1. Alumni Supported Undergraduate Research at a Small Private University Max W. Reams Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, IL

2. Funding Sources for Small Private Universities with Limited Endowments Tuition Aid/Grants: -federal -state -churches -industrial -private Alumni gifts

3. Limitations Tuition focus: non-research budgets Grants: -time intensive to acquire -teaching loads inhibit grant writing Alumni: tapped for capital projects

4. We focused on certain alumni… -Not contributing to capital projects -Excited for their field of study -Don’t require much paperwork vs. agencies -Have networks that expand the circle

5. First Step: Find a few alumni who believe research is key part of undergraduate education.

6. First group met at Homecoming and organized themselves Olivet Research Associates

7. Started small.. Undergraduate research is difficult, if we are hung up on our grad school experiences. Why? Graduate facilities: expensive equipment Conditioned to think only of big projects with largebudgets and lots of time Small faculty teaching loads

8. No gift is too small! Our most enthusiastic supporters: grad students, secondary school teachers, and those without large incomes

9. So what can you do with a few hundred bucks? Be creative! Spin off small projects from your dissertation Spend most money on undergraduates Scrape supplies from department budgets Use equipment at hand Share equipment with colleagues at other schools

10. For a number of years… Alumni: enough for several projects Some students presented at GSA and a journal paper

11. To keep interest... Alumni meetings at Homecoming: -showcase student research projects -faculty gave talks -build relationships

12. Then, a breakthrough.. A participating alumni couple proposed to bring our undergraduate research program to a new level

13. Donors’ Purpose.. Stimulate undergraduates and faculty to do high quality research Honor two faculty mentors who impacted them as students at Olivet

14. After stumbling.. Not used to consistent Summer funding for students doing full-time work with Olivet faculty mentors. After a few years of inconsistent procedures, we developed a system of: -How to award funds -Proper reports

15. Now.. Three projects funded each year Students: full-time with mentors 10 weeks in Summer Mentors: small stipend Funds for supplies Funds for students to present research at professional meetings

16. Results.. Students present at GSA

17. Results.. Increase in attending graduate programs (with significant financial support)

18. Results.. Student excitement in attending GSA

19. Critical.. Alumni: kept up-to-date on proposals funded but not involved in selection Faculty: work with students in preparing professionally acceptable reports Only high quality work funded

20. Benefits.. Undergraduates and faculty stimulated to do research Excitement catching for students! -attending professional meetings -promoting academic excellence

21. Indirect Benefit.. Administration instituted scholarly research fund (a first for us!) Did our research program stimulate this? Who knows? But we always keep administration and P.R. folk informed of research projects and funding!

22. To make it work.. Be willing to start small Find alumni interested in supporting undergraduate research Cultivate alumni connections Look for key alumni who can catch the vision and support for the long haul Keep everybody up to speed: especially donors and administration!