Undergraduate research experience is an educational practice of ‘‘high impact’’ and its benefits for students have been well documented. Here, we describe the Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP), a multidisciplinary, course-based undergraduate research experience that allows students to serve as apprentices for faculty members conducting research at West Virginia University (WVU). The program is housed under the Office of Undergraduate Research and is designed for students that are new to college and have little to no experience in research. Undergraduate students in the program may earn course credit or may use federal work-study funds to be paid for work in their research projects. The program sets out to help students advance career outcomes, explore academic passions, gain access to the real-world application of their studies, and conduct research with a faculty mentor. In addition to the research, RAP participants enroll in an accompanying Introduction to Research course for two academic semesters. The main goal of this course is to provide basic support for students’ research endeavors. The course curriculum focuses on developing students’ oral and written communication skills, strengthening their connection with their mentors, and establishing an environment where they can interact with their peers and discuss their research. At the end of their two-semester experience in RAP, students present their projects at one of the university’s culminating end-of-semester symposia. Since it was implemented in fall 2017, RAP has engaged more than 600 students in research projects and it has been shown to improve students’ academic performance and academic persistence, particularly in STEM fields.

Research apprenticeship program (RAP) at WVU: An undergraduate research experience

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.