The BEACoN Research Mentoring Program, run by the Office of University Diversity & Inclusion, exists to educate, empower and advocate for underrepresented students and, critically, provide them with funded undergraduate research opportunities working one-on-one with a faculty member.
As such, we are now soliciting applications for faculty mentors (tenure-line and lecturers) at the links below by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6. New this year, we have two different kinds of BEACoN Research Projects: 1) Faculty-generated ideas (this is the typical BEACoN Research Project model that those familiar with the program are used to. Apply here), and 2) OUDI-generated ideas (Apply here). Regarding the latter, OUDI has identified a handful of research topics/projects that focus on place-based research on the Cal Poly community. OUDI’s aim with these projects is to develop a greater understanding of our campus community by broadening our data sources and to use the subsequent findings to assist OUDI and our campus collaborators in our DEI related efforts.
Selected proposals will be advertised to students via the BEACoN website, who would then apply by Thursday, Nov. 9. Faculty who receive student applicants will then get to select which student they would like to have as a mentee/research assistant. Matches will be finalized by the end of fall quarter, with research mentorships during winter and spring quarters of 2024.
The faculty who are selected for this research mentoring initiative will receive $1,000 per winter/spring quarters ($2,000 total) through a Faculty Service payment (taxed). Students who are matched for this initiative will receive $2,000 per winter/spring quarters ($4,000 total) distributed via financial aid. OUDI also has a travel fund to which BEACoN students can apply for support (e.g., for presentation of BEACoN Research projects at a conference).
Click here for an example of how selected project descriptions will be posted on our website for students to choose from.
Submit your application using the links or QR codes below and your Cal Poly email address when it prompts you for a Microsoft ID by 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 6.
Faculty who were BEACoN Research Mentors last year are welcome to apply, though priority may be given to faculty mentors who would not be participating for a second consecutive year.
We look forward to reading your applications and hope you consider serving our underrepresented students in this way! For any questions or concerns, contact Dr. Kelly Bennion at kbennion@calpoly.edu.
