About UROP

As one of several campus initiatives created in the late 1980s to improve the retention and academic achievement of under-represented students on the University of Michigan campus, the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) has developed into a nationally award winning program that enhances the undergraduate educational experience through the integration of teaching and research.

Begun in 1989 with 14 student/faculty partnerships, UROP continues to grow, offering more first and second year students the opportunity to be part of an exciting research community. Today, approximately 1,000 students and over 500 faculty researchers are collaborating in the discovery process.  UROP provides a hands-on learning experience for first and second year students through research partnerships with faculty in all academic fields and disciplines.  Students develop research and academic skills through faculty mentors, research work, research seminars, skill building workshops and peer advising.  While admission is open to all UM students, UROP continues to work toward improving the retention and academic achievement of underrepresented students and to support women in science and engineering.

UROP fosters collaboration between undergraduate students, faculty, research scientists, graduate students, and post docs creating a dynamic intergenerational learning community. UROP students’ academic lives are enriched through learning outside the classroom and developing learning tools and critical thinking skills that benefit them in their traditional coursework. By participating in undergraduate research, students discover new competencies, strengthen their intellectual curiosity, and clarify their academic and professional goals.

Our own longitudinal assessment of the impact of the program on student learning has found that UROP students (1) are more proactive about their education and more engaged in the university’s academic life; (2) learn how to process and evaluate information; (3) gain research competency in a discipline; and (4) are more likely to pursue graduate and professional school.  More details about our program outcomes may be found in Evaluation & Assessment .