USURJ Best Paper Prize

Terms of Reference

Purpose

To recognize top-quality undergraduate research published by USURJ, showcase undergraduate accomplishments, and contribute to a culture of research across years and disciplines of study.

Source and Amount of Funding

Undergraduate Research Funding from the Office of the Vice President, Research, at $400 total.

Tenability

This fiscal year only, and thereafter at the discretion of the sponsor, the Undergraduate Research Initiative.

Designation and Composition of the Awards Committee

Three faculty judges from diverse disciplinary backgrounds (including the journal’s librarian faculty advisor), and a graduate student will adjudicate. These faculty judges and graduate student will sit on the Committee on an ad hoc basis. The committee will be appointed by the editors-in-chief and the staff advisor.

Number and Value of the Award

Two annual awards of $200.

Eligibility Restrictions

Open to current U of S students who have published an article in USURJ in the regular session before April 30th each academic year. If the paper was co-authored, the primary author as listed on the publication agreement will receive the financial portion of the award, but the award recognition will be assignable to all authors.

Selection Criteria

Awards will go to students whose papers are judged by the Awards Committee to be the best published in USURJ within the timeframe outlined in the Eligibility Restrictions. Papers will be shortlisted by the journal’s editors using the Selection Criteria Rubric. The Awards Committee will be guided by the same rubric to determine the winning papers. PDF of the Terms of Reference and the Selection Criteria Rubric