Mountaineer Undergraduate Research Review: Building a Sustainable Undergraduate Research Journal

Jeffrey Petty*, Teagan Kuzniar*, and Kevin Walden

Office of Undergraduate Research, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Presentation Category: Oral-Human Engagement (Oral Presentation #15)

Student’s Major: Biochemistry

Undergraduate research journals (URJ) are beneficial to the learning of undergraduate researchers for multiple reasons. By participating in URJs, students have the opportunity for more complete learning regarding their work, to learn about the publication process, and to build connections within their respective disciplines. While the educational value of promoting an institutional URJ is clear, it is uncertain what methods should be deployed in starting a URJ. A dormant multidisciplinary URJ, Mountaineer Undergraduate Research Review (MURR), was reformed at West Virginia in 2019, and the newest volume was published in 2020. This article describes the paths chosen by MURR student leadership in re-launching WVU’s multidisciplinary URJ. To elucidate best practices for institutions beginning URJs, an analysis of the methods used by MURR was performed, and its practices and outcomes have been documented. It was found that the methods chosen by undergraduate leadership within MURR had both positive and negative impacts on the journal’s production, public awareness, and future growth. It Is clear that decisions for expanding leadership roles and student involvement is crucial for the function and efficiency of URJs.

Funding: WVU Honors College

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: Other, WVU Honors EXCEL