MURI Block Grants for Classroom Projects

Professors and researchers teaching regular classes or working with small groups of students on special projects, usually within a single discipline, can use the IUPUI MURI program to involve students in research. “Small groups” for this program are groups usually larger than five students. Five students or less will be considered within the regular IUPUI MURI guidelines and not funded as block grants.

The IUPUI MURI program provides block grants to professors and researchers who conduct research with small groups or in a class where the research, scholarly or creative activity meets the definition specified by the IUPUI Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program.

The UROP defines research very broadly. Research includes any scholarly, or artistic activity that leads to the production of new knowledge; to increased problem solving capabilities, including design and analysis; to original critical or historical theory and interpretation; or to the production of art or artistic performance.

To obtain IUPUI MURI funds for a class that is part of the regular curriculum in a department:

1. The class instructor, with the approval of the department head, by a letter of recommendation, must submit a regular IUPUI MURI application at least two weeks before a semester starts. The course syllabus must be included with the application and the students in the class are designated as full team members.
   
   
2. The class must be approved by the department for IUPUI MURI participation. This may be accomplished by approval of the chairman or curriculum committee, whichever is appropriate for the department.
   
   
3. Students enrolled in a class designated for IUPUI MURI participation must abide by the instructor’s work schedule to accomplish the research. This schedule will be specified in a syllabus. Students participating in a class designated for IUPUI MURI participation will not receive the regular $1,500/semester compensation but will receive compensation through a block grant at the discretion of the IUPUI MURI program.
   
   
4. Student participating in a block grant project in a class do not need to sign up for any other research course but must enroll in the class for credit.
   
   
5. All other IUPUI MURI semester program details will apply to block grant programs (such as faculty compensation, project compensation, reporting requirements, student presentation requirements).

Note that block grant funds for this program are spent from the IUPUI MURI or IUPUI UROP accounts that reside in the IUPUI Center for Research and Learning.

To obtain IUPUI MURI funds for a small group (usually larger than five) for a special research project in a discipline:

1. Students in a group designated for IUPUI MURI participation must abide by the instructor’s work schedule to accomplish the research. This schedule will be specified in the proposal and in a contract with each student at the outset of the project.
2. Students participating in a block grant project designated for IUPUI MURI participation, who are full team members, will not receive the regular $1,500/semester compensation but will receive compensation through a block grant at the discretion of the IUPUI MURI program.
3. Students participating in a block grant project as full team members should sign up for research course credits specified by the faculty or researcher team leader. Observers are allowed to participate on block grant projects without compensation at the discretion of the mentor.
4. All other IUPUI MURI semester program details will apply to block grant programs (such as faculty compensation, project compensation, reporting requirements, student presentation requirements).

Note that block grant funds for this program are spent from the IUPUI MURI or IUPUI UROP accounts that reside in the IUPUI Center for Research and Learning. 

The Expected Outcomes for IUPUI MURI Classroom Projects

A crucial requirement of IUPUI MURI projects is that, upon  completion of a MURI project, the students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a sustainable research effort
2. Demonstrate creativity
3. Use effective and sound multidisciplinary research methodologies or appropriate approaches to scholarship in the discipline
4. Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams
5. Demonstrate completeness of project
6. Demonstrate effectiveness in writing
7. Demonstrate effectiveness in presenting their work to diverse audiences orally

The above outcomes should be addressed in the application.  The applicant(s) should speak to how these outcomes will be demonstrated by students.