Christopher S. Kim, Chapman UniversityMarianne Smith, Citrus College

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Earth and Environmental Sciences

Funded by NSF-EAR #1359500

Chapman University, REU Site (?)• Private comprehensive regional

university (#7 in West)• 6300 undergraduates, 1800 graduate

students• Teacher/scholar model: excellence in

undergraduate research mentoring• Within a 30-mile radius: 250,000

community college students!

Orange, CA

SURFEES Program Objectives– Provide transformative research experiences to students from 2-

year institutions that lack substantial research facilities – Increase the participation of under-represented students,

particularly Hispanics, women and low-income individuals, in hands-on scientific research and increase their confidence level in conducting research

– Develop scientifically-literate, experienced participants who persist, transfer into and graduate with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) baccalaureate degrees

– Increase student awareness of earth and environmental issues and career opportunities in environmental areas

Participating community colleges

• Within 5-30 mile range from Chapman campus

• Targets: – 50% female (2014: 80%)– 50% under-represented

minority (60%)– 50% low-income (≥60%)

The application process

• Goal: identifying students most likely to have transformative research experiences– Extensive application/interview process– Ranking of 11 science research areas– More broadly-worded essay questions– In-person interviews with detailed scoring rubric– Minimum 2 evaluators for each application and

interview– Communication with faculty mentors for final selection

Program at a Glance• Dates: Mon. 6/16/14 – Fri. 8/8/14 (8 weeks)• Housing: Provided in Harris Apartments (kitchenettes)• Compensation: $4K to students, $1K to faculty mentor, $1K

in lab research/equipment costs• Preparation (faculty):

– 2 pre-summer faculty mentor training sessions– Mid-term and end-of-term faculty evaluations– Post-experience follow-up debriefing

• Preparation (students):– 2 pre-summer on-campus training sessions

• Tour of labs; lab safety; data analysis (Excel); lab notebooks• Scientific literature; tour of housing; first meeting with mentors

Details cont.

• Weekly Professional Development Workshops– Resumes, transferring to 4YC, scholarships, grad

programs, public speaking, • Weekly Earth and Env. Science Lecture Series

– Participating faculty mentors, environmental organizations

• End-of-summer poster presentation/reception• Opportunity to present at Chapman University

Student Research Day, other conferences

SURFEES assessment plan• Survey of Undergraduate Research Experiences

(SURE) III assessment instruments:– Preflection Survey (2-3 weeks prior)– SURE III (1 week post-experience)– SURE Follow-Up Survey (6-9 months post)

• Focus group interviews:– Prior to start of program– End of program– 6-month post-program

Key components/lessons• Detailed application process helped maximize

student outcomes, faculty satisfaction• Paired research projects (with each other or

with current Chapman undergraduates) were more successful and productive

• On-campus housing was critical to creating a strong cohort culture

• Pre-summer training sessions helped ease transitions from 2YC to Chapman