What's your burning question?
What do you care about?

Apply what you learn in the classroom on campus and beyond through undergraduate research. Explore a topic related to your career interest or graduate school. Build skills and experience to strengthen your résumé, to land competitive jobs, or to get into a competitive graduate school. Develop critical-thinking skills and increase your interaction and learning from your professors with one-on-one faculty-mentored research projects.

Many of our students already conduct research, perform on stage, exhibit original artwork, present at conferences, and publish written works. Milligan's RISE Above program will provide more opportunities for more students to participate in these experiences of research and creative expression.

As part of Milligan's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), undergraduate students are encouraged to participate in at least one extensive learning project beyond the classroom before you graduate. Build on your classroom education and explore a topic of real interest to you.

Value. Examine. Create. Share.

RISE Above is designed to move traditional undergraduate students progressively through four major learning principles. In the freshman and sophomore years, building on courses already in place, RISE Above will focus on strengthening connections between knowledge and skill and promoting the inherent value of participating in research. In the junior and senior years, students will be invited to work on independent research projects, mentored by Milligan professors, and present their findings in a public forum.

Value.

• In your composition courses and Intro to College & Service, you'll learn the value of good research
• In special events sponsored by the new Office of Undergraduate Research, you'll have the opportunity to hear from faculty and guest speakers about their research
• In life, you will determine the value of research and information you encounter daily in the media, your job, and further studies

Examine.

• In your freshman composition course, you will learn how to access and use appropriate scholarly resources through the Milligan library
• In your freshman composition course, you'll learn basic research skills
• In your sophomore composition course, you'll learn critical-thinking and writing skills, learn to formulate a research question, and learn to evaluate sources and recognize them as intellectual property
• In your Intro to College & Career course, you will have the opportunity to participate in an undergraduate research project related to either your career or graduate school interest
• In your one-on-one interview with the Director of Calling & Career Exploration, you'll explore and develop a three-year career development plan that includes the prospect of conducting undergraduate research
• In subsequent courses in your major, you'll continue to apply these skills as you conduct research and prepare for other writing and creative assignments
• In life, you will use these skills to explore answers and satisfy your curiosity

Create.

• In your sophomore composition course, you'll use the knowledge you gained in the EXAMINE stage to identify a research question and prepare a research proposal
• In special events related to your major, hosted by the Office of Undergraduate Research, you'll learn about research opportunities in specific academic majors and you'll hear from faculty about their research interests
• In life, you will continue to create scholarly, creative, and professional products for your future education, career, ministry, family, or personal interest

Share.

• In sophomore composition course, select students will be invited to present their best work as part of the Sophomore Research Forum
• In a series of independent research courses guided by a Milligan faculty member, you may research and develop an original scholarly or creative work in an area interesting to you and relevant to your major
• In a variety of venues both on-campus and off, you'll have the opportunity to present your research
• In life, you will continue to create and share scholarly, creative, and professional products for your future education, career, ministry, family, or personal interest

More information coming soon!