JORDAN COATES
Lions’ Pride Staff Wrtier

As graduation becomes part of the near future, two things come to many seniors’ minds: one, their future career, and two, having something to show for their past four years at college. Fear not graduates; Saint Leo is here to help. Dr. Patrick Draves and others have created a Saint Leo University undergraduate research journal. The journal, Empiricus, or more formally known as the Sunshine Journal for Collaborative Undergraduate Research, is looking for work from students in any academic field.

According to the purpose statement, “the journal’s purpose is to provide a forum to encourage scholarly research among undergraduates in a supportive and developmental environment.” The masterminds behind this journal want to increase the capacity for undergraduate research and provide opportunities for student publishing.

Upon graduation, in the struggle of applying to graduate schools or finding a job, there always seems to be a lack of help or the unveiling of that one extra push. Although students are provided with Academic Excellence Day, there are few other opportunities provided to recognize students’ good work and be peer reviewed. This journal will draw attention to the students’ academic achievements and give them a chance to “get their feet wet with research,” Draves said.

Empiricus should be of great interest to any and all students. Not only is the selection of work published usually slim, but the process is grueling and the opportunities to publish empirical research are very limited. This journal itself has an editorial review including faculty from Saint Leo’s main campus, centers, Tennessee Tech, and even USC, and the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco. It is aimed at the Sunshine State Conference schools. This opportunity is available to all students, in all majors. The only restriction is the work must be empirical; or in other words, some data must have been collected and analyzed in the process of the article and its study. They are even accepting and looking for student art submissions, including but not limited to original paintings and photography. These will be featured on the front and back covers.

Student Lyz Molina is informed and involved with the undergraduate research journal and is convinced this will increase chances of getting accepted into an excellent graduate school program.
“I think the journal is an excellent opportunity for students who have worked hard on producing scholarly research,” she said.

The editors maintain that it is designed to help undergraduates publish work in a peer-reviewed format, which is more highly respected than traditional in-house publications. The issues will be published twice per year, beginning in the fall of 2010. The first issue, however, will be published in May 2010. Submissions are being accepted currently, and the deadline is February 22. Submissions will be considered on an ongoing basis.

The journal is seeking strong empirical research, so students shouldn’t hesitate to submit. Submissions must be in APA format and between 3,000 and 5,000 words. Other guidelines and restrictions apply. For any questions or concerns, the managing editor, Dr. Patrick Draves, welcomes students’ curiosity and participation. Through this journal, the editors hope to increase the esteem of Saint Leo undergraduate education and give students something else to be proud of at graduation.