The Research or Creative Experience for Undergraduates (RCEU) Program

Program Description
The purpose of The University of Alabama in Huntsville RCEU program is:

• To support research or creative work experiences for undergraduate students in all fields of study
• To foster cooperation between students and researchers in a research or creative endeavor, and to expose the student to academic scholarly work via active participation in a research, creative, or scholarly project
• To assist in furthering UAH’s research activities by helping to provide opportunities for new and ongoing areas of study and creative work

Students undertake activities within a research or creative work project typically lasting for 10 to 12 weeks in the summer and under the direct supervision of a UAH full-time faculty member or researcher (including tenure-earning and tenured faculty, lecturers, and research staff with term faculty appointments). The work hours correspond to a full-time job (approx 32-40 hours per week) and will also include a stipend/allowance for living expenses. Housing will be available in University housing at the usual rates for summer occupancy.

To participate in the program, students must be enrolled as a UAH undergraduate student for either the summer or fall semester of 2017. While previous RCEU student participants can apply, preference will be given to new student applicants. Women and minority students will be encouraged to apply.  Proposing faculty and researchers are requested to encourage female and minority student applicants.

A non-exclusive list of possible activities includes laboratory experiments, musical compositions, field studies, clinical projects, engineering experiments and projects, theoretical work, human behavior studies, writing projects, and visual art projects.

The program is funded through the office of the President, the office of the Provost, and the office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at UAH, as well as through the College of Science, the College of Business, the College of Nursing, and the Alabama Space Grant Consortium and other sources as they become available. The Faculty Senate Finance and Resources Committee reviews RCEU proposals and makes individual awards. The committee strives to provide an equitable distribution of awards between colleges and departments.

UAH English Proficiency Requirements

All applicants whose native language is other than English must demonstrate the linguistic proficiency necessary to function in degree programs at UAH.

1. Unconditional admission to degree programs.
   • In order to be considered for admission to degree programs with no additional English language training required, applicants must meet the following minimums on the TOEFL or IELTS.
     TOEFL (iBT): all sub-scores greater than or equal to 18 OR
     IELTS: all sub-scores greater than or equal to 6.0
   • Students with two or more sub-scores below these minimum qualifications must enroll in the UAH Intensive Language and Culture (ILC) Program before they can enroll in graduate course work.
     *Language proficiency is only one factor in admission decisions. To confirm the full admission requirements for specific degree programs, please contact the department directly.
2. Admission to the ILC Program.
   • Applicants who do not currently meet the requirements for admission to a degree program at the university are encouraged to apply for admission to the UAH Intensive Language and Culture (ILC) Program. Successful completion of the UAH ILC meets the language proficiency standard for admission to degree programs at the university.
3. • To be considered for admission to the UAH Intensive Language and Culture Program, applicants must have the following minimums on the TOEFL or IELTS.*
     TOEFL (iBT): Overall of at least 50 with no sub-score below 12 OR
     IELTS: Overall of at least 4.0 with no sub-score below 3.5
     *NOTE: If an applicant does not have a TOEFL or an IELTS score, he/she may request a pre-assessment and be considered for admission to the ILC. He/she will then be formally assessed upon arrival at UAH and will be placed in appropriate classes in the ILC program.

Service Opportunities

The University of Alabama in Huntsville is a community of “Volunteer Chargers” students, faculty, and staff members who give back to the campus and the Huntsville community on a weekly basis. Annually, the Office of Student Life hosts “Helping Hands for Huntsville” event during the fall Week of Welcome and “Can Creations” during Homecoming week.

The Office of Student Life provides UAH students numerous ways to serve the campus and the Huntsville community. These opportunities assist with the development of life skills and prepare students to become successful citizens of the world.

The Office of Student Life also organizes the Alternative Fall and Spring Break trips, providing interested students the opportunity to spend their breaks giving back to a community outside of Huntsville.

For information on upcoming volunteer opportunities or alternative break trips, please visit the UAH Student Events Calendar and read the weekly student Charger Newsletter. You can also see service opportunities on our Volunteer Chargers Service Board by visiting the Student Life portion of my.uah.edu

Service, Commitments, and Responsibilities

The International Student and Scholar Services is a committed advocate for The University of Alabama in Huntsville’s international community and provides a safe and confidential setting where individuals can receive assistance regarding their needs and concerns. Our primary responsibility is to assist F-1 students, UAH sponsored J students and scholars, and individuals sponsored by UAH for employment purposes with the processes required to be enrolled as a student or hired as an employee of UAH.

We recognize the importance of balancing responsibility to the institution; to international students, faculty, and scholars; and to the appropriate government agencies. To that end, we strive to be a liaison between UAH sponsored employees, researchers, and students and a highly complex government bureaucracy.

We ensure the university is SEVIS compliant and that F students and J students and scholars have appropriate information and guidance necessary to maintain their status in the U.S.

Our many services include:

• Supporting international students and scholars with cultural, academic and social concerns to promote success at The University of Alabama in Huntsville.
• Advocating for international students, faculty, and staff and supporting other campus offices to ensure that the needs of the international community are considered when implementing university policies.
• Promoting an increased understanding of the immigration system and multiple immigration classifications of UAH students, scholars, and faculty among the campus community and providing relevant information, guidance, and resources as needed.
• Overseeing the J Exchange Visitor Program, which facilitates the ability of visiting students and scholars to do research or study at UAH.
• Preparing immigration paperwork for foreign national employees who require sponsorship to be eligible to work at UAH.
• Ensuring that the university is compliant with the Department of Labor and USCIS when sponsoring employees to work for UAH.

UAH Competitive Scholarships

Competitive Scholarships are made available to students through the generosity of alumni and friends of the University. Student eligibility is based on a variety of criteria including academic interests and achievements, special talents, and demonstrated leadership. The UAH Scholarship Application is used to determine eligibility for all competitive scholarships. The priority deadline for submission of this application is December 15. With their competitive nature, undergraduate and graduate students are urged to apply soon after admission to the University.

Graduate Scholarship Fellowship

Graduate students with exceptional GRE/GMAT/MAT scores are automatically considered for a Graduate Student Fellowship Scholarship, providing up to 30% off of tuition. No scholarship application is required. Visit our scholarship website for more information.

Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantships

Graduate assistantships provide financial assistance to graduate students as they pursue a degree. There are two kinds of assistantships: Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA). GTAs share the faculty’s responsibility for teaching, whereas GRAs do research under the supervision of a faculty member. Graduate assistants must be registered for at least 9 semester hours of graduate credit courses in the Spring and Fall (6 hours in the Summer) in which they hold an appointment. In return, the university will pay for tuition and fees for up to 12 hours per semester.