1. Undergraduate Research Committee Students: Radhika Marathe (Chair), Ben Golub, Shannon Greene, Anna Hiszpanski, Chi Wan Ko, Christina Theodoris Faculty/Staff: Carolyn Ash, Andrew Blain, Mathieu Desbrun, Miriam Feldblum, Marianne Bronner-Fraser, Steven Frautschi, Erik Winfree

2. Undergraduate Research at Caltech Distinguishing feature of CaltechDistinguishing feature of Caltech Issues addressed by committee:Issues addressed by committee: –Availability of undergraduate research opportunities –Matching student-mentor expectations –Finding research mentors –Research during academic year and its effects on academic and social performance –Correspondence between time spent on research and units granted

3. Undergraduate Survey Results Positive Results 81% of respondents have sought research opportunities81% of respondents have sought research opportunities Students finding their research meaningful and interestingStudents finding their research meaningful and interesting Students’ expectations about time commitment, independence, and level of sig. of work in line with mentors’Students’ expectations about time commitment, independence, and level of sig. of work in line with mentors’ Areas To Improve 24% of respondents looking for a research opportunity were unsuccessful in finding it 39% of respondents who are doing academic year research say their work is under-united 28% respondents spoke to faculty mentor once a month or less often 27% respondents said they felt they had too little interaction with faculty mentor *Note: 361 of 860 undergraduates responded to survey

4. Faculty Survey Results Positive Results 95% of the respondents had mentored summer research95% of the respondents had mentored summer research 80% of the respondents think undergrad research is “very important” for Caltech undergraduate education80% of the respondents think undergrad research is “very important” for Caltech undergraduate education Areas To Improve 49% respondents have mentored senior thesis but 75% are willing to do it While 39% of students doing academic year research say their work is under-united, only 8% of professors think it is 39% of respondents to faculty survey don’t know how much time student spends on research *Note: About 81 of 291 faculty responded to survey.

5. What kind of research are students looking for?

6. What kind of research have the faculty mentored and what kind are they willing to mentor?

7. How do students find research projects?

8. How do hours spent on academic year research compare to units assigned

9. Faculty’s View on How hours spent on academic year research compare to units assigned

10. Effects of Academic Year Research on Students

11. Students would be interested in doing academic year research if…

12. Is the faculty willing to substitute research in place of a required lab course?

13. Short Term Proposals Undergraduate and Faculty SurveysUndergraduate and Faculty Surveys Increasing Awareness of OpportunitiesIncreasing Awareness of Opportunities –Website listing academic year opportunities –Undergraduate Research Opportunities Handbook (UROH) –Freshman Orientation Camp Increasing Faculty-Student InteractionIncreasing Faculty-Student Interaction –Increasing faculty participation at MOSH Teas –‘Take a Professor to Lunch’, inviting faculty for house dinners

14. Long Term Proposals Academic year researchAcademic year research –Substituting certain requirements/electives with research –Research contributing to a senior thesis –Research on grades to offset drop in GPA Challenge: Standardizing grading process and regularizing interaction between students and mentorsChallenge: Standardizing grading process and regularizing interaction between students and mentors –Evaluate current method of assigning research units

15. Long Term Proposals (Cont.) Revision of core curriculum to allow students to take more classes related to major required for research and more time for researchRevision of core curriculum to allow students to take more classes related to major required for research and more time for research Research labs may receive a small stipend for undergraduate members - increase incentives to accept them during initial learning periodResearch labs may receive a small stipend for undergraduate members - increase incentives to accept them during initial learning period Creating an environment encouraging and accepting research-related interactionsCreating an environment encouraging and accepting research-related interactions