1. Undergraduate Experiential Inquiry and Research at Rice

2. QEP Expand and enhance experiential inquiry and research* opportunities for Rice undergraduates and provide training opportunities for graduate students. *Research is broadly defined to include research, design, and other forms of creative work as appropriate within each discipline.

3. QEP Pathway for undergraduates in each discipline to participate in research Graduate Fellows: Trained to support courses Inquiry and Research Courses, Opportunities and Modules

4. Key Features of Program Courses School or department freshman/sophomore courses (e.g., NSCI 120, ENGI 120) Promote changes to existing courses to include open- ended experiential inquiry or research components Resources to support faculty development of modules and some new courses

5. Key Features of the Program Additional Support Support for co-curricular research projects Communicate pathways to undergraduate research (advising and webpages) Opportunities and funding for undergraduates to present their research Support for graduate fellows to facilitate undergraduate inquiry and research (~8 per year)

6. Learning Outcomes Institutional Develop a culture for undergraduates to actively examine and investigate open-ended, authentic questions. Improve advising of undergraduates about the pathways to inquiry and research experiences. Enhance the capacity of faculty to incorporate experiential inquiry and research opportunities into their courses. Enable graduate students to learn and practice pedagogies for experiential teaching.

7. Learning Outcomes Undergraduate Students Develop the skills and competencies necessary to participate in experiential inquiry and research. Frame questions and develop research problems. Apply theories or construct models to explore, address, and/or solve open-ended, authentic questions or problems. Enhance communication skills in order to present their work effectively to diverse audiences. Graduate Students Acquire and apply pedagogical knowledge and skills concerning the teaching of experiential inquiry and research and, where appropriate, assist in teaching experiential inquiry and research classes.

8. Center for Teaching Excellence Program in Writing and Communication Center for Civic Leadership The QEP director will work with three centers/programs to implement the QEP. Provost Marie Lynn Miranda Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs/Associate Dean Of Undergraduates Matthew Taylor Faculty Council QEP Director QEP staff Organizational Structure

9. Faculty Council Responsibilities Review the curricular portion of QEP, including course and program proposals for funding and QEP designation Recruit faculty to introduce experiential inquiry and research into existing and new courses Teach at least one class per year that includes experiential inquiry or research Report once a semester on QEP activities to the provost

10. Implementation The SACSCOC On-Site Committee will be on campus March 8 – 10. The QEP Director will be hired this summer.