G.R.O.U.P.

G.R.O.U.P. (Geballe Research Opportunities for Undergraduates Program) is a major Townsend Center initiative designed to promote innovative undergraduate education within a research university.

The application deadline for faculty proposals to the 2008-2009 G.R.O.U.P. program is November 16, 2007. See below for details about each G.R.O.U.P component.

For questions about the program, please contact Program Coordinator Harris Kornstein at 510/643-9670 or harriskornstein@berkeley.edu.

Summer Apprenticeships

G.R.O.U.P. Summer Apprenticeships pair faculty members and undergraduate students in summer research projects, allowing the students to develop new skills under the guidance of a faculty mentor and to experience the rigor and excitement of academic research in an area of their interest. Faculty gain the time and opportunity to explore new ideas, and the collaboration with their apprentice may generate new undergraduate courses and curricula.

Project proposals addressing a wide range of topics, such as “Humanities and New Media” and “Humanities and Biotechnology,” are invited from UC Berkeley faculty. Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate eventual curricular implications, involve sustained faculty-student mentoring, and allow for significant independence in student research. The expectation of the program is that students and faculty members will both produce tangible outcomes at the end of the summer. In the case of proposals of equal merit, preference will be given to ladder faculty.

The application deadline for faculty proposals for Summer 2008 is November 16, 2007. DOWNLOAD PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS.

For information about the summer 2007 apprenticeships, click here.

Courses

G.R.O.U.P. Courses are designed as joint faculty-student explorations with the potential of evolving over time into new curricula and programs. Courses are normally team-taught by faculty members from different departments; they may also be taught by one faculty member who brings in guest speakers to provide diverse perspectives. All G.R.O.U.P. courses involve teaching that comes directly out of the instructors’ active research, allowing students to engage with open issues, and not simply presenting a finished product.

Preference will be given to joint proposals from faculty in different departments. Proposals will also be considered from (1) individual ladder faculty proposing a roster of guest speakers and (2) individual ladder faculty seeking to co-teach with exceptionally qualified post-doctoral fellows.

Successful proposals will be awarded $12,000 in total replacement costs to the department(s) of the organizer(s), and up to $2,500 in course enhancement costs for visiting lecturers, field trips, and similar activities. In the case of two course organizers, the replacement costs will be split evenly between their respective departments, while the course enhancement costs will be transferred to one designated department.

Undergraduate participation in G.R.O.U.P. Courses is through the regular course registration process.

The application deadline for 2008-2009 Courses is November 16, 2007.
DOWNLOAD PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS.

For information about courses offered Fall 2007 and Spring 2008, click here.

Research Team

While research teams involving undergraduates are common in the sciences, they are rare in the humanities. The G.R.O.U.P. Research Team seeks to provide arts and humanities undergraduates this valuable experience.

Research Teams consist of two faculty members from different departments, at least eight undergraduates, and two graduate students. Undergraduates will receive course credit for their work as they gain valuable research skills, build relationships as team members, and develop an appreciation for the insights that an interdisciplinary approach can bring to a single subject. Graduate students participating in the Team will reap the same benefits as well as gain experience as mentors to the undergraduate students.

Project proposals addressing a wide range of topics are invited from UC Berkeley faculty. Preference will be given to projects that involve sustained faculty-student mentoring, and allow for significant independence in student research. The expectation of the program is that students and faculty members will both produce tangible outcomes at the end of the summer. In the case of proposals of equal merit, preference will be given to ladder faculty.

The application deadline for the 2008-2009 Research Team is November 16, 2007.
DOWNLOAD PROPOSAL INSTRUCTIONS.

Read about the 2007-2008 research team.