March 31, 2026 – (Washington, DC) CUR congratulates its 2025 Campus-Wide Award for Undergraduate Research Accomplishments (AURA) awardee, High Point University (HPU) (High Point, NC). This award recognizes an institution with exemplary programs that provide high-quality research experiences for undergraduates. A celebration of this awardee will take place virtually on June 10, 2026.
For over 10 years, the AURA award has drawn on CUR’s Characteristics of Excellence in Undergraduate Research (COEUR), which outlines criteria for exceptional undergraduate research programs. For AURA recognition, campuses must demonstrate depth and breadth in their undergraduate research initiatives and evidence of continual innovation. Institutions of different Carnegie classifications are considered for the award.
“On behalf of CUR, we congratulate High Point University on this recognition, which reflects HPU’s exceptional commitment to fostering a culture of inquiry, mentorship, and discovery,” said Lindsay Currie, CUR’s executive officer. “By prioritizing meaningful research experiences for undergraduates across disciplines, the university is empowering students to think critically, engage creatively, and contribute to solving complex challenges. We applaud their leadership and dedication to advancing undergraduate research as a transformative educational practice.”
The high-impact practice at HPU is showcased by more than 90% of HPU’s undergraduates completing at least one experiential learning opportunity, such as faculty-mentored research, internships, or study abroad, before graduation, with a rapidly growing proportion directly engaged in original research across disciplines. The university supports this work through robust funding for student travel and presentation, dedicated research days and symposia, and strong faculty-student collaboration, resulting in conference presentations and peer-reviewed publications. HPU’s strategic investment in undergraduate research infrastructure, coupled with its emphasis on mentorship and interdisciplinary exploration, demonstrates a sustained, measurable impact on student success and positions the institution as a national leader in high-impact educational practices.
“The AURA Award is the highest honor an office of undergraduate research can earn, and we are excited to be a recipient,” said Dr. Joanne Altman, HPU professor of psychology and director of Undergraduate Research and Creative Works. Since 2001, she has been an elected volunteer at CUR.
“We are incredibly proud that High Point University has earned the CUR AURA Award. A prestigious national distinction reserved for institutions that meet the most rigorous academic standards in undergraduate research,” said HPU Provost Dr. Daniel Erb. “This recognition reflects the depth, breadth, and sustained excellence of our research programs, affirming that HPU students are engaged in the kind of rigorous, mentored scholarly inquiry that defines the very best undergraduate academic experiences in the country. This recognition strengthens our commitment to providing transformative research experiences that prepare our undergraduates to excel in graduate study, professional careers, and beyond, now and in the world as it is going to be.”
Please join CUR and the undergraduate research community in continuing to celebrate these prestigious institutions and their achievements on June 10, 2026, from 2:00-3:30PM ET. You can RSVP, here.
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.
At High Point University, every student receives an extraordinary education in an inspiring environment with caring people. ®HPU, located in the Piedmont Triad region of North Carolina, is a liberal arts institution with 6,550 undergraduate and graduate students. U.S. News & World Report has ranked HPU the No. 1 Best Regional College in the South for 14 consecutive years and the No. 1 Most Innovative Regional College in the South for 11 consecutive years. The Princeton Review ranked HPU the No. 1 Best-Run College in the nation for a second year in a row in “The Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition.” HPU was also recognized among the Top 20 in the nation for Best College Dorms, Best Career Services, Most Active Student Government, Best Campus Food, Best Student Support and Counseling Services, and Best College Theatre. For 15 years in a row, HPU has been named a College of Distinction with special recognition for career development, business and education programs. The university has 69 undergraduate majors, 74 undergraduate minors and 18 graduate degree programs. It is a member of the NCAA, Division I and the Big South Conference. Visit High Point University on the web at highpoint.edu.
