2007 Ohio Section APS/SOS/AAPT Joint Fall Meeting
Volume 52, Number 15
Friday–Saturday, October 19–20, 2007;
Oxford, Ohio
Session B1: Plenary II
2:45 PM–3:30 PM,
Friday, October 19, 2007
Culler Hall
Room: 46
Chair: Herbert Jaeger, Miami University
Abstract ID: BAPS.2007.OSF.B1.1
Abstract: B1.00001 : Creating a Research-Rich Curriculum at Miami University
2:45 PM–3:30 PM
Preview Abstract
Author:
William H. Rauckhorst
(Miami University)
Miami University has attempted in recent years to build
upon a collection of individual student research participation
opportunities at the University, and develop a comprehensive
``research-rich'' undergraduate curriculum. A major step in
this direction was the creation of the Undergraduate
Summer Scholars (USS) program. This program provides
10-week summer research experiences with faculty mentors
for 100 juniors or seniors each year. The USS Program
is not limited to science and engineering areas, as
approximately 30 academic departments participate
annually. Development of the USS program at Miami was
motivated by the University's prior experience with
student research appointments funded by the National
Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
and other sponsoring agencies. The University's
evaluation of these earlier student research experiences
provided evidence that such experiences were at least
as significant in a student's education as formal course
work.
A second important step in Miami's effort was obtaining
a grant from the National Science Foundation's
Comprehensive Reform of Undergraduate Education program.
This funding enabled the University to enhance the
Undergraduate Summer Scholars (USS) Program and evaluate
student intellectual growth within the program.
Two outcomes of this NSF-funded project are noteworthy:
first, the USS program now is firmly established within
the University's offerings; second, the evaluation
ndicated profound student intellectual growth as a result
of mentored research experiences.
We will describe the development of the Undergraduate
Summer Scholars Program, our evaluation of the Program,
and ongoing efforts to extend the benefits of research
experience to more students by incorporating research
components within traditional coursework.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2007.OSF.B1.1