Fall 2026 - Issue 2
Is Your Course a Research Experience?
Your course may qualify for Weber State’s Course-Based Research Experience (CRE) attribute.
CRE courses give students hands-on experience conducting research, scholarship, or creative work as part of their coursework. Students develop and complete a project individually or with a group, then share their work through a final presentation, paper, performance, or other form of dissemination.
5 Years of Course-Based Research Experiences
605 students impacted.
For the past five years, Weber State’s Course-Based Research Experience (CRE) attribute has helped bring authentic research, scholarship, and creative work into the classroom – making research experiences accessible to students as part of their regular coursework.
CRE courses give students the opportunity to work alongside faculty, investigate questions with outcomes that aren't predetermined, and share what they discover. In doing so, students build research skills, gain hands-on experience in their disciplines, and see themselves as contributors to their fields.
The CRE attribute represents more than a course designation. It is a way to make undergraduate research part of the student experience for more Wildcats.
Faculty Spotlight
Congratulations, Tracy Covey and Kristin Rabosky!
We're celebrating Tracy Covey, CRE Curriculum Committee Chair, and WSU physics professor, Kristin Rabosky, on their recent publication in Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), entitled CURE Designation Enables Institutional Data Tracking and Faculty Feedback for Sustainability.
Interested in reading the article? Contact us for a copy.
SUROP: Supporting Research Across Disciplines
The Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (SUROP) provides funding for Weber State students and faculty mentors to pursue meaningful research and creative scholarship together. Projects from all departments and colleges are encouraged, with students gaining hands-on experience while faculty mentors receive support for their work. From scientific research to the arts and humanities, SUROP helps turn ideas into opportunities for discovery.
Research Spotlight
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From Mining Cores to Public ArtMentor: Kellie Bornhoft
Student Researchers: Janika Linville & MacKenzy Gilmore
What can 2,000 feet of historic mining core samples tell us about Park City’s past—and its future?
This summer, SUROP students worked with the Friends of Ski Mountain Mining History and the Park City Museum to explore Park City’s mining history, geology, and culture. Working alongside a museum geologist, students are examining historic core samples and conducting archival and site-based research that will ultimately inform the design of a new public sculpture.
The centerpiece will be a proposed 9-foot-tall sculpture featuring the core samples embedded vertically into its exterior walls and arranged by rock type to reveal the geological layers beneath Park City. Its form will draw inspiration from the “man cages” once used to transport miners into the dark, confined spaces of the mines. Poetry incorporated into the sculpture will connect the geology of the site to the people and stories that shaped Park City’s mining history.
The project will continue into next summer, with installation anticipated in late 2027 or early 2028. Students will also create an informational website documenting their research and share their work through an exhibition at the Park City Museum.
See the Students' Work!
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Student Art Exhibition
October 16 | 5-7 p.m.
Miner’s Hospital, City Park | Park City
Come see how research, history, geology and art are coming together through this SUROP project.
