Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research at CSUSM

1. Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research at CSUSM Academic Affairs Town Hall September 18, 2008

2. Purpose of Town Hall • Introduce Committee on Undergraduate Research (CUGR) and its origins • Begin dialogue about undergraduate research at CSUSM • Obtain feedback on draft plan • Begin to document faculty/student collaborations in scholarly activity and research at CSUSM

3. A Confluence of Essential Components Undergraduate Research that is: Faculty-driven, Student-centered, and Institutionally-supported Provides the combination of factors necessary for: Pedagogical effectiveness, Enhanced learning outcomes, Research productivity, and Research program sustainability

4. CSUSM Emphasis on Student and Faculty Engagement in Research • Campus Mission Statement: “Students work closely with a faculty of active scholars and artists whose commitment to sustained excellence in teaching, research, and community partnership enhances student learning.” • Academic Excellence Strategic Priority: “We are committed to the success of students by encouraging their intellectual engagement and by supporting the teaching, research, and creative activities of a stellar faculty.” • Academic Affairs Goal: “Support faculty research and creative activity to create a community of scholars that collaborates with a community of learners.”

5. CUR Institute: “Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research” • February 2008 - CSUSM participated in CUR Institute for Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research • Sponsored by National Science Foundation • For institutions without a tradition or culture of campus-wideengagement in undergraduate research • Competitive application • One of two CSU campuses selected

6. Goals of CUR Institute • Assist institutions to: • Articulate goals forinstitutionalizing undergraduate research • Develop strategies to achieve these goals on their campuses • Develop communities of scholars among participating campuses to build a culture that supports undergraduate research

7. CSUSM Team for CUR Institute • A diverse disciplinary group • Active researchers and mentors of undergraduate students in research • Success at securing external research and training grants • Chuck De Leone (Physics Department Chair) • George Vourlitis (Biological Sciences faculty) • Keith Trujillo (Psychology faculty; Associate Director of the Office of Biomedical Research) • Gerardo Gonzalez (Dean/AVP for Graduate Studies & Research)

8. Program for the CUR Institute • Plenary lectures presented by facilitators • Individual team meetings with CUR mentors • Jeff Marshall, Cal Poly Pomona • CSUSM team reflected on current status of undergraduate research at CSUSM  • Drafted a mission statement, goals, and action plan for undergraduate research at CSUSM

9. CUR Institute Follow-up Activities • April 2008 - Convened CSUSM Committee on Undergraduate Research (CUGR) • June 2008 - National CUR conference • Poster presentation on CSUSM Draft Plan • November 2008 - CSU Conference on Institutionalizing Undergraduate research • April 2009 - CUR Dialogues Meeting • Spring 2009 - Site visit from CUR liaison • To discuss progress on CSUSM initiative

10. Current Composition of CUGR • CUGR serves as steering committee to promote broader faculty participation in student-faculty research • Peter Arnade (History) • Bonnie Bade & Konane Martinez (Anthropology) • Denise Boren (Nursing) • Eliza Bigham (Human Development) • Chuck De Leone (Physics) • Ann Fiegen (Library) • James Hamerly (Business) • Kathy Norman (Education) • Arcela Nuñez-Alvarez (National Latino Research Center) • Martha Stoddard-Holmes (Literature & Writing) • Keith Trujillo (Psychology) • George Vourlitis (Biological Sciences) • Gerardo González (Graduate Studies & Research)

12. Draft Plan: Short-term Goals • Conduct an inventory of undergraduate research • Assess the strengths and gaps for developing a campus undergraduate research program and a research-supportive curriculum • Identify core faculty committed to mentoring undergraduate students in research and/or integrating undergraduate research in the curriculum • Inform and foster dialogue among faculty and students about the benefits of undergraduate research • Establish an institutional priority for undergraduate research

13. Draft Plan: Intermediate Goals • Develop a system tolink faculty and undergraduate students in research activities • Strengthencampus administrative andorganizational infrastructure for faculty-mentored undergraduate student research • e.g., establish a centralized program to coordinate activities, including campus-wide student symposia and seminars

14. Draft Plan: Intermediate Goals • Identify external resources to support undergraduate research • Help faculty submit external grant proposals; obtain resources; secure equipment/facilities • Implement a research-supportive undergraduate curriculum • Recognize faculty and student research through celebration of achievements • Initiate assessment of undergraduate research outcomes via faculty consultation

15. Draft Plan: Long-term Goals • Marshal internal resources and administrative support to sustain undergraduate research • e.g., faculty professional development and research facilities  • Provide stipends, travel grants, and fellowships for undergraduate students to conduct supervised research • Create summer research programs for undergraduate students to collaborate on faculty-mentored research projects 

16. Draft Plan: Long-term Goals Clarify faculty retention, tenure, and promotion guidelines to advance undergraduate research Conduct ongoing assessment of undergraduate research outcomes

17. A Confluence of Essential Components Undergraduate Research that is: Faculty-driven, Student-centered, and Institutionally-supported Provides the combination of factors necessary for: Pedagogical effectiveness, Enhanced learning outcomes, Research productivity, and Research program sustainability

18. Questions? • Feedback on draft plan? • Examples of faculty/student collaboration in scholarly activity and research?