Faculty Application for Seminar: Glasscock Undergraduate Summer Scholars
About the Program
The Glasscock Undergraduate Summer Scholars (UGSS) program is the result of a collaboration between the Melbern G. Glasscock Center for Humanities Research (GCHR), the University Writing Center (UWC), and LAUNCH Undergraduate Research. For 2024–5, UGSS is financially supported by the GCHR, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs. The UGSS program provides high-impact undergraduate research in the humanities through an intensive summer research experience. Participation in the Glasscock Undergraduate Summer Scholars program sharpens students’ research and writing skills, positioning them for competitive applications for graduate and professional school. Summer Scholars receive a $2,000 scholarship for participation.
Once selected, Summer Scholars enroll in a two-week intensive seminar taught by their respective Faculty Directors and complete a series of writing workshops created especially for this program through the University Writing Center. Then, Summer Scholars develop individual research thesis proposals for submission to the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research Scholars thesis program for projects that they will complete during the academic year under the guidance of their Faculty Director. In March, Summer Scholars present their work at the Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, sponsored by the Glasscock Center.
Faculty Directors
- Be full-time faculty at Texas A&M University, either Tenure-Track, Tenured, or Academic Professional Track
- Recruit 3 students to participate in your seminar
- Develop a seminar syllabus
- Hold a 2-week seminar between May 13 and May 31, 2024 with 40 contact hours
- Open the seminar as a course in your department (as a 485 or 491, for example)
- Facilitate student applications to the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program
- Work with your students throughout the academic year to complete their thesis papers
- Complete reports to the Center on your activities and suggestions for program improvement
Undergraduate Summer Scholars
- Qualify for participation in the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program (note that UGSS do not need to have senior status to participate)
- Participate in the 2-week seminar
- Participate in the writing studios
- Produce and submit a proposal to the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program
- Write a thank-you note to Melbern and Susanne Glasscock for the scholarship
- Complete the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program, including all deadlines and activities
- Complete reports to the Center on your activities and suggestions for program improvement
Faculty Directors
- Receive $5,000 in bursary or non-fringe salary
- Experiment with new research topics, methods, and/or pedagogical approaches
- Share your research with a small cohort of undergraduate students
- Mentor undergraduate students in original humanities research projects
- Give undergraduate students insight into and skills to complete graduate-level work
Undergraduate Summer Scholars
- Receive a $2,000 scholarship to help allay the costs of summer tuition and other research-related expenses
- Learn how to develop a focused research question
- Establish a professional network of faculty and students
- Earn a university-level honors transcript distinction along with a URS medallion as official graduation regalia
- Produce a publishable thesis
- Become more competitive applicants for graduate or professional schools, fellowships, and grants
Frequently Asked Questions
No, you may recruit students after notification of your acceptance as a Faculty Director.
You should recruit between 2 and 3 students per Faculty Director. (This means, if you are co-directing, you may each have up to 3 students.)
If you propose a co-taught seminar, the $5,000 will be split between the co-instructors.
Methodological proposals are welcome; however, we recommend that you offer specific content through which to explore the methodology. See, for example, Dr. Sarah McNamara’s 2023 seminar “The Historical is Personal: Asking Questions, Conducting Research, and Writing Histories of Identity, Community, and Nation.”
Currently, we require that the 2-week seminar meets face-to-face.
You may recruit any student who qualifies for the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program and who you will support throughout the thesis process. Please note that while the LAUNCH thesis requirements have changed—they state that students must have 90 credit hours (senior status)—Undergraduate Summer Scholars may hold junior status. For more details on the thesis program, visit the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program website.
Yes, as long as they complete the LAUNCH Undergraduate Research thesis program in the fall and spring semesters preceding their graduation. For example, an UGSS planning to graduate in December 2025 could participate in the UGSS program in summer 2024 and complete the LAUNCH thesis over fall 2024 and spring 2025. See the LAUNCH website for more FAQs on the thesis program.
You may reserve space in the Glasscock Center or hold your seminar in your department building.