In keeping with the mission of providing the finest liberal arts education for students, the college is pursuing many ways of encouraging student research experiences. And summer is the perfect time for it.<\/p>\n
Numerous students, of all ages and classes, during the summer work with faculty mentors on research in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, and interdisciplinary fields. Students receive a stipend, and in some cases a campus housing scholarship, and they participate in professional development activities.<\/p>\n
Each summer, more than 100 students are engaged in on-campus and off-campus summer research with their faculty mentors.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m mindful of the value that we place on faculty as engaged teachers; on our students\u2019 abilities to sort, analyze, and organize information, and on our hands-on, immersive learning experiences where students are engaged and accountable, and where they are not merely consumers, but co-creators of knowledge,\u201d said Sandra Wong, dean of the college, at the 2015 Summer Collaborative Research Symposium, held each year in the fall.<\/p>\n
SCoRe, as the symposium is known, celebrates the research collaborations and accomplishments of students and faculty. This year\u2019s symposium will be Friday, Oct. 6, 3:30-5 p.m. in the Cornerstone Arts Center\u2019s Celeste Theatre.<\/p>\n
As early as their sophomore year, CC students are undertaking collaborative summer research with faculty. Students are advised to start planning early in the academic year, as many professors begin to identify and select their summer research students early in the Spring Semester. So, they benefit from talking to their professors and finding out what research projects they are planning for the summer and whether they plan to take on students.<\/p>\n
With the hiring this year of Lisa Schwartz \u201903, MAT \u201904<\/b>, student collaborative research program coordinator, the college has begun a comprehensive program to encourage students to participate in research in collaboration with faculty.<\/p>\n
\u201cCC is committed to supporting an innovation-oriented culture of undergraduate student\u00a0research and\u00a0inquiry,\u201d Schwartz says. \u201cWe are doing this through\u00a0collaborative\u00a0opportunities for intellectual contribution\u00a0and meaningful\u00a0mentoring relationships with faculty, which\u00a0allow students to\u00a0grow in their individual academic and personal\u00a0development, identity, and purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n
One aspect of the program is a series of workshops and panel discussions over the summer led by faculty and staff for students to learn skills applicable to academic research and their professional development. Schwartz helped organize the series, which was open to students, faculty, and staff.<\/p>\n
Some of the topics for the workshops included:<\/p>\n
Another aspect of the program is informal presentations on campus in Slocum Lounge, where students present the research they are working on for an audience of their peers and faculty who attend. Some of the presentation topics this summer included:<\/p>\n
\n<\/b><\/span>Additionally, many students also present at the Colorado Springs Undergraduate Research Forum, as well as in their departmental senior research presentation day. Students with strong projects often present at national conferences, and are eligible to apply for support from the conference presentation grant for their conference attendance.<\/p>\n