Participation in the Wartburg Scholars Program culminates in an Academic Scholars Project. This is typically completed in a student’s senior year and focuses either on an independent or collaborative research project or some other creative endeavor, depending upon the student’s interests. The format of the project is highly dependent upon the nature of the project, one’s academic major program requirements, and the guiding principles of one’s academic discipline. Students present their work at the annual Research, Internship, and Creative Endeavor Day (RICE Day) and submit a written thesis. In their junior or senior year, students identify research mentors and begin preparation of their proposals. Proposals are due to the program committee during Fall Term of their senior year. 

Examples of past Academic Scholars Projects:

Scholars Contract courses provide students with a unique way to expand upon learning opportunities within the framework of a non-Scholars course. By contracting a course, students can add a Scholars designation to the class through the completion of an additional project that allows them to either examine course content in more depth or expand upon course material. The Scholars Contract is an agreement between the student, faculty member teaching the class, and the Scholars Program director. Any 200-level or above classroom-based course may be contracted for Scholars credit, but this does not include research, thesis, or independent study courses. 

A Scholars Contract has no impact on a student’s overall course grade. The contract is honored and Scholars credit is awarded if the terms of the contract have been met by the specified due date and the student completes the contracted course with a grade of B or better. Scholars credit is not awarded for contracted courses in which a student receives an incomplete or otherwise fails to complete the Scholars Contract per the terms outlined. 

This is an endeavor that requires time and effort on the part of the student and faculty member supervising the contracted work. Faculty who work with students on Scholars Contract projects do so out of their own free time with no additional compensation except for pleasure gained from working with curious and dedicated students. As such, Scholars students should demonstrate respect for this process and faculty time by being prompt with contract work and meeting deadlines per the terms of the contract.