01-01-2011

This is to inform you about the development of the Keystone Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR), an online journal for multidisciplinary undergraduate research.  The KJUR can be another way to enhance Millersville University’s commitment to enhancing the critical role of undergraduate research on this campus.

This announcement is a follow-up to one that was sent out to all PASSHE faculty members in May.  A group of faculty from Lock Haven University and a number of other system schools is moving forward to establish a multidisciplinary undergraduate research journal that will be published on-line. Details about the journal can be found at the following website: http://www.lhup.edu/journal.  Please pay particular attention to the organizational summary found at http://www.lhup.edu/journal/Publication_process.pdf

Articles selected for publication will consist of research conducted by undergraduate students and mentored by State System faculty members.  The primary researchers and authors of the articles will be students, but the faculty mentor’s name will be included as an author of the published article. Faculty members from across the system will be responsible for reviewing the submitted articles, and for their ultimate inclusion into the journal.

Each campus needs to establish a team of interested faculty who are willing to get the word out to their colleagues about the journal and the publishing opportunities that it represents for students.  This has already been accomplished at 11 of the system schools.  There are probably many faculty members who are mentoring students in research; they need to be encouraged to have their students write up their work for possible publication in KJUR.  The team leader will coordinate communication to the rest of the campus.  Eventually, there will have to be an editorial committee formed on each campus and a Campus Editor chosen.  This committee and the Campus Editor need not be the same as the organizing team but it surely can be.  It is important that both committees are made up of faculty from a variety of disciplines because of the multidisciplinary nature of the journal.  The Millersville University liaison for the Keystone Journal for Undergraduate Research is Dr. Larry Reinking in the Department of Biology. 

The KJUR  will also need to identify discipline editors (e.g. history, biology, chemistry, education, etc.) and  will need faculty to serve as reviewers in the various disciplines.   Please keep these opportunities in mind as you think about the development of the KJUR and your own scholarly interests.

Thanks for your interest in undergraduate research and KJUR!   More information will be forthcoming.