Newswise — The National Science Foundation has awarded a $360,000 grant to the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), and its partner the National Council of Instructional Administrators (NCIA), to develop and expand undergraduate research programs at community colleges. Through an earlier NSF Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement grant of $499,000, CUR assisted 64 college campuses in establishing, formalizing and expanding undergraduate research opportunities.

In announcing the grant, Nancy Hensel, Executive Office of CUR said, “We’re honored to receive our second major grant to expand and improve undergraduate research at the nation’s community colleges from the National Science Foundation, one of the nation’s most prestigious research organizations. The Phase II grant will allow us to build upon a pilot workshop we developed for community college faculty interested in incorporating undergraduate research into the curriculum.” George Boggs, President and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, said, "I am most pleased that the National Science Foundation is supporting the development of undergraduate research in community colleges. The expansion of discipline-based research in community colleges will give faculty members a powerful tool to engage their students and to increase motivation for learning." Through the NSF grant, the NCIA/CUR partnership will develop programs, build alliances and facilitate new research opportunities for more than 450,000 two-year college students at nearly 100 community colleges. The activities will include 12 workshops, taking place over a three-year period and bringing together 384 faculty members from 96 community colleges. These campuses will represent urban, rural and suburban communities from four geographical regions across the United States; each campus will also benefit from having a mentoring campus that will assist them in their efforts to develop their undergraduate research programs.

Brent Cejda, Executive Director of the National Council of Instructional Administrators (NCIA), said, "NCIA is excited to continue our collaboration with CUR on undergraduate research in community colleges. Both member and non-member community colleges responded positively to the activities of the planning grant, and the opportunity to develop and conduct workshops specifically for community colleges has been enthusiastically endorsed by the NCIA Board.”

Helen Doss, Dean of Instruction at Malcolm X College, said “With the receipt of this grant, CUR will be able to make significant improvements in undergraduate science curricula at the nation’s community colleges. These institutions are often the best and only option many young people and adults have for post-secondary education. It’s imperative, therefore, that community colleges are given the resources to develop robust, sustainable, and competitive science curricula, which require students to engage actively in the laboratory experiences that will prepare them to work in existing and emerging fields of scientific inquiry.”

Since 1978, CUR has worked to support and promote high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. CUR was founded on the belief that faculty members enhance their teaching and contribution to society by not only conducting research, but also involving undergraduate students in their scholarly activities. Education research shows that students who engage in undergraduate research develop problem-solving skills and strong work habits. Undergraduate research projects are improving student retention, connecting classroom experiences to the world of work, and motivating students to continue their studies.

About the NSF: The National Science Foundation (NSF), established in 1950, is the only federal agency dedicated to the support of fundamental research and education in all scientific and engineering disciplines. Charged with making certain that the United States maintains leadership in scientific discovery and the development of new technologies, the NSF has provided funding for thousands of distinguished scientists and engineers to conduct groundbreaking research, including more than 170 Nobel Prize Winners.

About NCIA: The National Council of Instructional Administrators supports professional development to enhance teaching, learning, and student success through scholarship and research. With more than 1200 members, NCIA is the largest affiliate council of the American Association of Community Colleges.

About CUR: The Council on Undergraduate Research (www.cur.org) supports faculty development for high-quality undergraduate student-faculty collaborative research and scholarship. Nearly 600 institutions and over 3000 individuals belong to CUR. CUR believes that the best way to capture student interest and create enthusiasm for a discipline is through research in close collaboration with faculty members.

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