Integrated Undergraduate / Graduate (IUG) Study

The following IUG program overview is taken from the Schreyer’s Honor’s College web page. This link also includes forms and procedures for submitting an IUG application:

http://www.shc.psu.edu/currentscholars/IUG/index.shtml

“Overview: IUG arrangements are designed for Schreyer Scholars who have exceptional academic records; whose progress in the major is so advanced that they would be taking graduate courses in later semesters even without IUG status; whose general education progress and plans indicate a readiness to forge ahead with specialization; and who are ready, indeed eager, for that particular challenge of graduate work, research and advancing knowledge. Schreyer Scholars who believe they are among such students are encouraged to apply for Integrated Undergraduate/Graduate status.”

The IUG guidelines found on the web page above are general to provide breadth of applicability to the entire University. Details of handling IUG students therefore vary considerably throughout the University. It is therefore useful to provide some additional guidelines that are more specifically applicable to the Department of Chemical Engineering.

Commitment by the Student

Undertaking a master’s thesis in Chemical Engineering is a significant commitment. In addition to taking graduate coursework, the student must undertake research that is well beyond what is typically expected for an honors thesis. The student must balance this course and research work with an undergraduate curriculum that is extremely demanding (both in time and intellect). Therefore, the IUG program should be undertaken with an understanding that there may ‘sacrifices’ needed. The additional rigor of pursing an IUG 'course curriculum' should not displace the effort that would be expected for an exceptional honors / IUG thesis. Some of the commitments are more specifically delineated below:

1) Commitment to pursue research during the summer. Chemical engineers have a wide range of opportunities to pursue industrial internships, study abroad, and other financially and professionally rewarding activities. It should be recognized, however, that the summer months are a particularly productive time for research to be carried out. During summer, faculty are often much more focused on research activities; other graduate students and collaborators both inside and outside the University are usually much easier to interact with. Recognizing the value of the summer in carrying out a meaningful IUG thesis, in participating in the IUG program, a student is making the commitment to:

- actively pursue the many opportunities to obtain research support on campus to conduct the research (SHC fellowships, consortia fellowships, and myriads of summer research programs)

- give priority to conduct thesis research in the summer (even when ‘better financial opportunities exist).

- utilize opportunities of ‘breaks’ and times between semesters to undertake research.

2) Commitment to undertake curriculum planning to enhance thesis research. The chemical engineering curriculum provides for electives in areas of chemistry, engineering science and advanced Chemical engineering courses. Many of these specialized elective courses are offered on a sparing schedule; therefore, accommodating these courses may require not only planning, but forgoing other academic opportunities to assure that these courses can be taken. In addition, participation the Schreyers Honors Program provides the additional flexibility where it may be advantageous to provide extra emphasis on their thesis via course substitutes (while satisfying accreditation and other curriculum requirements).

- prioritize curriculum that supports the IUG thesis. This includes the possibility of forgoing other opportunities such as Co-op, study abroad, or including activities such as summer courses or extra effort to obtain prerequisites, in order to achieve the best possible academic preparation related to thesis work.

- Explore the flexibility provided by the Scholars program to provide extra emphasis on their thesis via course substitutes (example: replace senior laboratory with additional research while obtaining communications skills outcomes of this course in a professional research setting).

Commitment by the Faculty Advisor, Chemical Engineering Department and University

The intention of the IUG program is to provide a superior undergraduate student with the opportunity to simultaneously obtain the experience of graduate and undergraduate education. The commitment of the student must be matched by a commitment from the advisor and the department to support the students IUG plan of study.

1) Support for IUG students during their first 8 academic semesters. The commitment of time and resources of the faculty advisor to carry out the IUG research are implied, but should not be understated for their value to the success of an IUG thesis. For those students who have academic scholarships via the Schreyer’s Honors College (SHC), their academic scholarships provide financial support for honors study that includes an IUG plan of study. This support does not preclude receipt of additional scholarships and funds to supplement their SHC scholarship, but under usual circumstances a student would not be funded by a graduate stipend (via RA or TA) during the first 8 academic semesters. (A student cannot receive both a graduate stipend and an SHC scholarship). Many academic scholarships from industry and individuals are available within chemical engineering, and since these scholarships are awarded based on scholarship and academic performance, it is anticipated that an IUG candidate would be eligible for these additional scholarships. For non-honors students, or honors students who are nominated into the SHC during their Junior year based on academic performance do not receive SHC scholarships. Although it would be desirable to provide a level of support to such students comparable to honors students, funds within the University are not ear-marked for that purpose. There might be circumstances where an IUG student would be considered for graduate assistanceship support prior to 8 academic semesters based on advanced study, research progress and availability of funds. A graduate teaching assistanceship (TA) might also be an appropriate consideration for an IUG student who has an aptitude and interest in teaching. Guidelines for University support include:

- As with any undergraduate research project, the faculty advisor must consider the commitment of time and resources necessary to assure the IUG student will make progress towards thesis completion.

- Advisor should promote and support the IUG student’s pursuit of internal and external undergraduate fellowships. (This activity is complicated by the fact that many fellowships are also recruitment tools for companies ‘e.g. Merck Fellowship); therefore, expectations related to receipt of fellowships should be clarified.

- The department should give future consideration in financial development efforts toward providing scholarship support to ‘late entry’ SHC students who do not receive SHC fellowships with preference for support of IUG students.

- An advanced (7^th-8^th semester) IUG student may be considered eligible for the teaching assistanceship ‘pool’ within the department. The implications of this support should be clearly understood by IUG advisor and student. (Forgo SHC fellowship, delay in research progress due to TA time commitment and ultimately delay in graduation).

2) Support of summer and ‘intra-semester’ research. As described above under ‘student commitment’, the IUG academic program will make the summer research time even more critical for such a student pursuing both undergraduate and graduate degrees. The advisor of an IUG student should recognize the need to pursue funds to support an IUG student in the summer. In addition, the faculty member should commit to providing the advising support that is needed. Recognizing the value of the summer in carrying out a meaningful IUG thesis, in supporting an IUG student, a faculty member is making the commitment to:

- actively pursue funding specifically for summer IUG research (the undergraduate status of such students provides funding avenues that are not ‘typical’ for graduate students; example: REU supplements to federal grants, specifically adding budget lines in grants and industrial contracts).

- expend effort in identifying opportunities for summer research support, and assisting the student in preparation of application materials (recommendations) .

- provide for priority advising time for IUG students during those times when they have made a commitment to undertake research (including summer and intersession).

3) Support for IUG students beyond their first 8 academic semesters. It would be anticipated that after 8 semesters, an IUG student would be assimilated into the department as a graduate student. Assimilation would include both participation in ‘graduate life’ as well as financial support in the form of a graduate assistanceship. The advisor should plan for support of the student, and make support of the IUG a priority over taking on other graduate students. Providing a research assistanceship should be the objective of the advisor; however, the unpredictability of funding could result in some problems (It is difficult for an advisor to guarantee availability of funds for the IUG student’s thesis 1-2 years in advance). This also becomes problematic if the advisor has funds, but not for the thesis project the student is working on. It is not generally desirable for a student to have to switch to a different thesis topic when an IUG thesis is in the final stages of completion to justify financial support. None of these issues are particularly unique for the IUG except possibly for the timing of the commitment; therefore, they will have to be addressed on a case-by-case basis. As with other graduate students who do not have research assistanceship support, such an IUG student would then be eligible for TA support.