Cultivating a Multi-Disciplinary Learning Atmosphere for Undergraduate Research:

The ACRE Success Story

National Conferenc efor Undergraduate ResearchApril 2006Asheville, NC

Christian Hamann (Chemistry) Lisa Wilder (Economics)Wayne Vettleson (Theatre)

Council on UndergraduateResearch Biennial ConferenceJune 2006DePauw, IN

Andrea Chapdelaine (Provost) Teresa Gilliams (English)Stephen G. Mech (Biology)David Osgood (Biology)

History of Program

• CUR Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research Institute 1996

• Mission to increase level of participation and institutionalize support for a campus-wide summer program

• Project must be “true collaborative effort between faculty member and student”

Mission Statement

… designed to foster undergraduate scholarship, creative activity and research.

The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to engage in an in-depth

learning experience that complements the breadth of the liberal-arts curriculum. Through

this experience, students will increase their skills in their chosen field, foster professional relationships with faculty, and advance their

knowledge in the chosen project area

Program Overview

• Summer and Interim models– 10 weeks in summer– 3-4 weeks in Interim

• Full or half ACREs• All current students are eligible• Application is a collaborative grant

proposal– Evaluated by Undergraduate Research

Committee– IRB/ACUC approval required

Making the Multi-disciplinary Connection

• Information sessions

• Planning meeting

• Weekly student presentations and discussions

• Summer picnic

• Campus presentation – Experience Event

Making the Multi-disciplinary Connection

• Weekly meetings

Making the Multi-disciplinary Connection

• Campus presentation – Experience Event

SAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES….

STREAM RESTORATION

URBAN EDUCATION

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PROFILE

OF THE HOMELESS

CRIME MAPPING IN READING

Breaking the Mis-education Cycle

• Project goals – Describe features of

multicultural curriculum – Define key tenets of a

multicultural curriculum – Understand the multicultural

classroom – Incorporate Carter G.

Woodson’s The Mis-education of the Negro with the practical side of the overall project

Outcomes – Benefits for students

• Exposure and learning beyond their own area of concentration

• Conferences/publications/events– NCUR and regional conferences

• Sustained effort at and interest in engaging scholarly communities outside their discipline

– National and International conferences• Undergraduate research and Professional meetings in a

variety of fields

• Graduate studies/jobs• Foundations of Senior Thesis

– Theses more multi-disciplinary

0

5

10

15

20

25

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

No

. o

f F

ac

ult

y

Social Sciences

Natural Sciences

Humanities

Faculty Participation

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

To

tal

Fac

ult

y

Student Participation

0

5

10

15

20

25

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Year

No

. o

f P

roje

cts

Social Sciences

Natural Sciences

Humanities

SurveysDATE: TO: name of faculty member FROM: Andrea Chapdelaine, Provost, Albright College RE: 2005 ACRE Summer Research Program Dear Dr. X, As a faculty recipient of an ACRE during the summer of 2005, we would appreciate if you would take the time to complete the following survey. Your feedback will help us seek additional funding, support and resources for the program, as well as assist us in improving the program for you and the students. We ask that you do not share or discuss this survey with the student(s) who collaborated on this project. All responses are strictly confidential. All responses will be reported in group-form only and no individual identifying information will be made available. A report on the results of this survey will be disseminated to faculty. Please return the completed form to David Osgood, Biology Department. 1. Overall, how would you rate your experience with the ACRE program:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Very Poor Excellent

2. To what extent do your feel you achieved your objectives with regard to the ACRE project?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Did not at all Met Exceeded Objectives Meet Objectives Objectives 3. What were some new skills or knowledge that you acquired through the ACRE project? 4. In your view, how would your student rate his or her experience with the ACRE program: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Very Poor Excellent

5. What do you believe the student achieved in terms of educational goals from the ACRE project? What were some new skills or knowledge that you believe your student acquired?

DATE: TO: name of recipient FROM: Andrea Chapdelaine, Provost Albright College RE: 2005 ACRE Summer Research Program Dear participant, As a student recipient of a 2005 ACRE award, we would appreciate if you would take the time to complete the following survey. Your feedback will help us seek additional funding, support and resources for the program, as well as assist us in improving the program for future student recipients of an ACRE award. It is important to inform you that all responses are strictly confidential. All responses will be reported in group-form only and no individual identifying information will be made available. The faculty member who collaborated with you on your ACRE will not see your responses to this survey. We also ask that you not share or discuss this survey with your faculty collaborator. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at x7726 or dosgood@alb.edu. Please return the completed form in the enclosed envelope to Dr. David Osgood, Science Hall, by September 15th. We thank you in advance for helping Albright College with this important program. 1. Overall, how would you rate your experience with the ACRE program:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Very Poor Excellent

2. What do you believe you achieved in terms of your educational goals from the ACRE

project? What were some new skills or knowledge you acquired?

3. What were some ideas or experiences you had that you believe were most beneficial? 4. Approximately how much time per week did you spend on the ACRE project during the

designated time period? Approximately __________ hours per week 5. Approximately how much time per week did you spend working or meeting with your

faculty collaborator? Approximately __________ hours per week 6. To what extent did you feel your faculty collaborator’s time working on and involvement

in the project was sufficient? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Not at all Sufficient More than Sufficient Sufficient

Survey Results

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Faculty StudentParticipant

Sat

isfa

ctio

n (1

-7 s

cale

)

Social Sciences Natural Sciences Humanities

a

a,b

b

a,b

a,ba,b

Reasons for non-completion

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

STUDENT FACULTY STUDENT FACULTY STUDENT FACULTY

HUMANITIES SOCIAL SCIENCE NATURAL SCIENCE

Unexpected problems Project grew in scopeInitial goals not reasonable Completion never intended or at later dateLack of resources

Outcomes – Post-graduate Activity

• Higher Education– Masters (13 different programs) 15– PhD (4 different programs) 4– Divinity School 2– Medical School 2– Total 23– Placement by ACRE graduates 24%– Placement by total student body26-28%

Discussion – individual barriers to multidisciplinary projects

• What barriers do you anticipate for faculty participation?

• What barriers do you anticipate for student participation?

Discussion - Programmatic

• What are the factors that allow an interdisciplinary program to flourish?

• How can you develop or create these factors at your institution?

• What are the obstacles?