Most nationally-competitive scholarships, fellowships and grants exist for the purpose of encouraging and enabling student research. As such, selection committees are looking for candidates who have developed a clear research agenda and who have consistently pursued that agenda throughout their undergraduate career.

That said, what is a “research agenda?” A research agenda is simply an over-arching question that drives your intellectual work. Whether you are conducting original research in your major field or writing an essay in an elective course, that question informs most of your studies.

For example, a biology major’s research agenda may center on the question: “Can environmental influences over-ride genetic traits?” Within her major, she may conduct a variety of laboratory experiments related to that question; some may consider the influence of the physical environment, some the social environment, but all ultimately relate in some way to the question, “can environmental influences over-ride genetic traits.” In elective coursework, the student brings the liberal arts approach to her research agenda. In a philosophy course, she might write an essay about the ethical implications of genetic testing. In a sociology course, she might conduct survey-research about family and peer influences on decision-making. In a politics course, she may author a paper about federal restrictions on particular types of genetic research.

As a student at a liberal arts college, you have an incredible advantage when it comes to developing a research agenda: you will be encouraged to pursue answers to your question not only within your major, but across a variety of academic fields!

As a student at a college that only serves undergraduates, you have another important advantage: the opportunity actually to engage in research independently and in collaboration with faculty members. At most universities, only graduate students have those opportunities. At Ripon, you have those opportunities. Here are some ways you can make the most of them:

• When you write a paper or prepare a scientific poster presentation that receives very positive feedback from faculty, inquire about the possibility of submitting your work to an academic conference.

• Participate in summer research opportunities. Ripon College has several programs in place that fund student-faculty summer research collaborations. Some faculty members have grant funding to hire student research assistants. The Associated Colleges of the Midwest and other academic groups also support student research. Talk to your academic advisor, the Director of Career Development, and the Dean of Faculty to learn more about opportunities that may be available to you.

• Become a Departmental Assistant. Work-study students assigned to academic departments often get an “insider” view of faculty research. Watch how faculty members pursue their own professional research agendas.

• Attend Faculty Scholarship Series presentations and even Brown Bag Lunches to see how faculty construct research projects and disseminate their results.

• Take advantage of every opportunity to learn about the protocols of academic research in your field of study. Read the leading scholarly journals in your field with an eye toward both content and form: what topics and methodologies are emerging on the cutting-edge of the field? what stylistic and structural conventions of writing do published authors follow? Attend research conferences; observe how scholars in your field present the findings of their research to their colleagues. If undergraduate memberships are available and affordable, join one of your field’s state, regional or national professional organization. Sign up for listservs in your area of study, in particular those that post “calls” (for publication and conference opportunities) and “RFPs,” or requests for proposals for research grants. Study RFPs and work with faculty at Ripon who are writing grants to familiarize yourself with the process.