As an undergraduate writing major at EMU, Dave Coverly remembers being surprised when a professor asked him to read a class assignment at the 1985 Undergraduate Symposium.

"I thought I was writing pretty weird stuff at the time," he said, remembering the request to read his short story as flattering, but unforeseen.

Coverly said he does not recall thinking much before that moment about the Symposium, an annual EMU tradition since 1981. But he has certainly thought about it since.

Coverly, who graduated from EMU in 1987, has since used that creativity to write and draw "Speed Bump," a nationally syndicated cartoon that appears in more than 200 newspapers; create a line of cards promoted by American Greetings; and compose two books, "Caution Speed Bump: Collection of Cartoon Skidmarks," released in 2000, and "Speed Bump: Cartoons for Idea People," released in November 2004.

For the past 25 years, nearly 2,500 EMU undergraduate students like Coverly have had the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research, an academic process more commonly available at research-intensive universities with multiple doctoral programs, small private colleges and in graduate schools.

The concept behind the Undergraduate Symposium is this: A student proposes an idea or creates a project and seeks out a faculty member to add his or her time and expertise as the student further researches or expands the idea. Or, as in Coverly's case, a professor spies a promising student and nominates that student for inclusion in the program. If the members of the Symposium Committee choose the project, the student presents the findings during a conference-like day of oral or visual presentations -- what many "Symposium alumni" look on as a career- and life-changing experience.

Presentations range from those disputing global warming and covering the history of American sign language to those analyzing color deficiencies and Web design, and how a person with cystic fibrosis reacts to new bacterium.

This scenario, however ideal, is definitely not the norm. Most professors on predominantly undergraduate campuses do not have the time to add individual faculty/student research projects to their teaching and research workloads. Of the more than 4,000 private and public universities in the United States, only 870 —  or about 22 percent — offer undergraduates research opportunities outside of regular classes.

That an undergraduate research program at a metropolitan university such as Eastern Michigan University was even proposed is amazing. The fact that the idea immediately gained widespread support and celebrates its 25th anniversary April 1 is nothing short of phenomenal.

"The Undergraduate Symposium has become embedded at EMU as a most unique and treasured day," said Dennis Beagen, chairman of the Undergraduate Symposium and head of the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts. His department is in the College of Arts and Sciences, the coordinator of the event, although students are represented from all five EMU colleges. Since 1981, the event has grown from 17 students and 19 faculty sponsors to 207 students and 109 faculty sponsors in 2004.

Tracing the origins

EMU's program is reportedly the longest running in the nation, although that cannot be verified. Nancy Hensel, executive officer of the Council for Undergraduate Research (CUR) in Washington, D.C., said that if it's not the oldest, it is one of the oldest. One reason why the claim can't be verified is that CUR, and some of the other few organizations that exist to promote undergraduate research on college campuses, began in the early to mid-1980s. CUR was founded in 1978, had its first meeting in 1979, created its first newsletter in 1980 and adopted a constitution in 1981.  

"We were not keeping records at that time, but those in the field know that Eastern Michigan University has a long and distinguished history with undergraduate research," Hensel said.

What made Eastern Michigan stand out was that, in the early days of undergraduate research, it included all disciplines from the start, she said.

"While many institutions focused their undergraduate research in the natural and physical sciences, EMU boldly included the arts, the social sciences and professional programs such as business and teacher education," Hensel said.

While EMU faculty members' commitment to the program is a major factor in its continued success, it is ultimately students who benefit.

"For 25 years, EMU graduates have been entering their professions with increased problem-solving, critical thinking and public speaking skills. They have learned not only how to formulate critical questions and develop ideas, but to present and defend their ideas to an audience beyond the classroom," Hensel said.

"The career advancement of EMU students has been enhanced by their ability to apply their research and scholarship skills to their professions," she added.

A Student's Tale

Senior professional biochemistry major Jennifer Stephens is a first-generation college student from the Detroit area (Waterford). Her father is a blue-collar worker (retired electrician), her mother is a homemaker and she has an older sister who did not attend college.

Stephens enrolled at EMU as an education major and completed two years in the teacher preparation program before she realized that teaching was not her calling.

