We believe hands-on, self-driven learning through research is an essential part of your educational journey – and it shouldn’t be just for graduate students. That’s why Randolph-Macon undergrads complete research projects through senior capstones, summer fellowships, and other unique coursework.
“I’ve loved digging these stories out of the back pages of newspapers and amplifying voices that were buried under everything else. The research has been a really fascinating look at the similarities between what we’re going through now and what people experienced over a hundred years ago.”
Grace Bakeman ’23 (“As Catchy as the Flu”: Gauging the Impact of the 1918 and the 2020 Pandemics on Concert Culture in the United States)
Undergraduate research is a direct, hands-on approach to learning that inspires students and helps to develop important skills necessary for successful careers and graduate school study. Through original research, students develop a deeper understanding of the scientific process and master skills in:
The Schapiro Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program was established in 1996 through a generous gift made by Ben ’64 and Peggy Schapiro to encourage Randolph-Macon students to pursue original research as undergraduates. SURF offers RMC students from all disciplines the unique opportunity to conduct nine weeks of full-time research, during the summer months, under the careful guidance of a faculty mentor. Students receive a stipend and free housing and spend the summer delving deeply into an original research question.
Hands-on study is at the heart of many RMC courses where students work together to answer an original research question under the guidance of faculty mentors. Through collaborative coursework, students write their own proposals and conduct group research throughout the duration of the course.
Randolph-Macon students, from a variety of disciplines, contribute to their field through original research during independent study or capstone projects. These projects let students conduct research for credit while working directly with a faculty mentor to refine questions, create a research plan and often, to present their research as well.
Each spring, the Randolph-Macon Student Symposium of Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity showcases this work.
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Jane Elkins ’26 has earned recognition for her research on voter participation, receiving the Pi Sigma Alpha Best Undergraduate Paper Award.
Wyatt Richardson ’26 has spent his SURF summer studying the impact of wild flowers and other plants on pollinator populations at Shalom Farms in Richmond.
213 students formally presented their work, showcasing a broad range of scholarly and creative pursuits.
