1. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
Florida State University Karen Laughlin, Dean of Undergraduate Studies June 2015

2. : One part of FSU’s Undergraduate Research Ecosystem
Student Council for Undergraduate Research and Creativity
Office of National Fellowships
Global Scholars
Graduate Research Consultants
Competitive Research Awards
Undergraduate Research Ambassadors
Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program
Honors in the Major
Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation

3. *** estimated data

5. : STATISTICS ( )
205 Students in 14 UROP Sections (including one Transfer & Veterans Student Section; all with 19 students or less)
71 Minority Students (34.60%)
113 STEM Students in diverse fields (55.1% STEM)
UROP sections for Humanities, Creative & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Biology, Psychology, Engineering, Chemistry, Exercise Science/Pre-Health, and Math/Computer Science
140 Students (68.3%) were in Honors

6. : STATISTICS

7. Assessing Undergraduate Research Participation

8. Assessing Research Participation:
Self-Reports
Plan to complete an honors thesis:
75% Yes, 25% No
Confidence in their ability to seek guidance from faculty:
85% confident and very confident
Importance of participating in undergraduate research:
89% felt that it was important
Confidence in their ability to conduct individual research/creative projects:
81% confident and very confident
Interest in continuing to participate in research:
70% extremely interested, 16% very interested, 9% somewhat interested, and 5% not interested at all.

9. Distinctive Influence of UROP
# of students reporting “Strongly Agree” to Item
(N=78 for survey)
ITEM
Because of non-UROP related experiences
Because of UROP
I am comfortable with discussing research with others 6 39
I am connected to my academic field 10 33
I am interested in attending graduate school 18 23
I am more critical of people’s claims
I know what I want to do as a career 20 22
I would like to be a professor 7 9
I have a strong sense of affiliation with my university 17 32
I am encouraged to develop my strengths and talents at my college/university 38
 Asked “Specifically because of my UROP experience” and “Because of my non-UROP experience”
it shows that students believe UROP is affecting them positively by allowing them to be more comfortable discussing academic research with others and getting more connected to their fields’ networks. Interestingly, there also seems to be an influence in other areas of the students’ lives with increased reports of planning to go to graduate school and becoming professors. UROP further seems to allow students to feel more connected to FSU with an increase of more than two times the number students reporting that they strongly agree to feeling encouraged to develop their strengths and talents at FSU through participating in UROP.

10. Student Feedback
“UROP has allowed me to start research experience from day one at FSU. I could not have gotten accepted into a research lab without the program. I am much more confident about my abilities and have a much broader understanding of how to conduct research and work as a team.”

11. “Being in UROP has definitively pushed me out of my comfort-zone.”
“I think that the biggest change to me personally that UROP encouraged is the idea that research is something that I can do. It doesn't have to be scary or intimidating. You ask a question and then you find a way to answer it.”
“Being in UROP has definitively pushed me out of my comfort-zone.”
“UROP has given me the resources and confidence to pursue research opportunities on my own. I am currently working on two vastly different projects, both of which I love, and I wouldn’t have been able to do that without UROP.”

12. Faculty Assessment of UROP Students
Question
Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
N/A
Ability to synthesize information and communicate it effectively
63%
25% 4% 5% 3%
Analysis skills; ability to determine information needs for self and patrons
57%
28% 0%
10%
Ability to select the best potential resources to meet information needs
51%
32% 1%
11%
Ability to organize, classify, and deliver information effectively
54% 8%
Ability to plan with and work cooperatively with others
68% 7%
19%
Ability to create and communicate possible solutions to problems 9%
Professionalism; demonstrated interest in the issues, policies and organizations related to the field
65%
12%
When asked about their students’ overall performance in comparison to their original expectations, 6% reported that the students met their expectations, while 35% of students performed at greater than the required level, and 46% of students were exceptional. The following table provides some data regarding faculty’s evaluations of their students’ professional abilities related to their individual field of study.
 When asked about their students’ overall performance in comparison to their original expectations, 6% reported that the students met their expectations, while 35% of students performed at greater than the required level, and 46% of students were exceptional. The following table provides some data regarding faculty’s evaluations of their students’ professional abilities related to their individual field of study.

13. Faculty Feedback
“I am excited about the new opportunities for undergraduate research at FSU presented by the UROP program. Involving the top first- and second-year students into research projects within a structured supportive environment is a great way to establish productive long-term research experiences that will shape their future careers. I hope to be involved in this program for many years to come.”

14. “UROP eased my integration into Florida State University’s research community by facilitating conversations with prominent faculty members, encouraging collaboration with peers, and ensuring the success of my pursuits in undergraduate research. I strongly believe this program has a genuine mission to enrich the education of participating students.” – Daniel Hubbard, 2015 Truman Scholar and UROP Member.