Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs)
eDISCOVERY - Student Accounts
[Last Update: 9/25/09]
UH Student – eDISCOVERY – FAQs
1. How to I register for a Student
account?
2. How do I login to eDISCOVERY?
3. Is there any training on how to use eDISCOVERY features?
4. Do I have to RSVP via eDISCOVERY to
attend a Discovery Workshop?
5. Will I receive a reminder email for
each Workshop I register for?
6. How do I search for a research posting
for my major?
7. Can I be notified when there is
a new research posting?
8. I don’t see very many postings for my
major, what are my options?
9. When will off-campus research postings
be available?
UH Student – eDISCOVERY – FAQs
1.
How to I register for a Student account?
Visit the eDISCOVERY
portal page and click on “Student LOG-IN”:
http://www.uh.edu/discovery/eDISCOVERY.html
You will be
directed to the student login screen.
Select “Register” and complete the online form. You must use a valid
email address. You will be receive an email verification notice to the email address
you specify. Follow the instructions to
verify your email. Your request will
then enter a queue for processing. With the high volume of requests that we are
receiving during the initial launch of eDISCOVERY, it may take several days to
process your registration.Once your account has been approved, you will receive
an email with subject line “eDISCOVERY – Welcome New
Student Account” that will include your username and system-generated password.
2.
How do I login to eDISCOVERY?
Visit the eDISCOVERY
portal page and click on “Student LOG-IN”: http://www.uh.edu/discovery/eDISCOVERY.html
You will be directed to the student
login screen. Enter your myUH(Peoplesoft ID) and the password that was provided. You may change your password once you log in
(in the “profile” section) or use the “Forgot Password” link.
3. Is there any training on how to use
eDISCOVERY features?
You can view the eDISCOVERY Quick Tutorial flash video (2 min.) to help you get started:
http://www.uh.edu/discovery/eDISCOVERY_QuickTutorial.swf
Also, if you need help using eDISCOVERY
features, then view the generic "Video Tutorials" and
"Help" tips that are available on most pages. Note that the “demo” account that is illustrated in the tutorials generic site
and are made available by Symplicity. It uses different names for various tabs but
the function of the primary features should be the same. eDISCOVERY is a customized portal for UH students
that has been designed for managing workshops, research opportunities rather
than career services and job opportunities.
4. Do I have to RSVP via eDISCOVERY to
attend a Discovery Workshop?
Yes, you must RSVP at
least 24 h before the session. Seating is limited for face-to-face workshops
sessions so you must RSVP to reserve your seat. If for any
reason, you can not attend then be sure to "Cancel your RSVP" to free
up the spot for another student. For WEBINARs, you must RSVP so that
your name will be on the roster to recieve the URL and instructions for loggin
into participate in the WEBINAR.
5. Will I receive an email reminder for each Workshop I
registered for?
Yes, as the date of the
session nears, an email reminder will be sent to students who have registered
for the workshop via eDISCOVERY.
6. How do I search for a research posting for my
major?
You may use
the “Advanced Search” tab for detailed searches. However, we recommend that you do not use too
many search criteria. You may want to
start with browsing all available research postings first.
7. Can I be notified when there is a new
research posting?
Yes. You can
set up “Search Agents” to notify you via email when new research postings
matching your criteria are posted. You can set the frequency of the
"Search Agent" query to run daily, weekly, etc. and email you the
results.
8. I don’t see very many postings for my major,
what are my options?
Since eDISCOVERY is new, it will take some time for mentors to
register and post positions. You should
check back regularly to search for new opportunities. You can also set up a “Search Agent” to email
you query results for new postings that meet your criteria. In the beginning, you may want to view ALL
research postings in case you find an opportunity that interests you. Each mentor specifies “Desired Majors”when
they submit the research posting but in some cases, mentors may not have
selected all related majors.
9. When will off-campus research
postings be available?
Initially, we are giving priority to on-campus postings. Faculty and staff mentors are the first to
receive eDISCOVERY mentor accounts. Beginning fall 2009, we will expand eDISCOVERY to include postings in Houston, in cities across
Texas, and other states. Some programs
for research abroad will also be available.
10. For a UH posting, what do each of the Student Categories mean? (Research Assistant, Work-Study, SURF, PURS, Sr. Thesis, Course Credit, Volunteer, etc.)
