Transcript Slide 1

Council on Undergraduate Research
Learning Through Research
Engaging the
Council on Undergraduate Research
to Promote Professional Science Masters (PSM)
Elizabeth Ambos
Executive Officer
Council on Undergraduate Research
NPSMA Biennial Conference
November 15, 2013
My Story
www.cur.org
Key Questions
What is the Council on Undergraduate Research? What does
it do?
What is the evidence that undergraduate research is a highly
effective practice in student success, particularly for students
from underrepresented groups in STEM?
How can we foster clear pathways from undergraduate
research experiences to PSM degree programs?
www.cur.org
Council on Undergraduate Research
•
A national organization of individual (>9,200) and
institutional (>670) members representing all disciplines
and over 900 institutions of all types.
•
Ten discipline-based divisions: Arts & Humanities,
Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, Geosciences, Health
Sciences, Mathematics & Computer Science, Physics &
Astronomy, Psychology, and Social Sciences.
•
Two multidisciplinary, administrative-based divisions:
At-Large and Undergraduate Research Program
Directors.
The mission of CUR is to support and promote
high-quality undergraduate student-faculty
collaborative research and scholarship.
Undergraduate Research is Proliferating
CUR Disciplinary Membership Patterns
Exhibit Broadening of Undergraduate Research’s Appeal
1200
Arts and Humanities
1000
Biology
Chemistry
800
Geosciences
600
Health Sciences
Math/Computer Sci
400
Physics and Astronomy
Psychology
200
Social Science
URPD
0
05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13
CUR Resources
To promote and support undergraduate student-faculty
research and scholarship
MEETINGS
SERVICES
National Faculty Conferences
Consulting Service
National Conference on
Undergraduate Research
Mentor Network
Grant Preview Service
CUR Dialogues
CUR Fellows Awards
Institutes & Workshops
Listservs
Posters on the Hill
Advocacy
PUBLICATIONS
CUR Quarterly
“How To” Series
Specialized Volumes
Key Questions
What is the Council on Undergraduate Research? What does
it do?
What is the evidence that undergraduate research is a highly
effective practice in student success, particularly for students
from underrepresented groups in STEM?
How can we foster clear pathways from undergraduate
research experiences to PSM degree programs?
www.cur.org
From the foreword to David Lopatto’s publication“Science in Solution:
The Impact of Undergraduate Research on Student Learning”
“While undergraduate research has been fostered in somewhat elite
institutions, without his quite saying so, Lopatto’s findings leave this reader,
at least, with a strong sense that an undergraduate research experience
could be the cross-class leveler we’ve been searching for;
one that provides the first-generation college student with some of the critical
and self-critical habits of mind that more privileged young men and women
bring with themselves to college. “
Sheila Tobias
www.cur.org
Benefits to Students: UGR…
 Advances cognitive, intellectual, and
personal growth
 Gain knowledge and skills, and
experience how new knowledge is
gained
 Promotes academic achievement and
educational attainment
 Fosters professional growth and
advancement
 Facilitates transition to graduate school
Undergraduate Research Contributes More
Than Any Other Intervention…
and Mentorship Matters
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The Higher Education Research Institute (HERI) at
University of California Los Angeles studies the
impact of undergraduate research
Kevin Eagen and his colleagues have analyzed
data from more than 60,000 students at more than
300 institutions
Undergraduate research associated with 10-20%
increase in STEM persistence
www.cur.org
Highest Impacts of Undergraduate Research:
Students from Underrepresented Groups
www.cur.org
Undergraduate Research Students
at CSU Dominguez Hills
California State University Data
Demonstrate HIP Effectiveness
Six-year graduation rates
0 HIP
3+ HIP
Source: B. Huber, CSU Northridge Institutional
Research
Confirmation that UGR HIPs Help
Underrepresented Groups Retain and Graduate
“This article evaluates the impact of a program promoting
student-faculty research partnerships on college student
retention. The program, built on the premise that successful
retention efforts integrate students into the core academic
mission of the university, targets first-year and
sophomore undergraduates. Findings of a participantcontrol group design show that the research partnerships
are most effective in promoting the retention of students at
greater risk for college attrition - African American
students and students with low GPAs."
Nagda et al., 1998
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and
Council
on Undergraduate Research
Technology
Learning Through Research
Undergraduate Research:
A Right Not a Privilege
PCAST Recommendation: Advocate and
provide support for replacing standard
laboratory courses with discovery-based
research courses.*
*From: PCAST Report: “Engage to Excel”, released February 27,
2012
Discussion #1
• In pairs (or small groups) consider the
following questions:
• Assuming that you are planning to continue
(and grow) recruitment of students for your
PSM(s), what strategies are you using to
recruit students from your campus?
• Are there specific strategies you are using to
attract students from STEM
underrepresented groups?
www.cur.org
PSM Promising Practices
• The CGS study released in February 2013
highlighted the fact that close to 50% of PSM
degree recipients are female, and among U.S.
citizens/permanent residents 23% from
underrepresented groups
• Strausbaugh et al. (2011) provide a good case
study of domestic student recruitment at
University of Connecticut
www.cur.org
Key Questions
What is the Council on Undergraduate Research? What does
it do?
