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STEPping Up Undergraduate Research at MTSU (STEP MT )

STEPping Up Undergraduate Research at MTSU (STEP MT ). STEP MT Internal Advisory Board Meeting July 25, 2006. NSF STEP Overview. STEP = STEM Talent Expansion Program STEM = Sci, Tech, Engr, Math Goals of NSF-STEP: More STEM grads Characteristics Program is 5 years old

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STEPping Up Undergraduate Research at MTSU (STEP MT )

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  1. STEPping Up Undergraduate Research at MTSU (STEPMT) STEPMTInternal Advisory Board Meeting July 25, 2006

  2. NSF STEP Overview • STEP = STEM Talent Expansion Program • STEM = Sci, Tech, Engr, Math • Goals of NSF-STEP: More STEM grads • Characteristics • Program is 5 years old • Grants are for 5 years • <= $2M based on size of university • 12-15 funded/yr of ~250 proposals

  3. MTSU’s STEP Program (STEPMT) • Co-PIs: Bill Robertson (PHYS), Andri Friedli (CHEM), Ginger Rowell (MATH), Tom Cheatham • Coordinator: Brad Rudnik, brudnik@mtsu.edu • Depts: BIOL, CHEM, CSCI, ETIS, GEOL, MATH, PHYS • 5 years (2004 - 2009), $1.7+ M • Goal: Increase retention & graduation of STEM • How? • Build STEM community through UG research • Change curriculum to include more inquiry-based • Partner w/ RCS, TLSAMP, area companies

  4. Curriculum Innovations • Inquiry-based Learning in Key Lower Division Classes for Majors • Biology, Chem, CSCI, ETIS, Geology, Math • New Student Research Courses (cross-listed) • Laboratory Internship Classes

  5. Laboratory Internship • Proposed: use Chemistry’s model for teaching their students about being lab assistants • Current: Need to think of appropriate transitions for other disciplines • Looking for ideas/volunteers • Course reassigned time available

  6. Student Research Seminar Series • Combines Research & Community • Weekly Lunchtime Talks Presented by Faculty and Students (Pizza) • Examples • Introduction to Research / Opportunities at MTSU • Writing a Research Proposal / Making a Poster • Research Case Studies Discipline Examples • Student Research Stories (Panel) • Summer Research Internships (Panel)

  7. Undergraduate Research Community • Aim: Create a community of undergraduate research students across the STEM disciplines. • Why? • Better connection to discipline • Support structure/role models • Interdisciplinary appreciation • NSF: Why? = STEM student retention

  8. Undergraduate Research Community • Academic Year Research Awards • Administered through the Undergraduate Research Council • Awards $1000 (+$500 for faculty mentor, +$300 for supplies) • Assistants $500 • Applications due in early fall and spring semesters (3 calls in 2 years) • Spent $51,500 thus far…

  9. Undergraduate Research Community Summer Research Teams (2005, 2006) • Research projects designed and led by MTSU faculty members ($5000 / $50K) • 2 MTSU undergraduates ($4000 / $3000 / $76 K) • High school teacher and high school student ($3500 /$2000 / $35K / $26K) • Social activities - lunches, poster sessions, tours

  10. Undergraduate Research Community Academic Year Social Engineering • Undergraduate research student lunch seminars (~200 students / 4 semesters) • Undergraduate Scholars Day (~60 students) • Large cadre of undergraduate researchers (~50 students)

  11. Off-Campus Partnerships • Academia (REU’s) • Government Labs • Industry (STEP-IN) • Public Schools (STEP-MTeams)

  12. Industry Partnerships (STEP-IN) • Local industries / government • Substantive: 10 week summer research experience • Paid: $5000 ($25 K) • Well-Defined: Expectations • Learning Experience: 2 mentors • Evaluated: Written evaluations, report

  13. High School Partners • Local: Rutherford County schools • Lasting Impact: High school teacher/student pair • Substantive: 200 hr commitment • Team Effort: Interaction within an MTSU team

  14. Challenges • Administrative load for PIs and coordinator (average time is 42% - NSF) • Increased admin services outside STEP • Curriculum reform difficult and slow • Trouble building interdisciplinary research community • Industry partnerships difficult to form and to maintain

  15. Your Input/Help is Needed! 1. Support activities of faculty participants • Inform campus of activities • Use activities as examples of research in speeches 2. Improve the process for research stipends • Closer coordination and improved communication with financial aid/business office • Keep policies student-friendly

  16. Your Input/Help is Needed! 3. Third year review at NSF in spring 2007 • Assess impact, successes, and failures • Propose improvements and changes 4. Plan for sustainability • Support the Undergraduate Research Center • Encourage curriculum reform for effective teaching • Other?

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