Newswise — The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) today announced that it had received the largest grant in its 31-year history, a $999,500 grant from the National Science Foundation to improve the quality of undergraduate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education at state college and university systems and private and public consortia. Through the grant, CUR’s “Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research” workshops are expected to reach 960,000 students on 160 campuses across the nation.
Nancy Hensel, executive officer of CUR, said "We are very excited about what CUR can achieve, with the support of the National Science Foundation, in improving and expanding opportunities for undergraduate research. In addition to enhancing the academic experience for thousands of students, undergraduate research can also lead to innovation, discovery, and potential economicdevelopment for participating states."
Mitch Malachowski, professor of chemistry at the University of San Diego and co-principal investigator on the grant added, “Undergraduate research is one of the most powerful educational experiences students can have. It helps move them from studying a subject to becoming an active participant. This grant will allow us to display to institutions the wonders of undergraduate research and strategies – and to overcome the challenges. Our goal is to support campuses that are committed to achieving more active forms of learning.” Through the NSF grant, CUR will offer workshops for institutions that offer undergraduate research opportunities but face challenges that can be effectively addressed with strategies that have proven successful on other campuses. Beyond the series of workshops, CUR will offer campuses structured programs of follow-up activities, including development of an interactive website designed to share outcomes from the participating institutions and individuals and to disseminate best practices and models to the wider STEM and higher education communities. Kerry Karukstis, professor of chemistry at Harvey Mudd College and co-principal investigator on the grant, said, “To build an institution’s undergraduate research capacity, CUR has long advocated a strategic approach – using the effective strategies of others to develop a plan tailored to a campus’s own particular needs. Promoting undergraduate research throughout higher education systems and consortia demands an even more comprehensive and collaborative approach. This NSF-CCLI Phase 3 award will enable CUR to help catalyze the development of undergraduate research programs on an expanded number of campuses throughout this country.”
This is the third Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement grant that CUR has received from the National Science Foundation in the last three years. Through a $499,000 grant, CUR assisted 64 college campuses in establishing, formalizing and expanding undergraduate research opportunities. A $360,000 grant focuses on developing undergraduate research programs at community colleges.
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 a strong work ethic. Undergraduate research involvement improves student retention, connects classroom experiences to the world of work, and motivates 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 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 4000 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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