STUDENT ADVISORY BOARD

The OUR Student Advisory Board provides OUR with student perspectives on our mission, vision, and values, which in turn impact the resources we offer. The board will enable members to have regular input regarding OUR's campus impacts while developing as communicators and leaders.

OUR is currently recruiting undergraduates for its Student Advisory Board.

If you are interested in applying to serve on the board, please review the information provided on this website and then contact us if you have any questions.

What Does Participating in the OUR Student Advisory Board Entail?

The primary responsibility of board members will be to prepare for and contribute to discussions in board meetings. All meetings will be held in person, and the board will conduct 2-3 meetings per semester, with the first meeting scheduled for early Spring 2026. Board members will be consulted about their schedules before we choose meeting dates and times, and members will be expected to attend board meetings regularly.

Each meeting, which will last no longer than one hour, will involve exploration and discussion of a few key topics or questions related to OUR’s work and undergraduate research on campus. The meeting agenda will be determined in advance of each meeting, and items will be placed on the agenda by OUR staff (based in part on feedback received from the student population we serve) and students on the board.

To prepare for each meeting, advisory members will be asked to spend approximately 1-2 hours beforehand reflecting on the agenda questions and issues, and, in some cases, reviewing relevant materials provided by OUR. Members of the board will not cast votes on issues or represent particular constituencies, and the board's role will be purely advisory.

In addition to preparing for and participating in board meetings, students on the board may also be offered opportunities to speak with other students about their experiences as undergraduate researchers at campus events. Participation in such opportunities will be entirely optional.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

We welcome applications from students who have completed at least two semesters of research in a UMD research program (e.g., FIRE or Gemstone), lab, group, or other research setting.

What Are the Benefits of Participating?

Through their participation, board members will have the opportunity to:

Offer feedback and insights into student experiences that will help to shape OUR’s work and the experiences of current and future undergraduate researchers on campus.
Further hone their communication and leadership skills.
Meet and work alongside undergraduate researchers from across the university.

How Long Is the Term of Service? What Is the Time Commitment Per Semester?

During the 2025-6 academic year, board members will serve a term running from November 2025 to May 2026. In subsequent academic years, board members will serve terms running from September to May. The overall time commitment per semester will be approximately 5-10 hours.

How Will OUR Assess Applications?

In selecting participants for the board, OUR will strive to assemble a board that comprises student researchers from a range of class years and academic fields.

We will also be especially attentive to the following factors:

The extent to which an applicant’s responses demonstrate effective communication skills, nuanced thinking, and insight into “big picture” issues related to undergraduate research.
The insights of the student’s faculty reference.

If you would like to apply to serve as a board member during the 2025-2026 academic year, please complete the form below by Wednesday, November 5 at 11:59 pm.

Note that you will need to list a UMD faculty member as a recommender on the form. Your faculty recommender can be someone with whom you worked on research, but they do not have to be; you could also ask a faculty member with whom you have taken a class or worked in another context. Please ensure that you obtain this person's permission to list them as a reference before submitting the form.

Once you submit your form, our application system will send an email to your faculty recommender, inviting them to complete a brief reference form. The faculty reference form is designed to be completed in under 10 minutes.

Apply Here

Application Timeline

Deadline for candidates to submit an application form:
Wednesday, November 5, 11:59 pm
Deadline for receipt of faculty recommendation forms:
Wednesday, November 19, 11:59 pm
Date by which OUR will notify candidates of their status:
Monday, November 24

I already serve on an advisory board or committee for another UMD office or department. May I apply to serve on this one, too?

Yes, but we encourage you to reflect on your academic workload and preexisting extracurricular roles before applying and to avoid overcommitting yourself. As noted elsewhere, we estimate that the time commitment for board members will be roughly 5-10 hours a semester.

Will you offer board members the opportunity to join meetings over Zoom?

We intend to hold board meetings in person. We believe that in-person meetings will allow for more free-flowing, spontaneous discussions and foster deeper connections between board members. We will facilitate the Zoom participation of any board members who cannot attend in person for medical or related reasons, but the default expectation is that board members will attend meetings in person.

I have a question related to the board application process that your website does not address. What should I do?

Please email your question to us.