COLUMN: Undergraduate research at Utah State
Celebrate! Undergraduate research at Utah State turns 35 this year, and it’s been a terrific time to reflect and to look forward. Since USU Magazine featured the anniversary in its spring issue, we’ve been hearing lots of stories from alumni who reach back to their halcyon undergraduate days and reminisce about the difference undergraduate research made to them.
I’m in a particularly good position to hear these stories as I oversee the undergraduate research program, which was formalized in 1975 under the leadership of visionary Glen Taggart, President of Utah State, but clearly was active well before that time.
Take Ken Abel (’61), for instance. He credits Dr. Norman Bauer, professor of chemistry, for supporting him in writing an undergraduate thesis. As Abel put it, “Were it not for my undergraduate research activities (which, incidentally, paid my living expenses and tuition), it is doubtful that I would have remained in science. I discovered an aptitude for multidisciplinary science/engineering and for nearly 50 years designed, built, and used the equipment of science in projects ranging from bacterial warfare defense to medical research, which led to dozens more publications, reports, and patents.”
It was this kind of student-faculty collaborative research that provided the environment for the farsighted Undergraduate Research & Creative Opportunities Grant Program (URCO) still in existence today. A beneficiary was Clark Winchell (’76), who received one of the first URCO Grants to do biological research with the guidance of Biology Professor Jim Gessaman. Winchell notes, “I received two URCO grants, and they were instrumental in forming my undergraduate experience. I learned a lot about research and how things work, particularly about how to prepare a project so it came to completion.”
Winchell underscores what higher education scholar George Kuh has documented: undergraduate research is a “high-impact” practice that has positive influences on students. His National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) found that 26 percent of graduating seniors at USU note that they have engaged in independent research with a faculty mentor – a higher figure than many other research universities.
But undergraduate research doesn’t rest on its laurels of being the second-oldest program in the nation (MIT was first). Over the past decade, the undergraduate research program has continued the URCO Grants, doubling the amount of funds offered to students, but other enhancements have been added: a transcript designation for Undergraduate Research Scholars; an undergraduate research day at the State Capitol; support for students to attend the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, Posters on the Hill in Washington, D.C., and the Utah Conference on Undergraduate Research; awards for outstanding undergraduate researchers and their mentors; and the Research Fellows Program that offers immediate immersion into research experiences for new students. And forthcoming, a new undergraduate research journal, Discover, created in cooperation with our Library’s Digital Commons.
In addition, ASUSU generously supports students to present at professional conferences through its academic opportunity fund; likewise, ASUSU granted the funds to develop websites that offer students information about and access to undergraduate research opportunities. To date, almost a dozen units on campus have created or enhanced their websites. All of this makes it easier for students to get their hands on important research opportunities – no matter what their major.
USU’s modest investment in undergraduate research has had big pay-offs: an envious record of acceptances to professional schools and funded assistantships to graduate studies; an increased number of students earning prestigious scholarships such as the Goldwater; enhanced job offers that arise from excellent letters of reference from faculty with whom students have worked closely.
While I’ve been hearing from our early alumni and beneficiaries, more recent grads also weigh in. Emily Bowen Stoker (’10) is still reaping benefits from her URCO Grant. She says of her new position at Caisson Labs, “I’m very grateful for my experience with URCO as I’m helping write a grant for the Department of Commerce.”
Current student Travyn Mapes traveled to Houston the summer after his freshman year to ride the vomit comet as part of the Get Away special research project.
He said: “The trip was amazing. I really loved the project and the knowledge I gained. I was interviewed as part of the team for a KSL-TV story; afterwards I realized that a year ago I’d have never thought I would be in this type of situation, and the Research Fellowship really pushed me to where I am.”
Listening to students express their dreams and goals about their undergraduate education and beyond and then following up on suggestions has been a hallmark of the research program. It’s made the program one of the best in the nation.
Want to learn more about undergraduate research and how you can become involved? Visit http://research.usu.edu/undergrad.
Joyce Kinkead is the USU associate vice president for research and a professor of English.