ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the role of the institution in promoting student and faculty involvement in undergraduate research and the specific mechanisms that are most frequently employed in pursuing this goal. It discusses the prevalence of various structural provisions for the conduct and dissemination of undergraduate research will be examined, based on various published reports and analysis of publicly available data. In the Boyer Commission's study of the nation's research universities, it was found that over half of the institutions surveyed conducted public undergraduate research events on their campuses. The chapter highlights that research courses, independent studies, and senior theses are commonly offered, but rarely required, which may account in part for what are often less than optimal rates of participation. Fellowship stipends seem to carry sufficient motivational value to promote student participation, but most fellowship programs are offered on a relatively small scale.
