CoJMC professor set to research diversity on campus with assist from the UCARE program

Tuesday, October 30, 2018 - 1:30pm

By Bill Riccetti, CoJMC graduate assistant

College of Journalism and Mass Communications professor Trina Creighton is preparing to conduct research on diversity and how her students’ thoughts may have changed after a semester of studying it, but before she gets started she needs something very important -- time.

I thought, when will I have time to do a literature review and all the other stuff involved?” said Creighton. “You know, I have to sleep!”

Creighton requested student help through UCARE, Undergraduate Creative Activities and Research Experience, a program that helps professors hire undergraduate research assistants. She is having her two UCARE students do a literature review and collect articles for Creighton to use in her research.

The UCARE support gives researchers the time and help they need to conduct research, and it gives the students experience and a paycheck for their work.

According to the UCARE website, the program also offers skill building seminars to help student workers and researchers with things like ethical research expectations, writing reports and finding research interests in graduate programs. The stipend that students receive is $2,400 in an academic year.

Creighton is administering the CoJMC Diversity Survey for students in her Social Justice, Human Rights and the Media class. They took the survey on the first day of class and will retake it at the end of the semester to determine if the content of the course made a difference in how they view diversity.

Creighton approached student Baylee Vrtiska, about participating in the UCARE program to assist Creighton.

Vrtiska, a senior broadcasting and journalism double major, said her friends would talk about being in the program and how rewarding it was. Vrtiska said she never had an interest in research, but eventually warmed up to the idea.

When I first started college, the idea of research almost put me to sleep,” Vrtiska said. “All I could picture were men and women spending hours in a lab. So far, I've learned that research doesn't have to be just about different species of plants, organisms and animals. Research can include people, video, photography and so many other creative elements.”

Vrtiska jumped at the opportunity to work with Creighton. The two of them, along with another student, Alli Davis, junior journalism and ADPR double major, hope to have the research finished this semester.

The UCARE program is an asset on campus since it offers incentive to both professors and students to conduct research.

According to Creighton, it is a professionally run program and she is happy that it exists.

I think it’s excellent because I didn't have any money to pay anyone, so when they stepped in and provided the stipend, I didn't feel like I had taken advantage of the student,” Creighton said.

The program is giving students unique opportunities and experience before they graduate, which is not lost on Vrtiska.

I believe that UCARE is allowing me to not only better my academics while in college, but also my future career interests and goals,” she said.

Professor Trina Creighton
Professor Trina Creighton