"I enjoyed biology and chemistry in high school, and I enjoyed the general education science requirements I took as an education major," Stephens said. "I kept thinking about switching my major. But if someone had told me my senior year in high school, or even my first years of college, that I would be thinking of a career in science or medicine, I would have laughed."

She decided to heed the new calling, switching her major to professional biochemistry. Shortly after the switch, she heard about an opportunity to conduct undergraduate research with chemistry professor Deborah Heyl-Clegg.

She applied, and liked it. Stephens presented at the 2004 Symposium and is currently readying another round of research for presentation this year. Her project involves the development of inhibitors for an enzyme that breaks down starches, and may one day aid in the development of a drug to help persons with diabetes.

"I knew about the Symposium before, but never thought to do anything in it until I switched my major," Stephens said. "I looked at the Web site and saw the list of projects and publications, and just wanted to get involved."

The fact that Stephens presented research in 2004 helped her get chosen for a 10-week summer research project at the University of Rochester.

"It was stressful at first," said Stephens. "I felt overwhelmed. But then, my experience here started to help and I felt more confident."

Now Stephens is adding another form of research to her schedule. She's looking at medical schools.

Stephens' faculty "mentor" has seen this kind of student transformation many times and said it is one of the reasons she agreed to sponsor a student as soon as she arrived on campus in 1992.

"I have sponsored students in the Symposium almost every year," Heyl-Clegg said. "Some of my most valuable experiences as a professor have been in the labs with these students. Things happen differently in the lab and it's important for students to learn what is and isn't going to work." 

Stephens is working on her fourth research project for Heyl-Clegg, and she has never been more excited about learning than she is now.

"Although I was happy studying education and the professors were great, being able to work one-on-one like this is a totally different college experience," Stephens said. "I feel like my education is so much more personalized now. I can suggest things that interest me and go ahead and look into them. I feel like I'm not waiting for my real life to begin after graduation."

Comments like those make spending the extra time with students in undergraduate research worth it, Heyl-Clegg said.

"One semester, I had 10 students working on extra projects. That was crazy, but gratifying, too. Luckily, my department (chemistry) feels that engaging in undergraduate research is an essential part of the undergraduate chemistry experience."

Heyl-Clegg appreciates it when students keep in touch through cards and visits.

"Seeing where they go to school or work is good for me and good for the current undergraduates. They have a frame of reference for the possibilities from here," she said.

The type of support faculty members receive for sponsoring students varies from department to department. Some departments, like chemistry, try to give professors release time for mentoring undergraduates. In the past, internal funding in the form of fellowships was available. But now, many of those funding sources have been cut.

"Grant writing, especially to even cover the cost of chemicals, is becoming more common and more expected," said Heyl-Clegg.

Drawing students to EMU

In 1980, the late provost, Ronald W. Collins, encouraged professors in the College of Arts and Sciences to promote undergraduate research as a way to retain academically talented students. Others say that the idea was actually initiated by then Arts and Sciences' Dean Donald Drummond and Ira M. Wheatley, head of the history and philosophy department.

As the Symposium has matured, its reputation has drawn continued support from previous participants and, increasingly, sponsors. Beagen is never afraid to ask companies or individuals to get involved.

Beagen

"I feel so strongly about being able to offer our undergraduates these kinds of educational experiences that I have no problem asking for donations," Beagen said. "In fact, I enjoy it. The Undergraduate Symposium is 100 percent for students and I'll do just about anything to see that the program survives."

Sponsors range from major corporations like DaimlerChrysler and Pfizer, Inc. to smaller businesses such as Bidlack Creative Group, an advertising agency in Ann Arbor. Owner Christopher Bidlack, whose nephew Mathew was a student presenter in 2002 and 2003, is one of the many who received a phone call from Beagen asking for a donation of professional services. Bidlack created the 25th anniversary logo for Beagen.

"I was happy to do it," Bidlack said. "It's a great program."

Some organizations give money and others donate resources because an employee who is an EMU graduate makes a case for a donation at a corporate level. American Electric Power, in Columbus, Ohio, is one such example.

"Our chairman, Mike Morris, and I are alumni of EMU," said Dale E. Heydlauff, AEP senior vice president. "We both have a high affection for the University and a deep appreciation for giving us the intellectual foundation for our professional success." — This article, here in a condensed version, originally appeared in the Winter 2005 Exemplar, Eastern Michigan University's magazine.