National Association for Workforce ImprovementUndergraduate Research: Discovering the Role of

Community CollegesMay 15th, 2008

Dr. Nancy Hensel, Executive Officer

Council on Undergraduate Research

National Science Foundation Grant #0603119Two-Year Technician Education and Transfer Programs:

Tapping the Potential of Undergraduate Research

Objectives:

1) Explore the current status of undergraduate research in two-year programs;

2) Identify potential partners;3) Develop resources; and4) Propose a plan to establish new partnerships to broaden the

involvement of students in research.

Goals:

a) Conduct regional conversations, hosted at community colleges to explore issues related to undergraduate research and define what resources and models are most appropriate and best suited to meet the needs of the faculty and students at two-year institutions;

b) Identify faculty and administrators who will serve in leadership roles in future activities;

c) Outline the issues that emerge from the regional conversations and develop a publication on how to do undergraduate research in technician education programs and at community colleges;

d) Develop a professional development institute for community college faculty that addresses undergraduate research in technician education.

A Generally-Accepted Definition of Undergraduate Research

Undergraduate Research is an inquiry or investigation conducted by undergraduate that makes an original intellectual or creative contribution to the discipline.

Statement developed at a CUR Dialogues workshop in 1997: Wenzel, T.J., “What is Undergraduate Research?,” Council on Undergraduate Research Quarterly,

1997, 17, 163.

Undergraduate Research as an Effective Pedagogical Tool

• Greater gains in learning – science/math/logic, problem solving, literature/language/context mastery, and personal initiative and communication skills.

• Increased connection to and retention with the major.• Stronger enrollment in graduate education.• Increased employment in major-related fields.• Greater participation in other intellectual opportunities on campus.• Over coming tradition boundaries for women, students of color, and first-

generation students.

“Learning Through Research.”-CUR Tagline

Student Benefits of Undergraduate Research Participation

• Disciplinary Learning Beyond Traditional Courses– Learning laboratory techniques in depth;– Extensive hands-on use of research-grade equipment;– Seeing the relevance of classes – application of classroom

knowledge and laboratory skills in a research setting;– Practicing experimental design;– Significant use of the scientific language;– Seeing first-hand how contributions to the scientific knowledge

base permit other scientists to build upon one’s efforts.

Student Benefits of Undergraduate Research Participation

• Professional and personal growth in ways not possible through traditional classroom and laboratory classes– Understanding how scientists work;– Gaining self-confidence;– Learning how to work independently and collaboratively;– Learning to tolerate obstacles and be prepared for challenges;– Learning how to handle uncertainty and to work on problems

without clear solutions;– Aid in deciding future pursuits.

Faculty Benefits of UR Participation

• Intellectual invigoration, increased enthusiasm, improved teaching;

• Personal satisfaction working with undergraduates;

• Advances in research program;

• Effective means of staying current in one’s field.

Challenges of Undergraduate Research in Community College

• Traditionally heavy teaching loads;• Institutional budgets for research;• Often inadequate laboratory space;• Collegial and institutional acceptance of research as part of

teaching/learning process;• Students who often have full-time jobs or family responsibilities;• Students not aware of benefits of undergraduate research and future

career opportunities.

What We Learned: Positive Outcomes

We have found out that there is a significant amount of undergraduate research (UR) activities at community colleges. Representatives of 27 community colleges attended our conversations and shared examples of:

• Incorporating research skills in the curriculum;• Utilizing research activities in place of “cookbook” laboratories;• Conducting applied research at the community college and in local

communities;• Conducting basic research at the community college;• Conducting basic research in university settings.

• The conversations helped develop and expand networks among and between faculty and administrators from community colleges, four-year institutions, and non-profit organizations/business/industry.

• The conversations sparked interest in developing additional research activities—in institutions that have not fully incorporated the concept and for additional activities among those who have previously engaged in UR.

• There is an interest in “more” UR research at community colleges.

Rise of Undergraduate Research at Community College

• Need to address STEM pipeline concerns;

• Need to diversify scientific workforce;

• More community college faculty with research interests and backgrounds;

• Increase in students attending community colleges who wish to transfer to four-year institutions;

• Increase in inquiry based education.

Examples of Undergraduate Research

• Applied Research: Agricultural Technology

• Business/College Partnerships

• Biotechnology Research

• Engineering Technology

Applied Research: Agricultural Technology

VESTA: Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Assistance

VESTA offers courses through distance education. Course content is industry-validated and includes hands-on experiences at local wineries and vineyards.

Students conduct research on the chemical analysis of wines and provide the information to growers and winemakers.

The program has contributed to economic development in the states involved in the project: Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Business/College Partnerships

Southwestern Community College and Ondax, Inc.

Mid-Infrared Spectral Characterization of Volume Holographic Gratings and Nonfabrication of Optical Structures.

The National Science Foundation/Small Business Innovation Research Program funds the project.

Research goals:– To discover a correlation between optical properties and the structure of materials at

the atomic and molecular levels.– To explore the fabrication of nano-structures within the materials that can be used to

control and manipulate the propagation of light.

Professor David Brown and his students hope that their research will lead to replacing electricity with light in applications that are typically done with silicon chips and other semiconductor materials.

Biotechnology Research

Raritan Valley Community College, North Branch, NJ

Situated in the midst of several major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, Raritan Valley has developed high quality research experiences through internships.

Up-to-date science laboratories support the preparation of highly skilled technicians. Students learn laboratory and manufacturing practices, regulatory issues, instrument validations, and lab notebook and record keeping skills.

Engineering Technology

Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, CA

New technologies are integrated into the curriculum: geographic information systems (GIS), computer aided design and drafting (CADD) for civil engineering and surveying, and global positioning systems (GPS).

The campus has developed a model curriculum through partnerships with industry and incorporation of multimedia courseware.

How Does Undergraduate Research Support Workforce Improvement

• Undergraduate research encourages students to ask “what if” and “why not” questions;

• Students learn how to methodically look for solutions and to analyze the results;

• Students learn how research can be applied to “real life” problems;

• Students develop inquisitiveness and curiosity;

• Research at community colleges can encourage students to take risks in their projects that have the possibility of leading to future innovation.

Conclusions

• Community College students can do meaningful and authentic research.

• Undergraduate research can have an impact beyond student development and the campus.