1. Getting Started Undergraduate Research Center Morris Hall 265 507-389-5191

2. Students who engage in “high- impact” educational practices, especially undergraduate research, show significantly greater learning outcomes than similar students without those opportunities. The High Impact Practice of Undergraduate Research (Astin, 1997; Bauer & Bennett, 2003; Brownell & Swaner, 2010; Kuh, 2008)

3. The benefits are most pronounced for students who have been underrepresented in higher education: students of color (11.9%) low-income students (26.9%) first-generation students (45.2%) (Gonzales, 2006; Gregerman, 1999; Locks & Gregerman, 2008; Nagda, Gurin & Lopez, 2003 )

4. Students who learn research skills do better than their peers in the areas employers value most. Half of employers surveyed in 2012 by The Chronicle of Higher Ed and public radio’s Marketplace said they had trouble finding college grads qualified to fill positions. (Fischer, 2013)

5. Why Research? Transform your educational experience Build strong faculty collaborations Build confidence Alter your view of yourself and the world

6. Why Should I do Research?  Prepare for Professional work  Prepare for Graduate work <Bridge the gap between field work and research <Apply knowledge back to the field

7. The Mission of the URC To actively engage faculty and students in mentoring relationships that enable students to participate directly in the research process from its inception, through the dissemination of new knowledge, so that students ultimately view themselves as participants in a community of scholars. Research= research, scholarly and creative activities

8. How To Find a Faculty Mentor Ask your faculty advisor Ask other students Ask your class instructors Look at university webpages Attend campus seminars ScholarBridge http://www.mnsu.edu/urc/find_mentor.html

9. What “research” should I do?  Does it matter what discipline I do research in? <Biology <Exercise Science <Education <Psychology <Speech Audiology <Special Education

10. Define your research interests Determine which subject most interests you Think about your goals, such as acquiring a specific set of skills Read about the faculty mentor's research program Look at the URC Proceedings to see what previous students have worked on Developing Your Project

11. Funding Your Project Minnesota State Foundation Student Research Awards NorthStar STEM Alliance Awards Undergraduate Research Center grants Travel Grants Departmental/College grants

12. Completing Your Project Prepare an oral presentation Design and print a poster Perform or display your creative project Write a manuscript

13. Apply to Present Your Findings Call for National Conference of Undergraduate Research abstracts: Oct 5 – Dec 2 MSU Mankato’s Undergraduate Research Symposium applications: Mar 4 MN Undergraduate Scholars Conference: Mar 4

14. Posters at St. Paul February 25, 2016 in St. Paul, MN (tentative) National Conference of Undergraduate Research April 7-9, 2016 at University of North Carolina at Asheville MN Undergraduate Scholars Conference April 4, 2016 at WSU, Winona Undergraduate Research Symposium April 18, 2016 at MSU, Mankato Attend a Conference

15. Journal of Undergraduate Research http://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/jur/ If not at MNSU, then where? http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_searc h.jsp Submit Your Work

16. Contact  URC Director: Karla Lassonde  Administrative Assistant: Sadie Anderson  Graduate Assistants: Cassandra Schreiber and Felicia VandeNest  urc@mnsu.edu urc@mnsu.edu