Mentoring undergraduates in research

Abstract

This poster addresses the Ph.D. shortage in higher education by describing efforts at the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire to mentor undergraduates in research. In spring 2005, 20 undergraduates in CSD began a Directed Studies experience with the faculty collaborator; they formed research teams, selected topics, searched the literature, developed research questions, designed projects, and wrote and submitted proposals for university funding. Projects were conducted in fall 2005; data were analyzed in spring 2006. This poster documents the process of this research experience, student learning outcomes derived from a survey at the beginning of the fall 2006 semester, dissemination efforts for each project, and lessons learned in mentoring undergraduate students in research.