UROC and You: Supporting Future Graduate Students
Do You Remember How You Got Here?
The path to graduate school is not always clear cut. Think back to your own journey — was there a professor, mentor, or program that helped guide you? Did someone introduce you to research or encourage you to apply for graduate school? For many students, having access to the right resources and opportunities makes all the difference in shaping their academic future.
At the University of Arizona, the Graduate College’s Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) is designed to provide undergraduates with hands-on research experience, professional development, and structured support as they prepare for graduate education. As a graduate student, your awareness of and participation in the UROC can help guide interested undergraduates toward it and toward graduate education. Additionally, it is a great way to share your experience, gain experience as a mentor, and refine skills of your own.
What is UROC?
UROC Prep and AWARDSS participants in a professional writing course. Spring 2025.
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) is a program administered by the University of Arizona Graduate College that supports undergraduate students on their path to continue their education through:
- research experience under the guidance of a faculty mentor,
- professional development and graduate admission workshops,
- social networking and a community building with like-minded peers,
- poster session, oral presentation, and abstract writing, and
- a $5,000 summer stipend (award amount and disbursement varies by program).
UROC consists of several year-round and summer-only programs, including the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program, UROC-Prep, the Access, Wellness, and Relational Determinants of Student Success, Publishing, policy, practice, Leadership and life-long learning for Underrepresented Students (AWARDSS-PLUS), and ASEMS Scholar Training Academy for Research in STEM (STARS).
Stefanie Lukomski
What does UROC do for students?
The experiences that UROC provides students with are invaluable in their journey to graduate school. Approximately 70% of UROC participants continue their education in graduate or professional programs — significantly higher than the national average of 20% for all undergraduate students. Studies also show that undergraduate students who have participated in research earn better grades and are more likely to graduate (Rix, U.S. News & World Report, 2024). At the University of Arizona, the Graduate College is committed to expanding access to graduate education and supporting students in their academic journey.
To understand the impact of UROC firsthand, we spoke with current participants about their experiences. Their stories highlight the ways in which the program has supported their academic journeys and helped prepare them for graduate school.
Stefanie Lukomski, an undergraduate student double majoring in Philosophy and Psychological Science returned to academia later in life and has found the UROC-AWARDSS program to be a dream-enabling program.
“The UROC-AWARDSS program has given me the opportunity to make my academic dream of progressing to grad school come true. Returning to academia in my forties was a call to action to start a new chapter and find my voice in the greater landscape. UROC has enabled me to feel heard and confident about my abilities to achieve and contribute to Cognitive Psychology. Additionally, UROC has provided me with an abundance of tools for planning, designing, and completing a research study. I plan to continue this journey in Grad School with a focus on Cognition and Neural Psychology and the ultimate goal of achieving my PhD by the time I turn fifty. This program is a cohesive resource that is here to support its fellows. I am so fortunate to have been chosen for this opportunity and would recommend that anyone interested in research and grad school look into applying for the UROC program.”
Mila Natera, a graduate student in the Teaching and Learning program was inspired to move out of her comfort zone and join AWARDSS-PLUS by her experience as an undergraduate in the Pride of Arizona Marching and Pep Bands.
Mila Natera
“I wanted to be a part of this program because I knew I wanted to pursue some research and get all the help I could get to achieve this goal! I know that I will gain much experience in proper research and academic writing. Starting this program after my first semester of grad school with the TLS program has been helpful. I feel like I have more support than ever, and I know that all my questions will be answered, even if they don't relate to our program. As well as being in AWARDSS, I am in the Pride of Arizona Marching Band and Pep Band, and having something outside of school work has made everything else so much easier! I love the experiences I have had in the band and have made lifelong friendships. I owe a lot of who I am to the Pride of Arizona, and because of it, it led me to go beyond my comfort zone and join programs, such as AWARDSS, because you never know the connections you'll make and how they'll help your future. I would recommend this program to any student who is able to apply! Even if you think you have a good understanding of research, there is always more to learn!”
Victor Vigbedorh, an undergraduate studying Neuroscience, Biochemistry, and Molecular & Cellular Biology has found the broad perspective he’s gained from his experiences conducting research while in UROC-Prep to be the most valuable aspect of his experience.
“I was drawn to UROC-Prep because it offered an opportunity to not just do hands-on research but to be a part of the steps that precede it: the in-betweens of essay writing, bibliographies, reading, etc. I liked that the program offered the opportunity to be a part of the different activities involved in preparing for graduate school. I have gained quite a bit from participating in UROC. Particularly, I have gained perspective and a better lens as to the scale and depth that research and science overall entail. I believe that this will be very helpful on my journey to graduate school as it will allow me to have a better understanding as to the difficulty that will entail. Things tend to be harder than predicted, but perspective can help one understand how hard the journey really will be.. For graduate school, I hope to enter a graduate program in synthetic biology and genetic engineering.
I would recommend this program to another student because I know it would offer a variety of experiences that would prove helpful in one's pursuit of further schooling.”
Victor Vigbedorh
The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Consortium (UROC) has consistently demonstrated its profound impact on students' academic trajectories. By offering mentorship, research opportunities, and a supportive community, UROC equips participants with the skills and confidence necessary to excel in graduate studies. Testimonials of students like Stefanie, Mila, and Victor exemplify the transformative power of such programs and their priority as a Graduate College initiative.
How You Can Help
Graduate students are often among the first points of contact for undergraduates considering grad school, and their encouragement can be pivotal. Graduate students who serve as Teaching Assistants or who run lab sections play an important part in supporting undergraduates who are curious about graduate school. Simply being aware of UROC and sharing information about it with interested students can make a difference.
If an undergraduate in your research group, lab, or class expresses interest in graduate school but isn’t sure where to start, directing them to UROC can be incredibly beneficial. Many students don’t realize that research experience and structured guidance can significantly improve their chances of getting into a graduate program. Your encouragement — whether through a casual conversation, answering their questions, or simply recommending UROC — could be the first step in their journey.
Additionally, if you are interested in participating in the program in a more direct way, UROC regularly hosts information panels featuring current graduate students where UROC students can ask questions about the ins and outs of graduate school life. UROC also works to connect undergraduate students with labs at the University where graduate students are already working, offering the undergraduate an opportunity for mentorship from someone who is only a few steps ahead in their journey.
If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about UROC, visit the University of Arizona Graduate Center website for application details, program deadlines, and success stories from past participants. If you are interested in participating either as a panelist, or as a mentor to a UROC student, please reach out to the UROC Program Coordinator, Karla Smith, at karlasmith@arizona.edu.
As a graduate student, you can be a bridge between undergraduates and the opportunities that set them up for success. By sharing information about UROC, or serving as a panelist or mentor, you can strengthen the academic community and help more students access the resources they need to pursue graduate school.