Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to highlight undergraduates as an emergent student–scholar author group and to encourage institutions to take a future-oriented view, focusing greater attention to and support of undergraduate’s publishing. Design/methodology/approach – Highlighting benefits derived from undergraduate research (UR) experiences and publishing taken from the literature and experienced through local practice (Providence College), presenting pedagogical models for transforming students into independent thinkers (students as scholars) and responding to business and non-profit leader graduate skills requests of higher education, this paper argues for the need to cultivate graduate attributes (requisite 21st century workforce skills, abilities and behaviors), especially graduate demonstrated articulation and communication (publication) skills and abilities. Findings – The conclusions drawn in this paper align with the literatures’ support of derived benefits from UR experiences and its completion through articulation and communication (publication). Final remarks reiterate that critical thinking, complex problem-solving and communication (publication) skills and abilities demonstrate graduate agency and preparedness for meeting 21st century challenges. Originality/value – This paper layers several pedagogical engagement-based teacher–learner models, highlights benefits of undergraduates’ completing the research process through communication (publication) and underscores the importance of cultivating 21st century graduate agency.