For Faculty : Office of Undergraduate Research : University of Rochester

Overview

Please refer to the chart below for links and details.

Undergraduate students may work with faculty members as part of a(n):

Unpaid internship
Independent study course for academic credit
Paid research assistant position

The following chart provides an outline for faculty to identify which student classification best fits their needs and the operations of the department, as well as the needs of students. Students may transition from one classification to another over time; however, students may not receive pay and course credit simultaneously per university policy. Paid positions must be listed through JobLink as well.

Research Classifications
Student Classification	Faculty Responsibility and Guidelines	Limitations and Considerations
Research for pay ("Research Assistant")	This classification requires: Supervision Provision of a specific job description through JobLink and regular performance evaluations Agreement upon a schedule and terms of employment	Students may work no more than 20 hours per week during the academic year. Students may work for 40 hours per week during the summer months.
Research for course credit ("Independent Study")	This classification requires: Student completion of an online Independent Study Form; information and instructions on the College Center for Advising Services' Independent Study page. Supervision by a full-time member of the teaching faculty Co-creation of a project description, learning outcomes, and assessment criteria Provision of a course grade	Students may elect to register for 2-4 hours of course credit, depending on their hourly research commitment (approximately 3 hours of research per credit hour). Faculty and student instructions for independent study registration can be found here.
Research as an unpaid intern	This classification requires: Completion of online notification form (River Campus mentors only) or the School of Medicine and Dentistry Unpaid Internships Form (Medical Campus mentors only; additional information here) Supervision by a faculty member or appropriate delegate Student provision of a final project not to be graded (poster, report, presentation to a small or large group)	Unpaid internships must have a defined beginning and end, but may be re-registered through SMD or River Campus every six months. Unpaid, uncredited experiences are permitted, but must be primarily for the educational benefit of the student.

Looking for funding for a Faculty-led Academic Research Experience?

See the FLARE page. The Faculty-Led Academic Research Experience (FLARE) Fund provides flexible supplemental funding for undergraduates involved in faculty-led initiatives that include a core research component. The goal of the program is to facilitate the development of programs and curricula that incorporate intensive research-based experiential learning for undergraduate students.

Onboarding Protocol

Click here to download our quick-guide to onboarding a student for participation in research.

Laws about Unpaid, Not-for-Credit Student Researchers

The laws that govern volunteering permit full-time, currently enrolled students or a student who is between programs (as long as no more than six months has elapsed between the end of one program and the start of the next) to accept an unpaid, un-credited research position if the experience is primarily for the educational benefit of the student. The position may be conducted as an in-person experience, remotely, or virtually. A faculty member who is unclear about whether a plan for a research experience meets the standards outlined should consult the Office of the Dean.