Chemical Education Today edited by Kerry K. Karukstis Harvey Mudd College Claremont, CA 91711
Association Report: CUR
Starting a Successful Research Program at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution by Kerry K. Karukstis
The Challenge: Initiating an Undergraduate Research Program Involving undergraduate students in collaborative research with faculty has gained national significance because of its many educational benefits for students, the professional merits accorded to faculty, and the scientific contributions provided to the wider research community. As a consequence, institutions are increasingly embracing undergraduate research as an effective form of pedagogy and seeking new faculty members who will engage in collaborative research with undergraduates as an important component of both their teaching responsibilities and professional scholarly development. Most junior faculty members have had few opportunities in their graduate studies or postdoctoral positions to mentor undergraduate collaborators. Junior faculty members at predominantly undergraduate institutions (PUIs) face the extra challenge of starting a successful research program that generally relies exclusively on the involvement of undergraduates while also managing sometimes quite demanding teaching assignments and service expectations. These new members of the professoriate often seek mentors to suggest strategies that would enable them to seamlessly integrate teaching and research. PUI faculty cite additional challenges to establishing a research program, including the importance of designing research programs commensurate with undergraduates’ skills and course schedules, finding time to generate new research ideas, and establishing successful collaborations especially in an environment with few colleagues in the same field. Career Development Offerings for New Faculty When research is an expectation of an institution, administrators recognize that they must provide the infrastructure and resources necessary to make productive research a reality. Additionally, an investment by an institution in the continuous development of a faculty member’s career will have a broad impact on the faculty member, his/her students, and the ability of the institution to attract and retain excellent faculty. Some institutions provide an extensive array of support mechanisms for junior faculty, including start-up funding, a course reduction in the first year of teaching, and funding for travel to professional meetings and for research assistance. These tangible forms of support are extremely useful. Nevertheless, new faculty members
…new faculty members also need support in the form of guidance on how to establish and manage a research program with undergraduates.
also need support in the form of guidance on how to establish and manage a research program with undergraduates. New! Institute for Starting Faculty in the Natural Sciences CUR is pleased to announce the inaugural offering of an institute geared toward new faculty: “Beginning a Research Program in the Natural Sciences at a Predominantly Undergraduate Institution”. The institute’s objective is to give pre-tenured faculty members (particularly those in their first three years of appointment) the opportunity to learn from and discuss with experienced faculty how to establish and manage a research program with undergraduates. Graduate students and post-doctoral associates who are interested in pursuing academic careers at predominantly undergraduate institutions are also welcome to attend. A range of topics will be covered during the institute including recommendations on: selecting and designing research projects appropriate for undergraduates; identifying and recruiting undergraduate researchers; mentoring undergraduates and developing their research skills; connecting research interests and findings to the classroom; and developing grantsmanship skills related to gaining external and institutional research support. CUR recognizes that the local environment will certainly influence how a new faculty member designs a research program and involves undergraduates. Nevertheless, there are numerous experiences of more established faculty that can inform new faculty members and enable them to become more effective members of the professoriate at an earlier stage in their careers. This professional development workshop aims to share such practical and strategic advice of experienced research-active faculty to enhance the research productivity of new faculty members.
© Division of Chemical Education • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • Vol. 85 No. 3 March 2008 • Journal of Chemical Education
343
Chemical Education Today
Association Report: CUR In order to maximize the value of the institute, the target audience will consist of faculty with common needs and who are members of the departments of biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics, psychology, physics, or engineering. Facilitators will be experienced, research-active PUI faculty members in these disciplines who will work individually with participants to help new and prospective faculty establish the goals for their research programs and develop a strategy and timetable to achieve their goals. The format of the institute will include both plenary and breakout sessions for individual consultations with facilitators. This two-and-a-half day workshop will take place from June 6–8, 2008 at Davidson College in Davidson, NC. More information about the institute as well as application instruc-
344
tions can be found at http://www.cur.org/institutes/newfaculty. html (accessed Jan 2008). Questions regarding the institute can be directed to the CUR National Office at
[email protected]. Supporting JCE Online Material
http://www.jce.divched.org/Journal/Issues/2008/Mar/abs343.html Abstract and keywords Full text (PDF) with links to cited URLs
Kerry K. Karukstis is President of CUR and is a member of the Department of Chemistry, Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711;
[email protected].
Journal of Chemical Education • Vol. 85 No. 3 March 2008 • www.JCE.DivCHED.org • © Division of Chemical Education
