Cultivating a Multi-Disciplinary Learning Atmosphere for Undergraduate Research: The ACRE Success Story National Conferenc e for Undergraduate Research April 2006 Asheville, NC Christian Hamann (Chemistry) Lisa Wilder (Economics) Wayne Vettleson (Theatre) Council on Undergraduate Research Biennial Conference June 2006 DePauw, IN Andrea Chapdelaine (Provost) Teresa Gilliams (English) Stephen G. Mech (Biology) David Osgood (Biology)

History of Program CUR Institutionalizing Undergraduate Research Institute 1996 Mission to increase level of participation and institutionalize support for a campus-wide summer program Project must be “true collaborative effort between faculty member and student”

Mission Statement … designed to foster undergraduate scholarship, creative activity and research. The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to engage in an in-depth learning experience that complements the breadth of the liberal-arts curriculum. Through this experience, students will increase their skills in their chosen field, foster professional relationships with faculty, and advance their knowledge in the chosen project area

Program Overview Summer and Interim models –10 weeks in summer –3-4 weeks in Interim Full or half ACREs All current students are eligible Application is a collaborative grant proposal –Evaluated by Undergraduate Research Committee –IRB/ACUC approval required

Making the Multi-disciplinary Connection Information sessions Planning meeting Weekly student presentations and discussions Summer picnic Campus presentation – Experience Event

Making the Multi-disciplinary Connection Weekly meetings

Making the Multi-disciplinary Connection Campus presentation – Experience Event

SAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES….

STREAM RESTORATION

URBAN EDUCATION

ANTHROPOLOGICAL PROFILE OF THE HOMELESS

CRIME MAPPING IN READING

Breaking the Mis-education Cycle Project goals –Describe features of multicultural curriculum –Define key tenets of a multicultural curriculum –Understand the multicultural classroom –Incorporate Carter G. Woodson’s The Mis- education of the Negro with the practical side of the overall project

Outcomes – Benefits for students Exposure and learning beyond their own area of concentration Conferences/publications/events –NCUR and regional conferences Sustained effort at and interest in engaging scholarly communities outside their discipline –National and International conferences Undergraduate research and Professional meetings in a variety of fields Graduate studies/jobs Foundations of Senior Thesis –Theses more multi-disciplinary

Faculty Participation

Student Participation

Surveys

Survey Results a a,b b

Reasons for non-completion

Outcomes – Post-graduate Activity Higher Education –Masters (13 different programs)15 –PhD (4 different programs) 4 –Divinity School 2 –Medical School 2 –Total23 –Placement by ACRE graduates24% –Placement by total student body26-28%

Discussion – individual barriers to multidisciplinary projects What barriers do you anticipate for faculty participation? What barriers do you anticipate for student participation?

Discussion - Programmatic What are the factors that allow an interdisciplinary program to flourish? How can you develop or create these factors at your institution? What are the obstacles?