CUR Directories

There have been seven editions of the Directory of Research in Chemistry at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions. Brian Andreen’s original compilation in 1979 listed 93 research-active chemistry departments; the Seventh Edition, dated 1999, lists 558 departments, with detailed information on 213 of them.  CUR is moving toward electronic retrieval of all this information.  Order your copy at the web site here.

CUR-L ListServ

CUR members have direct access to each other and use it frequently.  Here you can participate in debates about various aspects of undergraduate research, ask and answer questions about how others deal with certain problems, or do anything else you want it to do for you. Examples include "How much math do you require for PChem?" and "What's a good book to teach scientific writing?"  Directions for subscribing can be found here.

CUR Chemistry Consultants

CUR offers consulting services whereby selected members of undergraduate faculties serve as consultants to primarily undergraduate science, mathematics and engineering departments or divisions. Typically 3-6 chemistry departments a year take advantage of this service. If your department/division is undergoing review, consider a CUR review: contact the CUR National Office. 

CUR  Chemistry Mentor Service

Experienced faculty helping others along—this is the essence of CUR.  Describe yourself to Lisa Gentile and she will match you with someone close to your interests, with whom you can discuss job applications, grant applications, tenure documents, whatever you like.

The CUR National Conference in even-numbered years

Your chance to meet in person with others laboring in the same fields, and with the people at granting agencies who help you.  Lots of spirit-raising and useful information.  Many of the workshops are designed by and for chemists. Examples : How to incorporate molecular modeling into your curriculum and research program. How to maintain your expensive instruments. Visit /conferences.html for more information about upcoming meetings.

Posters on the Hill

Very much a PR event designed to impress upon our legislators the importance of undergraduate research, this is a wonderful opportunity for you and your student to interact with your people in Washington.  Highly competitive, only 60 posters chosen from among more than 300 applications. Find out how to get involved at /postersession.html.

How to booklets

“How to Get Started in Research” , now in its second edition, was written by two chemists.

"How to Develop and Administer Institutional Undergraduate Research Programs", by Toufic Hakim.

How to Get a Tenure-track Position at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution, by Michelle Bushey, Patricia Videtich, and Deborah Lycan.

"How to Mentor Undergraduates", 2002, by Carolyn Ash Merkel and Shenda M. Baker.

"Reinvigorating the Undergraduate Experience", 2004 by Linda Kauffman and Janet Stocks.

Visit /publications.html to order you publications online.

CUR Institutes

CUR currently runs the following institutes —

• “How to Institutionalize Undergraduate Research” 

• “The Vital Faculty: Issues After Tenure”, and 

• "Proposal Writing"

• "Mentorship, Collaboration and Undergraduate Research in the Social Sciences and Humanities"

• "Initiating and Sustaining Undergraduate Research Programs"

Chemists have been prominently involved in the planning and organization of many of these Institutes.  To learn more click here.

CUR Speakers Bureau

Select a scholar from an undergraduate institution as one of your seminar speakers! There are currently more than ten chemists to choose from. For more information visit /speakers.html.

CUR PR Efforts

One of the most important behind-the-scenes activities of CUR is working on science policy and government relations issues with  congress and the US federal agencies.  Previous efforts by CUR were critical in realizing NSF's RUI program and NIH's AREA program.  CUR continues to work with legislators to help them understand the importance of research in undergraduate education. The April Dialog and the Posters on the Hill activities are directly targeted to doing this (see above).  In addition, our Presidents and NEOs have provided testimony to Congress about issues in undergraduate science education.  To become involved contact the current CUR president Mike Tannenbaum.

Become a Councilor!

We are always in the market for new councilors who are eager to devote some of their time and creativity to inventing new programs and providing services. The future of CUR (and perhaps undergraduate research!) depends on such volunteers.  If you are interested in becoming a CUR chemistry councilor, click here.