Undergraduate Research
The Office of Undergraduate Research is excited to offer graduation cords to those
who have demonstrated a commitment to research during their undergraduate years. This
cord serves as a symbol of your dedication to academic inquiry and your contribution
to the scholarly community.
How to Earn the Undergraduate Research Graduation Cords
To qualify for the undergraduate research cord, students must accumulate a minimum of 150 points by attending specified events and activities. Qualifying activities, which are listed below, include attending workshops, participating in research programs and symposiums, presenting at conferences, and more. Each event and activity grants a specific number of points, and students can earn more points by being more involved in the research community. Please note that to qualify, students must have participated in at least one research project, such as working on a faculty member's research project or conducting independent research.
The graduation cord is free and is only offered to select students who have earned the required number of points. As a result, we strongly encourage all students to strive towards this achievement by participating in research opportunities, attending events, and engaging with the research community at KSU and beyond.
We recognize the value of undergraduate research and the significant impact it can have on a student's academic and professional pursuits. Therefore, we believe that wearing this cord is an honor and a testament to your hard work and dedication.
Once you have reached the minimum point requirement of 150, you will submit an application, providing information on the research conducted, identifying the completed activities, and completing a short reflection on your experience with undergraduate research at KSU noting how it has impacted your academic and personal pursuits.
The application button can be found in the FAQ section below.
Qualifying Activites
Students must reach 150 points to be eligible for graduation cords. Below are the possible activities and the points associated. Be aware that you can participate in many of these activities multiple times and earn points each time. For example, three presentations at the Symposium of Student Scholars = 60 points (20 points per presentation).
To ensure that you receive proper credit for your attendance at qualifying events, we recommend taking pictures of your attendance and participation, and tapping in with your Talon Card at each event to provide as proof.
Your submission will be reviewed, and the awarding of cords is at the discretion of the Executive Director of Undergraduate Research. Some submissions may be returned for lack of data or even denied, so we encourage you to submit early so you have time to resubmit before your graduation.
| Program/Event/Activity | Points |
|---|---|
| Participation in the First-Year Scholars Program, a paid program in the Office of Undergraduate Research | 25 Total |
| Participation in the Sophomore Scholars Program, a paid program in the Office of Undergraduate Research | 30 Total |
| Participation in the Junior Scholars Program, a paid program in the Office of Undergraduate Research | 30 Total |
| Participation in the Senior Scholars Program, a paid program in the Office of Undergraduate Research | 30 Total |
| Participation in the Thrive/Achieve Atlanta (THAAT) Research Program | 30 Total |
| Participation in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), a paid program in the Office of Undergraduate Research | 40 Total |
| Participation in the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program through the National Science Foundation (NSF) | 40 Each Time |
| Participation in the Birla Carbon Scholars Program | 40 Each Time |
| Participation in the Inspire Summer Scholars Program | 20 Each Time |
| Served as an Undergraduate Research Peer Ambassador, a paid program in the Office of Undergraduate Research | 30 Per Year |
| Registered Member of the Undergraduate Research Club | 5 Total |
| Served as an Officer in the Undergraduate Research Club (any position except President) | 15 Per Year |
| Served as the President of the Undergraduate Research Club | 20 Per Year |
| Published a paper in the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR) | 35 Per Paper |
| Presented at a public, on-campus research symposium, including the Symposium of Student Scholars, C-Day, Analytics Day, or another on-campus research event | 20 Per Presentation |
| Presented at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) | 30 Per Presentation |
| Presented at Posters at the Georgia State Capitol | 30 Per Presentation |
| Presented at the Georgia Undergraduate Research Conference (GURC) | 20 Per Presentation |
| Presented at research conference sponsored by a professional society | 30 Per Presentation |
| Registered Member of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) or another professional society | 5 Per Society |
| Attended an undergraduate research workshop | 5 Per Workshop |
| Served as an intern for the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR) | 20 Per Semester |
| Received Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities (URCA) funding | 25 Per Year |
| Author or co-author on a peer-reviewed journal publication (not a predatory journal, indexed, include impact factor) | 80 Per Publication |
| Author or co-author on conference proceedings (peer reviewed) | 30 Per Proceeding |
| Author or co-author on a scholarly book or book chapter | 30 Per |
| Author or co-author on a story in a newspaper or magazine about the research | 25 Per |
| Author or co-author on a peer-reviewed presentation (not already captured above) | 30 Per Presentation |
| College or department funding for undergraduate research | 25 Per Each |
| National or international funding for undergraduate research | 35 Per Each |
| Received an award for undergraduate research | 45 Per Award |
| Was featured in a story about their undergraduate research (must be a published story in a magazine, newspaper, or website -- not a social media posting) | 30 Per Story |
| Conducted research that led to an external grant proposal, not yet funded (include a letter from the faculty mentor describing the undergraduate researcher's contributions) | 30 Per Each |
| Conducted research that led to an external funded grant (include a letter from the faculty mentor describing the undergraduate researcher's contributions) | 40 Per Each |
| Was paid for undergraduate research activities from a faculty member's externally funded grant | 30 Total |
| Worked on an Undergraduate Research in Study Abroad project | 25 Total |
|
Received the Goldwater Scholarship |
150 Total |
How do I apply for the undergraduate research graduation cords?
Once you have reached 150 points, please apply here:
Submission FormWhen is the application due?
For Fall graduation, the application is due by November 27th.
For Spring graduation, the application is due by April 29th.
Is there a cost associated with the graduation cords?
If I lose my cord before graduation, can I get another one?
