REMARKS FROM CHANCELLOR NICHOLAS S. ZEPPOS

Re: VU Undergraduate Research Journal

Dear Vanderbilt Students:

The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal is currently accepting submissions for its fourth annual online edition, and I am honored to invite all interested undergraduate students or collaborative teams to
submit articles for consideration for publication. With the thriving undergraduate scholarly life that is the foundation for Vanderbilt’s intellectual campus culture, the VURJ provides a forum, according to its mission statement: to engage and unite the university community in a vibrant, cross-disciplinary discussion on the role of undergraduate research in the modern private university through the publication of outstanding scholarship in every academic discipline represented on the Vanderbilt campus.

The Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal gives you access to an important facet of scholarly life: opening your work up to the consideration of a wider community. The journal offers you the opportunity of displaying your intellectual inquiry and accomplishment for the enlightenment of others. Vanderbilt is a community of scholars at all different phases of their life’s work, and participation in VURJ deepens your intellectual relationship with and investment in our community.

The collective efforts put forth by our undergraduates in conducting basic research; in capturing and articulating the findings in written form; in the commitment of the peer reviewers in maintaining the highest standards of ethics, honesty, and integrity in the evaluation process; as well as the partnering with faculty members to guide the work of creating and publishing the journal all demonstrate a remarkable sense of ownership and energy by our student body. This publication contributes significantly to enriching Vanderbilt’s environment of academic excellence. Each year, VURJ progresses because interest in it increases, and the quality of the journal rises as a result. I hope you will consider submitting your best work to VURJ and continue to raise the bar for your peers and colleagues and for our whole campus! Information regarding how to submit work can be found at http://vurj.vanderbilt.edu.

I look forward to reading your work in the next edition of VURJ.

Sincerely,

Nicholas S. Zeppos

Chancellor, Vanderbilt University