Center for Research and Creative Activity

To broaden participation in research and creative activity, CRCA awards (individual or collaborative) grants to faculty to revise existing courses or design new courses that will further integrate research and creative activity into the curriculum.  Applications are encouraged from all five schools at Rhode Island College: Arts and Sciences, Business, Feinstein School of Education and Human Development, Nursing, and Social Work.  Grants can be applied to any course offered at RIC, including- but not exclusive to: Introductory, Intermediate, or Capstone Courses; Disciplinary or Interdisciplinary Courses; Required or Elective Courses; First Year Seminar, First-Year Writing, or Connections Courses. 

If you are interested in applying for a CRCA “Integration” Grant and have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at crca@ric.edu​.

CRCA can help students print posters for scholarly or academic conferences at no cost. 

Please contact us at crca@ric.edu​ for more information.

CRCA Summer Fellowships for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity  enable students to participate in mentored research and/or creative activity that is not supported by other sources of funding.  Students are encouraged to identify a faculty or staff mentor to assist with preparing and submitting an application.  Fellowships will include a stipend for the student for either part-time or full-time work for either six weeks, during the Summer I or Summer II session, or for twelve weeks, during both the Summer I and II sessions. In addition, students will be awarded a maximum of $500 for supplies and materials to conduct their research and/or creative activity.  

Through generous financial support from the Office of Sponsored Programs, every individual at Rhode Island College is eligible for free Individual CUR Membership through our Enhanced Institutional Membership.

View a full list of benefits of Enhanced Institutional Membership

Highlights include: 

• Discounts on CUR consulting services 
• Discounts on CUR publications. 
• Access to CUR's online archive of webinar recordings and materials. 
• Free subscription to Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research ​(SPUR). and access to the searchable archive featuring scholarly work that examines effective practices and novel approaches, explores pedagogical models, and highlights the results of assessment of undergraduate research. 

Benefits of membership to CUR for students too! 

There are also resources available for undergraduates who are members of CUR, including: 

• The Registry of Undergraduate Researchers: The registry seeks to assist graduate schools in their recruitment of high-quality students well prepared for research and undergraduates with research experience who wish to pursue an advanced degree. 
• Undergraduate Research Journals 
• Undergraduate Presentation Opportunities 
• Research Opportunities 
• Undergraduate Research Highlights 

For more information, visit the CUR website.

Looking for great resources about being an effective mentor or how to publish undergraduate research, check out the CRCA LibGuide at Adams Library, and please send us suggestions of any content to add.​​

CRCA organizes Summer “Best Practices” Workshops to hear from faculty who have received and utilized their awards for CRCA “Integration” Grants and discuss ways in which we can continue to broaden participation in research and/or creative activity through the curriculum.​

CRCA Ambassadors are Rhode Island College students who either have completed (at least two semesters or one summer) or are currently engaged in, mentored experiences in research and creative activity with RIC faculty or staff. CRCA Ambassadors will participate in one or more training sessions in professional speaking and public engagement, which will help prepare this group of students to confidently share their own experiences, as well as to provide information to other students about opportunities in research and creative activity. CRCA Ambassadors are asked to attend at least three events (on- or off-campus) per semester, at the times and locations that fit within their schedules. Examples of events include Campus Activities Day, Accepted Students Day, informational sessions in the dormitories, or interviews with the local media. Each of these events will serve as a venue to share diverse student perspectives about mentored experiences in research and creative activity and to connect interested students to opportunities and resources at Rhode Island College.

For more information about the CRCA Ambassador program, please contact us.​​

CRCA Assistantships are entry-level mentored experiences in research and creative activity for students who qualify for financial aid through Federal Work Study. 

For more information about the CRCA Assistantships program, please contact us.​