Inquiry was created to support the broader academic mission of UNH as a research and public service university. The journal has three goals: (1) to share the research conducted by UNH undergraduates with the university community and beyond; (2) to provide students the opportunity of preparing their research for publication; and (3) to offer the opportunity for students to participate in the editing and producing of such a journal.
In the fall of 2003, Donna Brown, Director of Undergraduate Research, consulted with editors of several similar journals, who willingly shared their experience and advice. An online journal, cheaper and more flexible than print, seemed the best way of reaching a wide audience. Guidelines and procedures had to be written and a Web site constructed. Amanda Merrill, Program Associate, aided in this, along with editors and Web designers of Editorial and Creative Services (ECS), directed by Mike Jones. Editor Dolores Leonard along with web designer Marjorie Foote created the Inquiry Web site shell in March, 2004. Articles from student researchers were solicited and a student editorial board assembled. In the fall of that year, an Editorial Consultant, Jennifer Lee, was hired. Tracey Bentley, a new editor at ECS, joined the effort, and, with technical support from Web Solutions, the job of putting together the first issue began.
Spring of 2005 saw the inaugural issue of Inquiry go online. That fall Brigid Carroll, a UNH graduate and editor, joined the staff; and she and Jennifer became senior editors. The third (2007) issue is the largest yet. Inquiry will now be part of the databases indexed by EBSCOHost. The journal continues to evolve in its content, format, and mission. We hope it will always be an exciting work-in-progress.
Inquiry will be published online annually in the spring semester. Articles will remain up for the year, while responses from readers and announcements of related events will be posted throughout the year. Previous issues will remain available under Past Issues.
