RSC Course Designation
The Research, Scholarly, and Creative Inquiry (RSC) Designation highlights faculty leadership in mentoring students through undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative inquiry (URSCI). This will assist efforts to document URSCI engagement, will appear on student transcripts and strengthen recognition of faculty mentorship across the university.
Why it Matters
- Elevates undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative inquiry as a core high-impact practice.
- Identifies already existing courses that engage students in URSCI as part of in-class activities and assignments.
- Highlights faculty mentorship and leadership in URSCI experiences.
- Provides a consistent, institution-wide mechanism to document and track undergraduate participation in curricular and co-curricular experiences.
- Strengthens student preparation for graduate study, fellowships, and workforce pathways.
Information for Form Submission
- Open to courses in all colleges
- Course must have an end of semester project included in the syllabus. Examples include (but not limited to): written project, presentation, creative project.
- Students must disseminate or communicate their project outside the classroom.
- Project must contribute to a percentage of the overall grade.
For course submission, faculty will be asked to submit the following information:
- Course subject & number
- Course CRN
- General description of the project (2-3 brief sentences)
- Student learning outcomes
- Deliverable(s) (i.e. what will the project produce?)
- Percentage of the grade that the project will contribute to
- Syllabus (PDF or Word format of the syllabus up for consideration)
Note: The syllabus must be updated to include the information above for the RSC designation.
We are currently accepting submissions for faculty review at the end of the Spring semester
A faculty committee will review all submissions to determine RSC eligibility and designation. The faculty committee will be comprised of faculty members from the academic disciplines associated with the course listed in the submission. All submissions will be evaluated via the following:
Required Student Learning Outcomes
- Overall Objectives:
- Students will design and carry out an individual or collaborative project that explores an original question, seeks a creative solution to a problem, applies knowledge to a professional challenge, or offers a unique perspective. Students engage deeply in this original work.
- EDGE Advantages: Teamwork, Leadership, Global Awareness, and Personal/Social Responsibility
- Inquiry:
- Students will formulate research questions or scholarly or creative problems with integration of fundamental principles and knowledge in a manner appropriate to their discipline.
- EDGE Advantages: Critical Thinking, Inquiry, and Problem Solving
- Skill Acquisition:
- Applying skills and methods appropriate to the discipline such as generating or gathering data, producing creative work, utilizing existing data sources, or engaging in inquiry.
- EDGE Advantages: Confidence, Communication, and Leadership
- Critical Thinking:
- Analyzing or evaluating project results according to standards of the discipline, drawing conclusions, and identifying areas for future study.
- EDGE Advantages: Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Global awareness
- Communicate and Share Outcomes:
- Students will communicate knowledge from their project through presentation, publication, or performance to an audience beyond the classroom.
- EDGE Advantages: Communication, Confidence, and Global Awareness
Evaluation Rubric
- Outline of inquiry project and deliverable appropriate to the discipline
- Acquisition & application of appropriate disciplinary skills and/or methodologies
- Dissemination of projects findings or outcomes outside the classroom through discipline-appropriate format
- A final, cumulative deliverable that demonstrates the criteria outlined above (may include one or more of the following):
- Written Project: research proposal, research paper, case study, etc.
- Presentation: poster, PowerPoint, or comparable presentation platform
- Creative Project: work of art, prototype/model, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a course can have multiple designations (E.g. RSC and CEL). In fact, please submit for consideration for both course designations if you believe your course is eligible.
Yes, they can. Please be sure to incorporate the requested learning objectives and information for designation consideration.
RSRC 4033 should be utilized for students who are participating in URSCI activities outside of course activities. This includes students who are volunteers and may not be supported via funding mechanisms or employment. However, if in doubt students can register for RSRC 4033. More information can be found here RSRC 4033 Information
Yes, at this time every course must submit an RSC designation form every semester. As we rollout the course designation for the 26/27 Academic year, faculty will need to submit for every semester the course is being offered. After which there will be no need for resubmission.
