Tips and Queries Tips and Queries Session #3Session #3

8:45-9:45AM, 04/28/20078:45-9:45AM, 04/28/2007

Scribe: Xubin (Ben) He, Tennessee Tech UniversityScribe: Xubin (Ben) He, Tennessee Tech University

Moderator: Richard Hughey, U. of California Santa CruzModerator: Richard Hughey, U. of California Santa Cruz

Increasing diversity: establish relationships Increasing diversity: establish relationships with organization to attract with organization to attract underrepresented groups such as local underrepresented groups such as local HSBC college to build long term HSBC college to build long term relationship to recruit minority students.relationship to recruit minority students.

Suggestion: NSF contacts minority Suggestion: NSF contacts minority organizations such asAfrican American organizations such asAfrican American Authority.Authority.

Publications: draft paper is due one week Publications: draft paper is due one week before the end of the session. Feedback before the end of the session. Feedback then is provided and students work on the then is provided and students work on the final paper during the last week. final paper during the last week.

Recruitment women: network of women Recruitment women: network of women engineering. Advertise the program over engineering. Advertise the program over this.this.

Q: what’s the biggest surprise after 1Q: what’s the biggest surprise after 1stst year? year?A:A: Tremendous amount of work.Tremendous amount of work.

Some unexpected requirements from Some unexpected requirements from students.students.

Advertisement: Including REU info on Advertisement: Including REU info on Websites/email signature/business cards Websites/email signature/business cards as a REU coordinatoras a REU coordinator

Create a group such as google group for Create a group such as google group for REU participants at the beginning of the REU participants at the beginning of the summer session.summer session.

Create a To-do list at the beginningCreate a To-do list at the beginning Check with your university on the Check with your university on the

overhead they charge on REU grant.overhead they charge on REU grant.

Customize: treat each student individually.Customize: treat each student individually. Check up with students frequently Check up with students frequently

regarding their progress to solve problems regarding their progress to solve problems timely.timely.

Q: How to balance between research and Q: How to balance between research and social activities?social activities?

Take your group pictures at least 1Take your group pictures at least 1stst and and last week. Get a professional last week. Get a professional photographer do it if possible.photographer do it if possible.

Q: Have students prepared to apply to Q: Have students prepared to apply to graduate school/fellowship.graduate school/fellowship.

A:A: Workshops/seminarsWorkshops/seminars Application processApplication process Reimbursement of GRE test feeReimbursement of GRE test fee

Using wiki to contact REU students.Using wiki to contact REU students. ““Taste” of researchTaste” of research High expectations: submit papers to High expectations: submit papers to

conferences/presentations…conferences/presentations… Take the REU students to conferences/ Take the REU students to conferences/

presentation to expose them to presentation to expose them to professionalism.professionalism.

Motivate students to do research. Force Motivate students to do research. Force them to maintain a research log.them to maintain a research log.

Integrate part of the work into the senior Integrate part of the work into the senior design projects.design projects.

Q: How to deal with trip insuranceQ: How to deal with trip insurance A:A:

University motor pool and let the university University motor pool and let the university take the liabilitytake the liability

Let the students sign the liability waiver formsLet the students sign the liability waiver forms

Other general questionsOther general questions

Q: Are graduating senior students acceptable for Q: Are graduating senior students acceptable for summer REU programs?summer REU programs?

A: No, he must be a undergraduate student during A: No, he must be a undergraduate student during the summer to be eligible.the summer to be eligible.

Q: If an American citizen/resident goes to foreign Q: If an American citizen/resident goes to foreign school, is he/she still eligible for REU programs?school, is he/she still eligible for REU programs?

A: Yes.A: Yes.Q: Best time to start recruiting?Q: Best time to start recruiting?A: Local decision, but it seems that most PIs agree A: Local decision, but it seems that most PIs agree

that October/November is good time for early that October/November is good time for early contacts.contacts.