend and provide comments on presentations at colloquia.
5. Talk to Julie about any issues, concerns, or suggestions as they arise. Her office is 238 West Hall, office phone: 540-375-4939
6. Participate in assessment efforts, including surveys, rubric scores for paper and presentations
7. Attend research presentations during Family Weekend (Sept. 27-29). Our showcase will likely be on Friday, September 27 in the afternoon/evening.

What does the award cover?

Summer Scholars are provided with a tuition waiver for one unit, on-campus housing, and a stipend of $2500 in return for 8-12 weeks of full-time summer research. Depending on their classification (i.e., rising sophomore, junior, or senior), Summer Scholars may choose to use their tuition waiver for an Independent Study credit (406), an Honors in the Major credit (496), or in lieu of an Intensive Learning May-term course (note: you must apply for this option by April 15).

What housing is provided?

• Roanoke College will provide housing at no charge for full time, financially supported researchers.
• We currently plan to house summer researchers in New Hall, but housing is at the discretion of the College.
• During Mayterm, students may stay in their current housing 
  • The earliest possible move-in date for summer housing will be at the end of Mayterm.
  • All students must move out by August 4.
• You will choose your housing online during the housing selection process at the end of Spring semester. Housing selection will proceed by total course credits, with those students with more credits choosing housing first.

Summer School and Part-Time Jobs

Roanoke College Student Scholars must devote full-time effort to their projects. This policy means that they are not permitted to takesummer courses during the term of the award. However, they may work part-time jobs that do not interfere with their full-time work on the project. Part-time jobs must be disclosed to Dr. Lyon and to your faculty mentor.

Payments

Summer Scholars will receive $2000 during the Summer (split into multiple payments), with $500 paid upon receipt of final research papers and reflection papers. Papers must be emailed to lyon@roanoke.edu. The pay dates are still being negotiated-Dr. Lyon will inform you as soon as she is certain of the exact dates and amounts. 

Social Events

Summer Scholars will indicate their preferences for social activities. Look for an email from Dr. Lyon 

Tips from Former Summer Scholars Students

• Don't forget to pack essentials for apartment living, including (but not limited to): pots and pans, dishes, toaster, TV, linens, lamps, bathmats, and shower curtains.
• If RC doesn't have a book that you need to reference:
  • Put in an in Interlibrary Loan request to Jeffrey Martin, Room 113 Fintel Library, jmartin@roanoke.edu, (540) 375-2298
  • Search on www.worldcat.org to see if a nearby library has the resource
  • Get a library card at the Salem library (across Main St.) which will work for any Roanoke Valley library
• Find a daily schedule and a place that works for you.
• Utilize your faculty mentor for advice! You don't need to know all the answers. It's ok to not know. Remember, this is a learning process, and your faculty mentor is there to help guide you.
• Don't worry if you're not getting the results you want (or if nothing seems to be working). The key is to stay strong, keep trying, and be flexible.
• It's ok to deviate from your original research plan-in fact, many of us ended up with a product very different from our proposal.
• Start writing early. You may feel like you don't know what you're talking about, and you probably don't, but that's ok. You may not keep a single word of what you write at first, but that's ok, too. Writing will help direct the project's focus.
• Keep a log of time spent working on the project. It will help you track your progress and contribute to a sense of accomplishment.
• Don't get discouraged! In the end, it will all come together.
• Remember, if it worked the first time, we wouldn't call it re-search!

Calendar

The 2012 calendar of events is available (PDF version). The 2013 calendar is in the works.

Important Info

Dr. Lyon, Director of Student-Faculty Research

lyon@roanoke.edu, office: West 238

Office: (540) 375-4939

Website: roanoke.edu/research

Blog: RCResearch.org

Facebook page: facebook.com/RCResearch

To apply for travel funding: http://tiny.cc/travelfund