The FUTURE (Fellowships in the Ursinus Transition to the Undergraduate Research Experience) program at Ursinus College provides early research opportunities to members of underserved populations in science to encourage and equip them to become the scientific and civic leaders of the future. Students participate in the program prior to, or immediately following, their first year at Ursinus. The program specifically targets underrepresented minorities (URMs), women, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities. In the FUTURE program, students engage in a four-week summer research experience closely mentored by a faculty member and an upper class student mentor, participate in a 1-credit course titled “Science and Mathematics in Society”, are expected to present their research findings at a regional or national conference, and are strongly encouraged to continue research in subsequent years. The FUTURE program is a part of the Parlee Center for Science and the Common Good (CSCG) at Ursinus College, which provides opportunities for all Ursinus students to think, speak, and write about the impact of science on the common good. Since its inception in 2012, 32 FUTURE students and 21 different faculty have participated in the program from a wide range of scientific disciplines including 8 students and 5 faculty from our Chemistry and Biochemistry programs. Nearly all of the FUTURE students completed at least one additional semester of undergraduate research, with many continuing for the entire four years of their undergraduate educations. All of the FUTURE students have graduated with or are still pursuing a degree in the sciences. Assessment of student outcomes was evaluated using the HHMI SURE III Follow-Up survey, which showed that participants in the FUTURE program reported above average gains in almost every category assessed. The FUTURE program has thus been highly effective at ensuring that underserved students at Ursinus are given the tools and opportunities to become the scientific leaders of tomorrow.

FUTURE program: Engaging underserved populations through early research experiences

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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