K. Thomas Finley and William J. Hayles Rochester Institute of Technoloov Rochester, N e w York '
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Directory of Undergraduate Research
T h e Rochester Institute of Technology has had an undergraduate research program for some ten years. Initially the program was voluntary on the part of the student. Currently participation is a graduation requirement for all senior students, although we are considering various modifications. Sometimes a research project has been initiated by an individual student and tailored to his needs. Such a project frequently terminated when the student graduated. Another approach baa been to pursue a relatively long range goal, each student contributing one facet. Some students have participated in the Cortelyou' program. The authors are convinced that undergraduate research is a very potent teaching tool. We wondered, however, what other colleges and faculties were doing in this regard and what their experiences have been. Since there was no information extant, and since we believed that communication resulting in crossfertilization would be valuable, we undertook in the summer of 1963 to make a survey of 796 departments of chemistry. We wished to determine which colleges and universities, and how many of their faculty and students, were involved. Additionally, we wanted an estimate of the sentiment in favor of some means of establishing a basis for communication among those involved. Tables 1 and 2 present the statistical data collected. Table 1. Survey of Undergraduate Chemical Research in American Colleges and Universities Total departments surveyed 796 Total departments responding 366 (46%) Departments without undergraduate research program 15 (4%) Faculty members directing 1400 Students participating per year 2500 Departments in which students present research results orally 325 (89%) Presentation at meetings sponsored by: Department 116 College (or group of colleges) 39 Local ACS section 84 State Academy of Science 43 Other 97
It will surprise no one that research is such a widely used teaching technique in chemical education. What perhaps is surprising is the number who share the feeling that the proposed directory might be of value. Even among those departments which were undecided, 'See CORTELYOU, ETEALINE AND W. J., TEIS JOURNAL 35, 278 (1958). See also CORTELYOU, E., TRIS JOURNAL 26, 195 (1949) for a report of the beginning of the National Cooperative Undergraduate Chemioal Research Program.
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Table 2. Interest in Directory of Undergraduate Research Would it be useful? Yes No Undecided Would you contribute data to it? Yes Nn
undecided Departments surveyed for first edition Departments responding Facnltv entries in first edition
199 (54.5%) 70(19.0%) 82 (22.5%) 286 (81.5%) nn
23 174 98(57%) 315
a majority of respondents expressed a positive feeling by answering "could be" or "probably." The question on this preliminary survey was intended to be quite open and general in order not to influence the respondents. Most of the negative replies gave strong evidence of having interpreted the proposal as a journal of undergraduate research. It will he clear to users- of the "Directoiy of Uodergraduate Research" that this is not its function. Since it appears that there is substantial interest in such a directory, the question "will it be used?" is of real consequence. The only realistic answer must he found in actual practice and thus t,he first edition had to he prepared. After some correspondence and many useful suggestions concerning format and after obtaining financial support from the Rochester Institute of Technology, we invited about 175 departments to submit their data for inclusion. These were chosen on the basis of the interest they had shown in the project. If the directory proves useful enough to warrant re-issue, all interested departments will be most welcome. The greater the number of participants, the more useful the directory will be. Since this first edition was intended to explore the utility of the publication, the format for abstracts was not made any more restrictive than necessary. For this reason the material has a somewhat uneven quality. I t is our hope that users will be quite critical and that they will make their criticism known to us in order to improve any future effort. If such a directory is .worth doing at all, it must be
The Rochester Institute of Technology is happy to make a limited number of copies of this first edition of the "Directory of Undergraduate Research" available free of charge to interested persons. Because of the expense of printing and mailing, we feel that one copy per depa~tment should be adequilte. A reprint request card to the authors will bring a copy with our compliments.
more than an interesting survey of what is going on, where, and who is doing it. The publication of even this first edition with its limited coverage required the efforts of a huge number of persons and considerable expense. Although any future edition having a substantially larger number of entries will lead to the exposure of more research problems and more coincident problems, we feel that this first edition is a fair trial. The directory thus must prove itself if any future work is to be undertaken. The purpose of this publication is quite different from that of the ACS Directory of Graduate Research. This is emphasized in the format and arrangement, which puts stress on projects and areas of chemistry rather than on departments and individuals. It is
our hope that this directory can be instrumental in stimulating high quality publishable undergraduate research. Any exchange of ideas or even words of warning or encouragement can be helpful. Possibly the directory may bring about more of this intercourse a t meetings (local and/or national) or by correspondence. I n some cases it is not out of the question that an active collaboration might result. The real answer lies with interested readers. No one or two persons can hope to envisage all the potential methods of employing this new publication. Our appeal is that as you experiment with the directory, please let us know its strengths and weaknesses, and especially your suggestions for its improve ment.
Volume 42, Number 4, April 1965
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