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One Goal, Many Ways, to Support Undergraduate Research Westminster College New Wilmington, PA

One Goal, Many Ways, to Support Undergraduate Research Westminster College New Wilmington, PA. Terri Lenox Professor of Computer Science Director of Undergraduate Research. Sandra K. Webster Professor of Psychology Faculty Development Officer. Westminster College Context.

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One Goal, Many Ways, to Support Undergraduate Research Westminster College New Wilmington, PA

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  1. One Goal, Many Ways, to Support Undergraduate ResearchWestminster CollegeNew Wilmington, PA • Terri Lenox • Professor of Computer Science • Director of Undergraduate Research Sandra K. Webster Professor of Psychology Faculty Development Officer

  2. Westminster College Context • Established 1852 • Liberal Arts • ~ 1600 Undergraduate Students • 41 Major Programs • 110 Full-time Faculty Members

  3. Evolution of Undergraduate Research Support Structures

  4. Westminster College Capstone “The final component of Liberal Studies is a senior capstone course. The capstone is at least a four-semester-hour course within the major designed to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate and assess the strengths and limitations of their major field. Additionally, the capstone experience permits opportunity for structured reflection on the value of education in and beyond the major and provides another chance to strengthen communication and problem-solving skills.”

  5. Objectives of Capstone For WC Capstone Courses • Topical Theme • Primary Readings in Discipline • Tools of Research in the Discipline • Project • Teamwork on Case Studies

  6. Fall Senior Year Spring Senior Year Spring Junior Year Spring Junior Year Fall Senior Year Fall Senior Year Spring Senior Year Timing of Capstone For WC Capstone Courses Fall Senior Year Spring Senior Year Fall Junior Year

  7. Faculty Teaching Assignments For WC Capstone Courses • Responsibility of single faculty member • Rotated through the faculty • Team taught • Involves majority of department

  8. Major ChallengesFor Westminster Capstone Courses • Faculty workload issues • Faculty preparation issues • Presentation venues for student projects • Early skills development for students • Equipment and resources for student research • No room in major curriculum for capstone because of content requirements

  9. Major BenefitsFor WC Capstone Courses • Students are more engaged, competent and independent. • Faculty are motivated to keep up in the current scholarship and model research for students. • Students are able to see how the research in the discipline relates to what they’ve learned inside and outside of their majors.

  10. Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning • Undergraduate Research Support • Annual undergraduate research symposium • Undergraduate research grants • Undergraduate travel awards • Undergraduate research advisory council • Coming in 2011 undergraduate research and arts celebration day

  11. 6° of separation: One student’s story

  12. 3 Westminster students scour the National Guard archives Drs. Tim & Carolyn Cuff Barbara McCandless, Prof. of Religion Timothy Cuff, Assoc. Prof of History Clifford & Vira Heinz, Foundation KaitlynMcConville, Senior Math Major

  13. Dr. Tim Cuff • 2 co-authors, 3 conferences, 6 students, 12,646 soldiers, and 1277 death certificates

  14. KaitiMcConville -- Analyzing a Deficient Height Sample of Pennsylvanian National Guardsmen Nebraska Conference for Undergraduate Women in Mathematics, Jan. 29-31, University of Nebraska, Lincoln CUR Posters at the Capital – PA, March 23 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR), April 15 – 18, University of Montana, Missoula Undergraduate Arts & Research Celebration, April 23 – 24, Westminster College

  15. Outcomes • Increase faculty involvement in CUR • from 10 in 2008 to 25 in 2010 • Student increase student presentations at NCUR and other student conferences • NCUR increased from 5 in 2007 to 14 in 2010 • Westminster conference from 60 in 2007 to +90 in 2009 • Increase visibility of undergraduate research • 195 travel awards in past 4 years • 52 research awards in past 4 years • Strong positioning in the future strategic goals of the college through student engagement (experiential education) • Increase Faculty Conference presentations involving undergraduate co-authors • From 6 in Spring 2007 to 25 in Spring 2009

  16. Thanks! & Additional Resources • All disciplines are supported by these organizations (CUR and NCUR) have merged. • CUR, Council on Undergraduate Research • NCUR, National Conference on Undergraduate Research • National Survey of Student Engagement • For the Sciences • NSF REU, Research Experiences for Undergraduates • APA, American Psychological Association • Psy Chi Journal of Undergraduate Research • Society for the Teaching of Psychology E-Book, Developing, Promoting & Sustaining Undergraduate Research Experience in Psychology, R. L. Miller and R.F. Rycek (Eds.) • Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience For more information about this presentation contact Sandra K. Webster at websters@westminster.edu

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