Academic Integrity and Responsible Conduct

Graduate students are expected to be familiar with university policies regarding academic integrity and the responsible conduct of research. All research involving human subjects (including course projects, capstone projects, master’s theses and independent student research) must be formally reviewed and approved before any data are collected. Graduate student research must be formally supervised by a full-time UIS faculty or staff member. Students who collect data without obtaining the requisite approvals will not be allowed to use the data to fulfill degree requirements.

Research protocols should be submitted to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation at Mail Stop PAC 525. The level of review required of each protocol (exempt, expedited or full IRB review) will be determined by the UIS Human Subjects Review Officer. More information about required research reviews can be found on the UIS Grants and Contracts website.

Sources of Funding

Students are encouraged to discuss research and conference presentation costs and potential sources of funding with their faculty advisors. Depending on the nature and scope of the research, you may wish to consider the availability of external grant opportunities as a source of possible support. Information about grant programs and grant-writing resources are available on the UIS Grants and Contracts website.

Limited funding may also be available through the Academic Department, College Dean’s Office and Office of Student Life to help students defray costs directly associated with approved research or with conference presentations based on student scholarship or research. Students may also apply for funding through the Graduate Student Research Fund.

UIS Student Technology, Arts and Research Symposium

The UIS Student Technology, Arts and Research Symposium is an annual event open to undergraduate and graduate students and faculty involved in applied or theoretical research. It was established to facilitate student interest in research and raise awareness of university sponsored research endeavors in the Central Illinois region. Poster and paper presentations by students from all disciplines are encouraged.

Graduate Student Recognition

Each academic year, graduate faculty members have the opportunity to nominate one master's thesis or master's closure project for consideration for the Outstanding Master's Thesis or Closure Project Award. UIS also participates in the Midwest Association of Graduate School’s (MAGS) Outstanding Master's Thesis competition. Questions about these recognitions may be directed to the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at ora@uis.edu.