This year marks the 15th annual Posters-at-the-Capitol event, a day where college and university students display their research projects to lawmakers in Frankfort all to advocate undergraduate research. Murray State coordinators Jody Cofer Randall and Dr. David Pizzo speak with Tracy Ross on Sounds Good about the multi-school effort.
Randall says the event’s mission is to carry forward a message to Frankfort about the merits of hands-on learning in Kentucky’s universities.
Under Gov. Matt Bevin’s proposed state budget, those schools would lose funding as allocations move toward a wholly performance-based funding model over the next few years.
At the same time, a group of students from Murray State have organized a march in Frankfort the same day, Feb. 25.
There are 129 research projects to be displayed this year, and Randall says those best demonstrate the importance of higher education.
Pizzo says employers are looking for both knowledge and real-world experience, something these projects provide undergraduate students.
Overall, the pair say they hope this year’s event opens a dialogue between Kentucky lawmakers and the students of the state’s universities.