Dear CUR Community,
This year has taken off quickly, with no signs of slowing down. There is real momentum across undergraduate research and within the CUR community, and it is exciting to see the many ways this work continues to grow and reach new audiences. At the same time, we recognize that many of you are navigating significant uncertainty. During our recent Grant Dialogues conversation, we discussed the continued challenges surrounding federal research funding, including delayed and unclear distribution timelines. Much about the current environment remains uncertain. Even so, across this community, we continue to see faculty, staff, and mentors stepping up for their students and for one another. Our shared commitment is what makes this community so strong, and it reminds us that we move forward together.
I just returned from two inspiring days with this year’s Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR) cohort. The students and mentors were outstanding. During their time together, they engaged in advocacy training and met with leaders from more than a dozen other associations to discuss advocacy priorities and the power of collaboration across scholarly societies. The conversations were thoughtful, forward-looking, and a reminder of how powerful it is when communities come together around shared goals. If you are on LinkedIn, I encourage you to search #CURSTR to see reflections and highlights from participants about their experiences.
We are also just a few weeks away from the National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), and it is shaping up to be one for the record books. Submissions increased by nearly 20% this year, acceptances and registrations were strong, and the Future Fair has continued its impressive growth and is now sold out. Richmond will be an exciting host city, and we are looking forward to several impactful days celebrating undergraduate research. And, for those who keep an eye on these things, the swag store is back this year with some new favorites!
On March 17, CUR President James LaPlant shared an update with the community during the Community Engagement Meeting, reviewing highlights from CUR’s impact report and reflecting on the many accomplishments of 2025. These moments of connection and reflection are important as we continue building momentum together, watch it here.
Earlier this month, the National Office team gathered for a planning retreat to begin preparing for year two of CUR’s strategic plan and to operationalize the Board’s roadmap for the organization. Over the coming year, we will continue the research phase of the CUR branding study to help determine what comes next for the organization’s identity and positioning. We will also be piloting an update to the CUR program review offering, advancing several partnership initiatives, expanding our advocacy efforts for undergraduate research, and continuing work to improve the volunteer experience across CUR. There is a great deal underway, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead.
Looking forward, planning is well underway for ConnectUR this June, taking place onsite in College Park and online, and we hope many of you will join us. We are especially excited to introduce the first class of CUR Fellows, who will participate in a panel discussion during the on-site event. We are also thrilled to welcome Jen Heemstra for a plenary session on leadership lessons learned from the lab, along with a session led by colleagues from AAC&U titled Undergraduate Research as an Engine of Public Trust in Higher Education.
We also invite you to join us for the CUR Awards Celebration on June 10 from 2:00-3:30 PM ET. Celebrating excellence is an important part of strengthening our community and recognizing the people whose work continues to advance undergraduate research in meaningful ways. During this event, we will highlight several outstanding contributors, including our AURA recipients, the inaugural class of CUR Fellows, the CUR–GWS Award recipient, the Silvia Ronco Award recipient, and others whose leadership, scholarship, and service help move this work forward. We hope you will join us to celebrate their accomplishments and cheer them on.
Thank you for everything you do to advance undergraduate research and to strengthen this community. I look forward to seeing many of you in Richmond and again this summer at ConnectUR.
With gratitude and excitement,
Lindsay Currie
Executive Officer
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.
