Dean alumni & friends,
As we embark on another academic year, I am filled with excitement for the intellectual growth and discovery that lies ahead for our students. In the College of Letters & Science, we are committed to providing every student with an exceptional education, and a cornerstone of that mission is to offer our undergraduates unparalleled opportunities for hands-on research. I know firsthand how transformative these experiences can be, as my own career has been shaped by the research I pursued as an undergraduate astronomy student. The skills I developed — critical thinking, problem-solving and communicating complex ideas — are invaluable in my career. I want our students to have access to the same life-changing programs that I had in my own academic career.
This year, we’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of our Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program. Each year, URS pairs some 200 undergraduate students with faculty mentors to explore career paths through hands-on, interdisciplinary research. Scholars learn what it means to do research in the lab and in the field through weekly small-group seminars, where they explore topics focused on the critical issues facing our society today, from climate change to health disparities within marginalized communities.
URS embodies a mindset of ‘you try, you fail, you try again.’ And you can learn so much from the people around you, from your peers and in your classes.
Students join URS during their first or second year on campus, meaning they gain exposure to faculty labs and research practices early in their academic career. Scholars also learn to take risks, knowing there’s a support system in place to help them learn from their mistakes. “URS embodies a mindset of ‘you try, you fail, you try again.’” says Hailey Patel, a URS fellow who graduated last spring. “And you can learn so much from the people around you, from your peers and in your classes.”
For URS Director Hannah Bailey, exposing students to research early in their careers is critical to future success: “Our hope is that this early research experience will help our students make informed decisions about the classes they take, the majors they declare, and the career and post-baccalaureate plans they pursue.”
Philanthropy plays a pivotal role in shaping the student experience across the College, and gifts to the Letters & Science Annual Fund directly support programs such as the Undergraduate Research Scholars. With your generous support, we can expand these initiatives, ensuring that every L&S student has the opportunity to participate in experiences that will profoundly impact their future.
I’m proud of what we’re accomplishing in L&S, and I hope you are, too. Please join me in ensuring that our students leave L&S prepared to lead by supporting the Letters & Science Annual Fund.
Thank you, and On, Wisconsin!
Eric M. Wilcots, Dean
Mary C. Jacoby Professor of Astronomy
College of Letters & Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison