At a time when national statistics show that two thirds of students enrolled in colleges and universities need financial assistance and must work to help support themselves, and hence are not enrolling full time, establishing programs that support students while conducting undergraduate research is a darn good idea. Every good idea, however, requires a team of committed individuals with a shared vision, a strategic plan, and the resources to make it happen. When properly implemented, the practice of undergraduate research can encompass many of the other so-called high impact educational practices, such as first year experiences, study away, learning communities, writing intensive activities, or capstone projects. The impact of those practices has been documented, particularly for members of underrepresented groups in STEM at majority serving institutions. However, what can Minority Serving Institutions do to broaden participation beyond a handful of externally funded programs? In its 2010 as well as its 2020 strategic plan, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a Hispanic Serving Institution, stated objectives directly associated with student engagement in research. The number of programs and funding has dramatically increased since then, including internal funding through the student employment program, ensuring that participating students have proper mentoring and the right exposure starting their freshman year, are paid during the academic year and summer and also enroll full time. The results include a decreased time to degree, an increase in specific hallmarks of success, such as development of science self-efficacy and science identity and increased enrolment in advanced degrees. This presentation will focus on those results as well as descriptions of the multiple programs implemented since 2010 that have impacted not only student, but also faculty and institutional development, their sustainability approach, and their potential replicability.

Broadening, tracking and sustaining undergraduate research programs to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the STEM workforce: A pretty darn good idea for a Hispanic serving Institution

ACS Fall 2021

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