Mechanics of Undergraduate Research at Liberal Arts Colleges – Lessons Learned Amruth Kumar, Ramapo College, NJ David Musicant, Carleton College, MN Doug Baldwin, SUNY Geneseo, NY Ellen Walker, Hiram College, OH

Constraints in Liberal Arts Schools Few resources Few resources One-faculty research “groups” One-faculty research “groups” Undergraduate students Undergraduate students May not be adequately prepared May not be adequately prepared May not be adequately motivated May not be adequately motivated May have too many other commitments May have too many other commitments

Mechanics How to attract students? How to attract students? How to select students? How to select students? What level of students? What level of students? What works in training students? What works in training students? How to select an appropriate topic? How to select an appropriate topic? Who selects the topic? Who selects the topic? How do we circumscribe the scope of the reearch? How do we circumscribe the scope of the reearch? What are suitable undergraduate research activities? What are suitable undergraduate research activities? Should we impose a research regimen? Should we impose a research regimen? How do we monitor the progress? How do we monitor the progress? What reporting mechanisms work? What reporting mechanisms work? How do we keep students motivated? How do we keep students motivated? How do we encourage critical and independent thinking? How do we encourage critical and independent thinking? How do we evaluate student research, and reward it? How do we evaluate student research, and reward it? What are some avenues for dissemination? What are some avenues for dissemination? What official mechanisms can we use to institutionalize research? What official mechanisms can we use to institutionalize research? How do we fund the research with or without external support? How do we fund the research with or without external support? How do we build upon undergraduate research? How do we build upon undergraduate research? How do we build a research community? How do we build a research community? Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera