Many students encounter an initial shock when entering this university setting—the shock is a mixture of awe and fascination at the number of students, vastness of the campus, demands of
the curriculum, and the freedom of educational choices that was lacking in the high school experience. Another and more significant shock is the expectation that undergraduate students
have some knowledge of research, albeit at a superficial level compared with graduate students. The emphasis on more intensive study and research being the core of university study was the theme of a forum, “Student Research and Artistic Initiative” (SRAI), sponsored by
The Honors College at Florida International University during the Spring 2004 semester.

As an Honors College student this past academic year, I was motivated to support and participate in this initiative. The opportunity to speak at the SRAI conference enabled me to express sentiments shared by my fellow Honors College students. My experience with The Honors College curriculum not only enhanced the scope of my academic world, but gave me the opportunity to grow as a student and as an individual.

As a student with a hearing impairment, I was at first reluctant to apply to The Honors College, fearing my disability would prevent me from fully realizing my potential as an academic. Yet, the openness and support I received makes me proud to support the Student Research and Artistic Initiatives program. Although the term “research” is used widely and freely in any university setting, the purpose of the SRAI program is to enhance the quality of research at FIU and to demystify the research world for Honors College students, while assuaging the fears associated with intensive research and academic inquiry. In order for FIU to prepare its students for the highly competitive world of graduate school and the world beyond, we must start here and now with efforts to promote, prepare, and assure the academic success of FIU students. Continuing on to graduate school is a common goal for most Honors College students, whether in the sciences, humanities, law, or other disciplines; yet, the university currently does not provide students an adequate forum to conduct research or learn about the types of research conditions that they will encounter in the future. The SRAI should provide Honors College students with the experiences needed for acceptance into highly competitive graduate programs.

The SRAI program could help to facilitate the transition of FIU’s highly motivated and dedicated
students into graduate school as well as assist the university in maintaining its position as a top public research university. The SRAI program gives Honors College students the much needed forum and support to conduct research by pairing students with dedicated faculty members that are willing to prepare students for academic research. This one-on-one collaboration enhances the learning experience and allows students to witness firsthand the stringent demands of a research environment.

It is my vision and hope that dedicated faculty members embrace the ideas behind the SRAI program and give Honors College students a stronger foundation for the future that lies ahead. The FIU community’s support of the SRAI program will set the tone for the university’s commitment to become a research intensive university. My vision foresees students paired with professors currently working in areas of students’ degrees and/or interests. This experience will not only enhance a student’s educational curriculum, but will also prepare the student for more competitive graduate work. Hopefully, the acceptance of the SRAI program will extend throughout the university and reach students across the campuses, prompting more students to consider research and graduate work. Support of this initiative will mark an important step forward in the university’s mission of producing highly motivated and highly prepared individuals for the challenges of a more competitive world.

The beginning of an undergraduate research program would diversify and expand the university’s appeal to potential students and enhance the university’s profile not only of being in the top 100 universities in the nation, but as a magnet for bright young men and women from a diverse community. Getting the community to embrace this initiative will signify a benchmark and a commanding step forward in our efforts to attract the best and the brightest to Miami’s public research university.