Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities (URSCA) Program

  1. Offices and Departments
  2. Research and Sponsored Programs
  3. Undergraduate Research, Scholarly, and Creative Activities (URSCA) Program

All applications MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH JOBX and are due on March 14, 2025.

Be prepared to upload the following two documents to your JobX application:
1. Complete Proposal Narrative 
2. Complete and Signed Faculty Mentor Form

Proposal Narrative Template | Faculty Mentor Form | JobX

URSCA program participants are hired as student workers during the summer to pursue a substantial research question, contribute to a scholarly endeavor, or produce an artistic work under direct faculty mentorship. In addition to submitting a full project proposal, students will also need to ask their faculty mentor to fill out and sign the faculty mentor form as part of their application. Join one of the upcoming online information sessions for more information:

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2:00-2:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 24, 4:00-4:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 9:00-9:30 a.m.


Half-time (20 hours/week) or full-time (37.5 hours/week) positions are available. All students are paid the CU minimum rate of $12.00/hour, and paychecks are disbursed via payroll on a bi-weekly basis for work on the proposed project. Students will be responsible for entering their time into the eTime system. Mentors will be responsible for approving eTime entries. Detailed instructions will be given to students and mentors accepted into the program. 

Students may apply for projects in one of two application categories:

  1. Research and Scholarship: Research and Scholarship applications fit projects with field, laboratory, library, or records research in science (behavioral, life, physical, social), engineering, technology, math, and the humanities.
  2. Creative Activities: Creative Activities applications are suited for projects that produce creative writing, art, or performance.

URSCA participants may also be able to attend select meetings, workshops, presentations, and forums. The culminating experience is a presentation at the Susquehanna Valley Undergraduate Research Symposium, co-sponsored by Bucknell University, Commonwealth University, Susquehanna University, and Geisinger, tentatively scheduled for July 22, 2025. 

Explore past URSCA projects

Please send questions to Elizabeth Dickinson, Director of Research Administration