Spring 2021

Engagement in undergraduate research experiences (UREs) has a positive impact on student skill development, scientific identity, and retention in STEM. Incorporating UREs into two-year programs would greatly benefit the diverse, nontraditional student populations enrolled at community colleges. This article describes the infusion of the bioscience/biotechnology program at Delaware Technical Community College with course-based and mentored research experiences, which may serve as a model for other institutions. Studies done with the Office of Institutional Research revealed a concurrent increase in enrollment and graduation rates. Retrospective interviews with graduates from the program highlight the critical influence of research, the mentor-student relationship, a sense of community, the development of transferable skills and self-efficacy, and subsequent successes in pursuing higher education and employment.

Increasing undergraduate research opportunities for introductory and non-STEM students benefits large numbers of students from diverse backgrounds. This article assesses a course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) in a large, introductory course offered both online and in person at an open-door community college. Seated students collaborated during class, and online students collaborated asynchronously at the same pace over eight weeks. Changes in scientific literacy and attitudes toward science varied; seated students showed greater gains and rated their abilities higher upon completion of the CURE. Although online students did show gains, additional interventions improved their experience. This study demonstrates how reflective and iterative evaluation and improvement in CURE integration for introductory courses and non-STEM majors across delivery formats develops best practices for broadening participation in undergraduate research.

Yakima Valley College—a two-year, Hispanic-serving institution in south-central Washington state—partnered with four-year universities, agricultural centers, businesses, and federal and state agencies to develop a streamlined undergraduate research experience in which students work closely with a faculty mentor in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field on summer projects of 120 hours each. Assessment metrics reveal high transfer, graduation, and/or continued enrollment rates for research participants as well as increased student perceptions in thinking and working like a scientist, personal gains related to research work, and skills. Faculty also benefited as indicated by high rates of return to the program. This article reviews the importance of multiple stakeholders in program development, including the essential role of university and community partnerships.

Undergraduate research (UR) is an integral part of the culture at Queensborough Community College, CUNY (QCC), an urban community college with a diverse student population. Since 2015, more than 400 students participate in undergraduate research experiences each year, working with more than 40 faculty mentors from several academic departments. Although a large proportion of this research occurs within STEM fields, the social sciences, nursing, business, arts, and the humanities are also represented and have increased research activity each year. This article describes the various approaches of QCC to institutionalize, promote, and support UR; approaches to handling the challenging aspects of sustaining UR at a community college; and recent initiatives to expand UR across disciplines.

Providing opportunities for students to engage in undergraduate research is well supported as a high-impact educational practice. Shifting research experience earlier in the undergraduate career provides opportunities for more students to yield gains (both personal and professional) earlier in their career. At the Ocean Research College Academy (ORCA), undergraduate research starts when students are in their third year of high school. As part of a dual credit/enrollment program in Washington state, students earn an associate of arts and science degree when they graduate from high school. With 17 years of data and more than 500 graduates who have compelling matriculation rates and baccalaureate degree attainment, ORCA provides a model for program and course-based undergraduate research replicable by others.

Undergraduate research programs at community colleges maximize their impact through partnerships with baccalaureate-granting institutions, which provide much needed access to subject matter experts, research labs, and funding to underserved students. The program Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity: Promoting Opportunities for Diversity in Education and Research (BUILD PODER) partners baccalaureate-granting California State University, Northridge with community college faculty and students to facilitate undergraduate research and development at community colleges. Eighty-one community college students and 41 community college faculty mentors have participated in BUILD PODER, performing research in STEM and biomedical disciplines. The authors document student, faculty, and institutional outcomes as well as share best practices in forming community college–university partnerships. Future directions also are offered in the development and implementation of transdisciplinary, multiinstitutional community college collaborations.