Christopher S. Kim, Chapman UniversityMarianne Smith, Citrus College
Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Funded by NSF-EAR #1359500
Chapman University, REU Site (?)• Private comprehensive regional
university (#7 in West)• 6300 undergraduates, 1800 graduate
students• Teacher/scholar model: excellence in
undergraduate research mentoring• Within a 30-mile radius: 250,000
community college students!
Orange, CA
SURFEES Program Objectives– Provide transformative research experiences to students from 2-
year institutions that lack substantial research facilities – Increase the participation of under-represented students,
particularly Hispanics, women and low-income individuals, in hands-on scientific research and increase their confidence level in conducting research
– Develop scientifically-literate, experienced participants who persist, transfer into and graduate with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degrees
– Increase student awareness of earth and environmental issues and career opportunities in environmental areas
Participating community colleges
• Within 5-30 mile range from Chapman campus
• Targets: – 50% female (2014: 80%)– 50% under-represented
minority (60%)– 50% low-income (≥60%)
The application process
• Goal: identifying students most likely to have transformative research experiences– Extensive application/interview process– Ranking of 11 science research areas– More broadly-worded essay questions– In-person interviews with detailed scoring rubric– Minimum 2 evaluators for each application and
interview– Communication with faculty mentors for final selection
Program at a Glance• Dates: Mon. 6/16/14 – Fri. 8/8/14 (8 weeks)• Housing: Provided in Harris Apartments (kitchenettes)• Compensation: $4K to students, $1K to faculty mentor, $1K
in lab research/equipment costs• Preparation (faculty):
– 2 pre-summer faculty mentor training sessions– Mid-term and end-of-term faculty evaluations– Post-experience follow-up debriefing
• Preparation (students):– 2 pre-summer on-campus training sessions
• Tour of labs; lab safety; data analysis (Excel); lab notebooks• Scientific literature; tour of housing; first meeting with mentors
Details cont.
• Weekly Professional Development Workshops– Resumes, transferring to 4YC, scholarships, grad
programs, public speaking, • Weekly Earth and Env. Science Lecture Series
– Participating faculty mentors, environmental organizations
• End-of-summer poster presentation/reception• Opportunity to present at Chapman University
Student Research Day, other conferences
SURFEES assessment plan• Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences
(SURE) III assessment instruments:– Preflection Survey (2-3 weeks prior)– SURE III (1 week post-experience)– SURE Follow-Up Survey (6-9 months post)
• Focus group interviews:– Prior to start of program– End of program– 6-month post-program
Key components/lessons• Detailed application process helped maximize
student outcomes, faculty satisfaction• Paired research projects (with each other or
with current Chapman undergraduates) were more successful and productive
• On-campus housing was critical to creating a strong cohort culture
• Pre-summer training sessions helped ease transitions from 2YC to Chapman