What is the evidence that undergraduate research is a highly
effective practice in student success, particularly for students
from underrepresented groups in STEM?
How can we foster clear pathways from undergraduate
research experiences to PSM degree programs?
www.cur.org
Consensus among employers is that innovation, critical thinking,
and a broad skill set are important for taking on complex
challenges in the workplace.*
Strongly agree with this statement about employees/future hires
Somewhat agree
Our company puts a priority on hiring people with the intellectual and interpersonal skills that will help them contribute to innovation in the workplace
95%
57%
Candidates’ demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, &
solve complex problems is more important than their undergraduate major
93%
59%
Our company is asking employees to take on more responsibilities and to
use a broader set of skills than in the past
52%
93%
Innovation is essential to our company/organization’s continued success
51%
92%
The challenges employees face within our company are more complex
today than they were in the past
50%
19
91%
* "It Takes More Than a Major”, AACU, 4/2013
Connecting UGR and PSM
• Stage 1:
Building Awareness
• Stage 2:
Creating programmatic connections
between UGR and PSM
www.cur.org
“Ice Breaker” Webinar
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Joint CUR-NPSMA webinar October 9th
Joaquin Carbonara and Marilyn Wells spoke
Attracted 70 participants
About 20% NPSMA members, 80% CUR
members
• Most attendees from comprehensive
universities
• Many attendees were affiliated with
undergraduate research centers
www.cur.org
Discussion #2
• Again in pairs/small groups, discuss the
following questions:
• What offices/departments/faculty sponsor the
most undergraduate research
programs/students on your campus?
• What would be some strategies you might
use/are using to connect with these groups?
www.cur.org
ACTION STEPS: BUILDING PATHWAYS FROM
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TO PSMS
• Make an appointment with the centralized
undergraduate research office on your
campus
Specific CUR strategy: research members of
CUR’s Undergraduate Research Program
Directors’ Division
• Connect PSM students with UGR
students
Specific CUR strategy: have PSM students
present at campus UGR celebration day
After: Marilyn Wells/Joaquin Carbonara/Beth Ambos
Joint CUR-NPSMA
webinar, 10/9/2013
www.cur.org
ACTION STEPS: BUILDING PATHWAYS FROM
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TO PSMS
• Connect CUR and NPSMA
– Present a poster at the CUR Biennial
Conference in Washington, DC
– Join CUR, particularly if your institution is
already an enhanced member (your
membership is free)
– Obtain access to CUR’s undergraduate research
registry (free for enhanced members)
– Recruit for students at NCUR, SCCUR, etc.
After: Marilyn Wells/Joaquin Carbonara/Beth Ambos
Joint CUR-NPSMA
webinar, 10/9/2013
www.cur.org
ACTION STEPS: BUILDING PATHWAYS FROM
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TO PSMS
Talk to our external advisory board
members, business and industry partners,
alumni, and others about their connections
and experience with undergraduate
research and PSM programs
Integrate what we do with our advising and
career centers
After: Marilyn Wells/Joaquin Carbonara/Beth Ambos
Joint CUR-NPSMA webinar, 10/9/2013
www.cur.org
Council on Undergraduate Research
Learning Through Research
Suggestions?
How can CUR help?
www.cur.org
The Council on Undergraduate Research
would like to thank the National Science
Foundation for its generous support and
advocacy of Undergraduate Research.
Some of the material presented in this presentation is based upon work
supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No.
0920275. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations
expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Materials presented on some of the slides are from presentations
made by principals associated with the above-referenced grant,
including Mitch Malachowski (University of San Diego), Jeff Osborn
(College of New Jersey), Kerry Karukstis (Harvey Mudd College)
References Cited
Brownell, Jayne E. and Lynn E. Swaner . Five High-Impact Practices: Research on
Learning Outcomes, Completion, and Quality. Association of American Colleges
and Universities (AAC&U), 2010. Web.
Crowe, M., and Brakke, D. Assessing the Impact of Undergraduate Research
Experiences on Students: an Overview of the Current Literature, CUR Quarterly
28 (4), 43-50, 2008.
Eagan, M.K., Hurtado, S., Chang, M.J., Garcia, G.A., Herrera, F.A., & Garibay, J.C.
(2013). Making a difference in science education: The impact of undergraduate
research programs. American Educational Research Journal, 50(4), 683-713.
DOI: 10.3102/0002831213482038
Kuh, George D. High-Impact Educational Practices: What They Are, Who Has
Access to Them, and Why They Matter for All Students. Association of American
Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), 2008.
Nagda, B.A.: Gregerman, S.R.; Jonides, J.; von Hippel, W.; and Lerner, J.S.,
Undergraduate Student-Faculty Research Partnerships Affect Student
Retention, The Review of Higher Education, 22, 55-72, 1998.
Council on Undergraduate Research
Learning Through Research
For more information about CUR, please contact:
Elizabeth L. Ambos ([email protected])
734 15th St NW, Suite 550
Washington, DC 20005
202-783-4810
www.cur.org
[email protected]