The Student
Categories for UH postings are the type of research position or program that
the faculty or staff member is interested in mentoring a student. You can use eDISCOVERY to find a match with a research project or
mentor. However, you should be aware
that some of the programs require you to apply to through the program
directly. Below is a brief description
of each category and where to find more information.
Research Assistant (Paid) – Search this category if you are
looking for a paid research position.
The faculty or staff member has funding to pay your salary. You may apply via eDISCOVERY
when you are viewing the “Research Posting.”
Work-Study (Paid by Financial Aid) – Search this category if you
completed a FAFSA and have been awarded a Work-Study grant from the Office of
Financial Aid. You can use eDISCOVERY to search for
potential mentors who are seeking Work-Study Research Assistants. When you apply through eDISCOVERY,
you are expressing interest to the mentor that you wish to be considered for a
work-study research assistant position.
If you and your potential mentor decide that it is a good match then
your mentor’s department will then post the position on the UCS CWS Job site
and you will apply through that system.
You will also need to complete the work authorization form and other
required paperwork through the College Work Study Program and University Career
Services. For more information about
Federal or Texas Work-Study, visit: http://www.uh.edu/financial/undergraduate/types-aid/work-study/index.php
PURS -
Search this category if you meet the minimum requirements for the PURS
program. The
Provost's Undergraduate Research Scholarship Program (PURS) provides $1000
scholarships to talented UH juniors and seniors with the opportunity to enrich
their undergraduate experience by participating in a part-time research project
under the direction of a UH faculty mentor. You can use eDISCOVERY to search for a potential PURS mentors. The PURS mentor must be a full-time faculty member.
If you and your mentor decide that it is a good match, then you will need to
submit a PURS application in collaboration with your mentor. The PURS Program is administered by the
Office of Undergraduate Research. For
more details on the PURS Program and application deadlines, visit: http://www.undergraduateresearch.uh.edu/purs
SURF - Search this category if you meet the
minimum requirements for the SURF-UH program.
The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship
program at the University of Houston (SURF-UH) provides $2800 stipends to
rising UH sophomores, juniors and seniors to participate in a focused,
full-time, 10-week summer research experience under the direction of UH faculty
member. You can use eDISCOVERY to search for
potential SURF mentors. The SURF mentor
must be a full-time faculty member. Once you find a mentor, you will need to
complete the SURF application in collaboration with your mentor. Applications
are due in the spring for the following summer’s program. The SURF-UH Program is
administered by the Office of Undergraduate Research. For more specific
guidelines on the SURF program, visit: www.undergraduateresearch.uh.edu/surf.html.
Sr. Honors
Thesis – Search
this category if you meet the minimum requirements for the Senior Honors
Thesis.
You do not have to be a member of the Honors College to complete a
Senior Honors Thesis. The Senior Honors Thesis is a capstone program for
students, and requires a total of six hours of coursework (250-300 clock hours).
The student signs up for 3399H and 4399H typically within their major, but not
always. Students who complete a Senior
Honors Thesis will graduate with University Honors (for theses outside the
major), Honors in Major (for students who complete a thesis but not the
curriculum of The Honors College), or both University Honors and Honors in
Major (for Honors College students who complete a thesis in their major). You can use eDISCOVERY
to search for potential thesis directors.
The thesis director must be a full-time faculty member. The Senior Honors Thesis Program is administered by the Office
of Undergraduate Research. For
more specific guidelines on the honors thesis program, visit: http://www.undergraduateresearch.uh.edu/thesis_guidelines.htm.
Course Credit – Search this category if you plan to
enroll in an independent study, research practicum, internship or similar course
next semester and are seeking a research mentor. You will need to verify with your
departmental academic or faculty advisor whether the research experience will
satisfy any degree requirements.
Volunteer – Search this category if you are
interested in exploring research in a particular area and volunteering time
helping a faculty or staff member on a research project. This type of position is similar to an unpaid
internship. Although the experience may
begin as an unpaid one, it may be a precursor to a paid position or provide
experience needed to be a competitive applicant for the SURF or PURS at UH or
competitive research programs across the nation.
Other – This category is for those types of
positions that do not fit any of the other classifications described above.