Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research Education to Promote Student Engagement and Success

研究表明，本科生的研究经验有助于培养学生解决问题的技能，将课堂与职业联系起来，并提高学生的动机。对来自历史上代表性不足群体的学生进行的研究表明，参与本科研究经历可以提高他们在STEM中的毅力，并有助于验证他们作为科学家的身份。Cuesta学院是一所两年制院校，将提供多个STEM学科的本科生研究经验。正如之前的研究表明的那样，预计参与本科研究将增加学生的参与度，改善他们解决问题的技能，增加留存，并提高他们在大学后的成功。一个多学科的教师调查小组将确定最佳实践，并向教职员工和学生推广本科生研究的价值。该项目的首要目标是创造一种涉及多个STEM学科的本科生研究文化，以增加学生的参与度，并为学生的成功做好更好的准备。该项目将涉及来自生物、工程、天文学、化学和数学的教职员工，他们将把基于课程的本科生研究经验(CURE)纳入他们的课程。一个教师调查小组将建立一个关于如何提供有效的本科生研究经验的知识库，并将利用这些信息招聘其他大学教师，将治疗纳入他们的课程。这个由跨学科教师创新者组成的核心团队将使用不同的设置、模式和方法来开发和测试研究经验。天文学的成功治愈将成为其他学科的典范，参与天文学治愈的教职员工将帮助其他学科的治愈开发者。经济学将加入这个团队，将该项目与社会科学联系起来。衡量学生成功的标准将包括科学知识、对研究实践的理解以及对学科的归属感。该项目将为所有教职员工提供职业发展机会，分享有效治疗方法的知识，并鼓励参与。学院将接受培训，指导学生研究人员，并鼓励他们发表或展示他们的成果。学院管理部门将处理政策和程序，如衔接协议和教师工作量，以消除实施本科生研究经验的障碍。在一所两年制院校开设一个健全的、覆盖整个大学的本科生研究项目的概念是创新的。该项目将监测教师对本科生研究经验的看法和态度的变化，并记录实施治疗的挑战和好处，其中可能包括对教师工作量、晋升和工作满意度的影响。这个项目的结果可以提供关于社区学院实施和扩展CURE的能力的见解。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Research demonstrates that undergraduate research experiences help to develop students' problem-solving skills, connect the classroom to careers, and improve student motivation. Studies focused on students from historically underrepresented groups show that participation in undergraduate research experiences improves their persistence in STEM and helps to validate their identity as scientists. Cuesta College, a two-year institution, will provide undergraduate research experiences in multiple STEM disciplines. As suggested by previous research, it is expected that participating in undergraduate research will increase student engagement, improve their problem-solving skills, increase retention, and improve their success after college. A multi-disciplinary Faculty Inquiry Group will identify best practices and promote the value of undergraduate research to faculty and students.The overarching goal of this project is to create a culture of undergraduate research involving multiple STEM disciplines to increase student engagement and better prepare students to succeed. The project will involve faculty from biology, engineering, astronomy, chemistry, and math, who will incorporate course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) into their courses. A Faculty Inquiry Group will build a knowledge base about how to offer effective undergraduate research experiences and will use that information to recruit other college faculty to incorporate CUREs into their courses. This core group of interdisciplinary faculty innovators will develop and test research experiences using different settings, modes, and methods. A successful CURE in astronomy will serve as a model to other disciplines and faculty involved in the astronomy CURE will assist CURE-developers in other disciplines. Economics will join the team to connect the project to the social sciences. Measures of student success will include scientific knowledge, understanding of research practices, and sense of belonging to the discipline. The project will provide professional development opportunities to all faculty to share knowledge about effective CURES and to encourage participation. The Faculty will be trained to mentor student researchers and to encourage them to publish or present their results. College administration will address policies and procedures, such as articulation agreements and faculty workload, to remove barriers to the implementation of undergraduate research experiences. The concept of a robust, college-wide undergraduate research program at a two-year institution is innovative. The project will monitor changes in faculty perceptions and attitudes about undergraduate research experiences and document challenges and benefits of implementing CUREs, which may include affects on faculty workload, advancement, and job satisfaction. Results of this project can provide insights about the capacity of community colleges to implement and expand CUREs.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.