First-Year Scholars Program: Information for Accepted Students

Congratulations on becoming a First-Year Scholar! Please read the information below carefully.

Important Dates

DATE ACTIVITY/EVENT
Week of September 30, 2024 Mandatory Student Orientations (if you have questions about the Vendor form, please bring your bank information and we will walk you through it)
Wednesday, November 6, 2024 by 11:59pm PI and Student Progress Reports due
Week of November 11, 2024 Office of Undergraduate Research sends first stipend ($500) for processing (payments are typically received 2-3 weeks later)
Wednesday, December 4, 2024 by 11:59pm PI and Student Mid-Year Program Evaluation due
Week of December 9, 2024 Office of Undergraduate Research sends second stipend ($500) for processing (payments are typically received 2 weeks later)
Week of January 6, 2025 Mandatory Student Orientation refresher
Wednesday, February 12, 2025 by 11:59pm PI and Student Progress Reports due
Week of February 17, 2025 Office of Undergraduate Research sends first Spring stipend ($500) for processing (payments are typically received 2 weeks later)
Wednesday, April 23, 2025 by 11:59pm PI and Student Year-End Program Evaluations due
Week of April 29, 2025 Office of Undergraduate Research sends final stipend ($500) for processing (payments are typically received 2 weeks later)

 

*Please note: International Student payments are taxed at a rate of 30%, and therefore your final payment will be less than what is noted.

Professional Development Workshop Attendance Details

The Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) and the Undergraduate Research Peer Ambassadors will be monitoring attendance to all professional development activities.

In order for your attendance to be counted, please be sure to follow the guidelines set in place:

  • You must be on time for all activities, arriving no later than 10-minutes after the start time
  • You must tap-in or sign-in upon arrival
  • You must stay for the duration of the activity
    • An attendance quiz will be given via D2L at the end of most activities. If you do not take the quiz successfully, your attendance will not count

What do I need to do to get the first Fall stipend ($500)?

  • Accepted students are required to attend one of the mandatory orientation sessions listed below. We highly encourage students to attend one of the in-person sessions to meet your fellow scholars!

    Please bring your bank information as we will walk you through the registration form required for direct deposit payments.

    • Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 11:00am-12:00pm
      • Kennesaw Campus
        • Academic Learning Center, Undergraduate Research suite 5500
          • Snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring your lunch
    • Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at 3:30pm-4:30pm
      • Marietta Campus
        • Atrium Building, room J262
          • Snacks will be provided
    • Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 12:30pm-1:30pm
    • Friday, October 4, 2024 at 2:30pm-3:30pm

  • Due: November 6, 2024 by 11:59pm

    • Student Progress Reports are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.

  • Due: November 6, 2024 by 11:59pm

    • PI Progress Reports are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.
  • First-Year Scholars should be working 5-10 hours on their assigned project. If this is not the case, please talk to your PI about the working hours schedule.
Please note: Your first payment may take longer to receive, as you are a new vendor in KSU's system. If you requested direct deposit, but your bank rejects the request, you will automatically be sent a paper check to the address you noted on your vendor paperwork.

What do I need to do to get the second Fall stipend ($500)?

  • Any of the options listed below will count as your Professional Development Activity, which should be completed by December 6, 2024.
    Students are encouraged to complete this requirement early, and not wait until the last offered sessions.

    • Undergraduate Research Peer Ambassador Workshop(s)
    • Open Access Week Workshop: Publishing in the Kennesaw Journal of Undergraduate Research (KJUR)
      • Monday October 21, 2024 at 2pm to 2:45pm
        • Sturgis Library Room G12 - The Hub (Kennesaw Campus)
    • Student Researcher "Check-In" Session(s)
    • Undergraduate Research Club Meetings
      • Academic Learning Center (Kennesaw Campus), OUR Suite 5500 OR MS Teams
        • Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 6pm to 8pm
          • Spooktacular Movie Night
        • Monday, October 28, 2024 at  5:30pm - 6:30pm
        • Monday, November 11, 2024 at  5:30pm - 6:30pm
        • Wednesday, December 4, 2024 at 4:00pm - 6:00pm
    • Neuroscience Research Panel [Hosted by the Undergraduate Research Club and the Neuroscience Club]
      • Monday, October 21, 2024 at 5:30pm-6:30pm
        • ALC Suite 5500
    • Georgia Tech Research Institute Information Session [Hosted by Career Planning and Development]
      • Monday, November 4, 2024 at 12:00pm-1:30pm
        • Atrium building, room J202 (Marietta Campus)
          • Be sure to TAP-IN at the beginning and find your Peer Ambassadors at the end for the attendance quiz details
    • Student Researcher End of Semester Social(s)
    • Expanding Perspectives: A Panel on Humanities, Business, Arts, Education, & Social Sciences Research [Hosted by the Undergraduate Research Club]
      • Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 5:30pm-6:30pm
        • Academic Learning Center (Kennesaw Campus), OUR Suite 5500 OR MS Teams
    • SMART Center Workshops
      • Any offered workshop between Monday, October 7, 2024 - Thursday, November 21, 2024
        • You MUST RSVP via OwlLife and be sure to tap-in when you arrive

  • The Fall Symposium of Student Scholars is a multi-day event consisting of oral, poster, and virtual presentations held on the Marietta Campus. Scholars are highly encouraged to attend in person if possible, to experience what you will be doing at the spring symposium, but you may also attend virtually.

