1. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004

2. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Salim M. Diab (PI) Professor of Chemistry Chair, ACS Joliet Section NSF research grant through South Metropolitan Regional Higher Education Consortium (SMRHEC) for a regional WWW-Based (remote operation) FT-NMR spectrometer for Chemistry Curriculum Improvement (Co-PI)

3. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Bill Bromer (Co-PI) Professor of Biology and Environmental Science

4. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Lisa Hedrick (Co-PI) Associate Professor of Biochemistry

5. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Students Deanne Seymour Undergraduate Science student

6. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Students Amy Vicich Undergraduate Science Student

7. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Students Amy Vicich and Deanne Seymour

8. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 University of St. Francis Profile Liberal Arts Catholic, Franciscan Total Enrollment 4,659 On-Campus 1,869 Undergraduate 58% Graduate 42% Full Time 33% Part Time 67% Caucasian 72% Minorities 28% Female 79% Male 21% Age (15-40) 55% Age ( >40) 45%

9. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Projects at USF Students will be fully engaged in the research project with their mentors as well as with other students from cohort institutions. Summer (Full-time), Academic year (part-time). Four students will be selected, based on academic qualifications and interest. Students will be selected from a pool of academically qualified freshmen class. Mentoring faculty have full responsibility of supervising and monitoring the entire research enterprise, under the guidance of the PI. Three faculty members from USF will be involved in the INSURE project.

10. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Projects at USF “ Determination of Saliva Thiocyanate Concentrations Using Spectrophotometric Analysis and its Correlation to Smoking” Alberto Juarez “Carbon sequestration in soil by aggregate fractions as quantified by C isotope” Michael G. Cyrwus “Exploring the implications and effectiveness of environmental enrichment for captive red-bellied woodpeckers, Melanerpes carolinus” Mary Bentley

11. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Sample Project at USF “Determination of Saliva Thiocyanate Concentrations Using Spectrophotometric Analysis and its Correlation to Smoking” Alberto Juarez, Senior Science Student. Presented at the 37 th Annual ACCA Student Symposium, April 3, 2004

12. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Sample Project at USF The purpose of the experiment was to find whether or not smokers have statistically higher overall average [SCN - ] than non-smokers, thus establishing a correlation between [SCN - ] and smoking: Smoking  higher [CN - ]  higher [SCN - ] CN - + S-SO 3 -2  SCN - + SO 3 -2 Fe 3+ (aq) + SCN - (aq)  FeSCN 2+ (aq)

13. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Enhancing Research at USF Most students at USF engage in a senior experience – a research activity which is presented at the end of their senior year; Some science courses have research components built into them; Starting this summer, a modest Faculty/Student Research Program was implemented; Some Faculty have been doing projects with undergraduates, supported by mini-grants from Faculty Development Committee;

14. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Enhancing Research at USF No external funding (except for one) has ever been received for undergraduate projects; Research opportunities are available at Argonne, Midewin, etc. that have NOT been utilized to their full potential; In Summary: There is enthusiasm and some financial support but not enough to really allow significant numbers of undergraduates to engage in research.

15. Illinois Network for Science Undergraduate Research Experience (INSURE) National Science Foundation Undergraduate Research Center Site Visit May 3, 2004 Enhancing Research at USF The INSURE project is unique for the fact that it is designed to involve freshmen and sophomore college students in the process of doing research at an early stage in their college years. Traditionally, most students begin doing serious research in their junior or senior years. Recent research findings have shown that students who did research in their first two years of college, took ownership of their projects and became highly engaged in the field of science. Many went on to earn their highest degree in the field and ultimately, became excellent scientists.