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How to submit your course for Research Intensive Designation (RI)

What is Research Intensive (RI) Designation?

RI designated courses are ones in which undergraduate students actively engage in the process of research and inquiry at the intensive level through projects and assignments. These projects should count for a significant portion of the course grade (at least 40%).

What is Required in the Course Syllabus?

Research Intensive (RI) Course designation manual

Faculty submitting courses for RI designation should consult with your College Undergraduate Research Curriculum Committee (URCC) Representative for assistance in preparing RI designation materials. Updated RI syllabi should demonstrate the following:

  1. Actively engage students in the process of intensive-level research and inquiry which generates tangible outcomes
  2. Provide opportunities for students to communicate the design, method and results of research conducted during the course
  3. Demonstrate how the course addresses and evaluates all six Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs):
    • Knowledge
    • Formulate Questions
    • Plan of Action
    • Critical Thinking
    • Ethics
    • Communication 
      • The Committee provides recommended language to facilitate the inclusion of “Ethics” and “Communication” SLOs in your syllabus.
  4. Description of all 6 Student Learning Outcomes and how they apply to your course
  5. No less than 40% of the course grade must be tied to the RI assignment(s) or products
  6. The course must be taken for a letter grade
  7. Demonstrate individual assessment of student research work (team projects are allowed).
  8. Include RI Language and Undergraduate Research Certificate Language in the syllabus
  9. Include RI in the title of the course, i.e. RI: Course Title
  10. Include two slides for your first lecture informing students that they are in an RI course

 

NOTE: Any syllabi submitted for review should also adhere to the Provost's guidelines for course syllabi, including but not limited to

  • Course Description (Please include Pre-requisites)
  • Classroom etiquette policy (if applicable)
  • Attendance Policy Statement
  • Disability Policy Statement
  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Center
  • Code of Academic Integrity Policy statement

Please review the worksheet, which the URCC uses to evaluate your syllabi, as you prepare your materials. You will also be required to submit an RI course matrix with your syllabi.

Please see the Research Intensive (RI) Course Designation Manual for further guidance on RI courses.

RI Course Designation Procedures

There are three documents required to apply for RI course designation:

  1. A course syllabus
    • RI course syllabus requirements; please refer to the RI syllabus worksheet that the Committee applies to evaluate your course
    • A sample Research Intensive course syllabus is provided (RI syllabus)
  2. The RI course matrix
  3. The appropriate form
    • New Course form
    • Course Change form for existing courses where RI will be included permanently and in all sections

Note: If the course impacts a program, a New/Change Program Form is required

Submitting Your Course for RI Designation - Approval Process

If you are submitting an RI course for consideration, please check the syllabi, course forms and program changes for accuracy.

  1. Please use the RI course syllabus worksheet that the Committee applies to evaluate your course, and consult with your College URCC Representative for assistance in preparing RI designation materials.
  2. Submit your course to the Department and College Undergraduate Committees for approval.
  3. Submit the approved course application package to the URCC for review (materials listed above), one week prior to the meeting date. Please see the URCC meeting schedule for timeline planning.
    • These documents must be sent to Patricia Sampedro (psampedr@fau.edu) at least ten days before the URCC meeting. The documents for RI course approval should be reviewed by the College's URCC Representative prior to sending.
  4. URCC reviews and makes recommendations on all completed RI Designation proposals to UUPC.
  5. UUPC approved proposals will continue through the university channels for approval. This includes Steering and Policy, University Faculty Senate, and State.
  6. Once the Statewide Course Numbering System, SCNS, approves the course, the Registrar’s Office adds the course for scheduling and adds it to the University Catalog. Department chairs will receive a copy of the SCNS report to inform them the course has received all approvals and is ready for scheduling.

Proposals not approved by the URCC may be revised and resubmitted.

Five-Year Review of RI Designated Courses

Once a course receives initial RI designation, it is reviewed every five years by the College URCC Representatives and faculty in a related field to be re-certified as an RI course.

A course portfolio will be requested for review, and should include the course syllabus, RI course matrix  and access to one example of a student research product from the course. Examples of a student research product may be a document, video, oral presentation or creative product.

The request for the portfolio will be sent to the faculty member that initially submitted the course for RI designation. The submitted syllabus does not need the listed instructor of record to necessarily be whoever initially submitted the course for RI designation. 

When submitting portfolio items, the included syllabus and research products do not need to be anonymized.

Please refer to the Undergraduate Research Intensive (RI) Course Review Worksheet for the review criteria.

Recommended Timelines for RI Designation

For faculty who wish to have their courses RI-approved and listed on the Fall schedule, there are three deadlines to be considered:

  • For RI designated courses to be included before advanced registration, course packages must be submitted and approved no later than the November URCC meeting the year prior
  • For RI designated courses to be included “shortly after Fall advanced registration begins”, course packages must be submitted and approved no later than the January URCC meeting
  • For RI designated courses to be included towards the beginning of the regular registration period, course packages must be submitted and approved no later than the February URCC meeting

For faculty who wish to have their courses RI approved and listed on the Spring schedule, there are three deadlines to be considered:

  • For RI designated courses to be included before advanced registration, course packages must be submitted and approved no later than the February URCC meeting the year prior
  • For RI designated courses to be included “shortly after fall advanced registration begins”, course packages must be submitted and approved no later than the April URCC meeting
  • For RI designated courses to be included towards the beginning of the regular registration period, course packages must be submitted and approved no later than the September URCC meeting

RI Designation and DIR Courses Approved

OURI tracks all RI and DIR courses which have been approved by the University Committees and the State. Please sign in with FAU single sign-on to access this document.

RI and DIR Courses Approved list by College