    View more information, including the 2024 schedule.

    Attendance Requirements:

    • In-Person Sessions: You must attend a minimum of one (1) session and stay for the entire session (typically 45-50 minutes each)
    • OR
    • Virtual Sessions: You must attend a minimum of two (2) sessions and stay for the duration of both (typically 10-15 mins each)
      • There is no attendance grace period allotted for this activity

    Please be sure to tap-in at the check-in table of each session you attend, in order for your attendance to be counted. Virtual attendance is captured by TEAMS, and it must show that you logged in on time and remained through the entire presentations time. 

    Failure to attend will mean forfeiting the entire second stipend.

  • Due: December 4, 2024 by 11:59pm

    • Student Mid-Year Evaluations are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.

  • Due: December 4, 2024 by 11:59pm

    • PI Mid-Year Evaluations are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.
  • First-Year Scholars should be working 5-10 hours on their assigned project. If this is not the case, please talk to your PI about the working hours schedule.

What do I need to do to get the first Spring stipend ($500)?

  • Returning accepted students' GPA must be above a 2.0 going into the spring semester in order to remain in the program.

  • Accepted students are required to attend one of the Orientation Refresher sessions listed below. We highly encourage students to attend one of the in-person sessions to reconnect with your fellow scholars!

    • Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 12:30pm-1:30pm
      • Kennesaw Campus
        • Prillaman Hall, room HS1105
          • Snacks will be provided, but feel free to bring your lunch
    • Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 3:30pm - 4:30pm
      • Marietta Campus
        • Academic Building, room H200
          • Snacks will be provided
    • Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 2:30pm - 3:30pm
    • Friday, January 10, 2025 at 10:00am-11:00am
    • RESCHEDULED: Monday, January 13, 2025 at 11:15am - 12:15pm
      • Kennesaw Campus
        • ALC 5500
        • This is a back-up session only. Space is limited!

  • Due: February 12, 2025 at 11:59pm

    • Student Progress Reports are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.

  • Due: February 12, 2025 at 11:59pm

    • PI Progress Reports are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.
  • First-Year Scholars should be working 5-10 hours on their assigned project. If this is not the case, please talk to your PI about the working hours schedule.

What do I need to do to get the final Spring stipend ($500)?

  • All of the options listed below or any of the options listed in the previous cycle will count as your Professional Development Activity, which should be completed by Friday, April 25, 2025.
    Students are encouraged to complete this requirement early, and not wait until the last offered sessions.
    • Undergraduate Research Peer Ambassador Workshop(s)
    • Undergraduate Research Club Meetings
      • Academic Learning Center, OUR Suite 5500 OR MS Teams (Kennesaw Campus or Virtual)
        • Monday, January 27, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
        • Monday, February 24, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
        • Monday, March 31, 2025 at 5:30pm - 6:30pm
    • Student Researcher Check-in Sessions
    • All Majors Career Fair - Prep Fair [co-hosted by the Undergraduate Research Club]
    • Student Researcher Year-End Social
    • SMART Center Workshops
      • Any offered workshop between Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - Thursday, April 24, 2025
        • You MUST RSVP via OwlLife and be sure to tap-in when you arrive
    • Office of Research - IRB Training Workshops
      • Any offered workshop between Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - Friday, April 25, 2025
        • You MUST RSVP in advance to receive the link to each individual workshop
        • Attendance rosters will be provided to the OUR by the host after each session to verify attendance

  • The Spring Symposium of Student Scholars is held on the Kennesaw Campus and virtually.

    All First-Year Scholar students are required to submit an abstract for review and approval [you are not automatically accepted to the Symposium].

    Abstract Deadline Dates:

    • In-Person Oral Presentation or Performance Abstract Submission Deadline:
      • Wednesday, February 26, 2025 by 11:59pm
    • In-Person Poster Presentation, Visual Arts Display, or Virtual Presentation Abstract Submission Deadline:
      • Wednesday, March 5, 2025 by 11:59pm

    All First-Year Scholars are required to present at the Spring Symposium of Student Scholars.

    Symposium Schedule:

    • Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 9:00AM-6:00PM
      • In-Person Oral Presentations or Performances
    • Thursday, April 17, 2025, 9:00AM-5:00PM
      • In-Person Poster Presentations and Visual Arts Displays
    • Friday, April 18, 2025, 12:00pm-5:00pm
      • All Virtual Presentations

    View more information  on abstract submissions and the Symposium.

  • Due: April 23, 2025 by 11:59pm

    • Student Year-End Evaluations are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.

  • Due: April 23, 2025 by 11:59pm

    • PI Year-End Evaluations are to be completed via InfoReady. Please check your email for a direct link.
  • First-Year Scholars should be working 5-10 hours on their assigned project. If this is not the case, please talk to your PI about the working hours schedule.