The spring 2021 issue of Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research (SPUR), the academic journal of the Council on Undergraduate Research, focuses on dynamic programs and initiatives advancing undergraduate research at community colleges.
Said guest editor James Hewlett (Finger Lakes Community College-SUNY, Canandaigua, NY), “It has been inspiring to work with the authors of the spring 2021 SPUR, who are broadening undergraduate research participation at community colleges through their innovative approaches, teaming with higher ed and community partners, and helping to build skills for students’ further educational and career paths. As these faculty members often encounter challenges in support and space as well as significant course loads, their commitment to excellence in their undergraduate mentees across a broad range of disciplines offers much for individuals and institutions to emulate.” (Read Hewlett’s introduction to the issue.)
Topics in the issue range from course-based undergraduate research experiences in a bioscience program, research experiences for underrepresented undergraduates, and undergraduate research experiences in environmental science with both in-person and virtual elements to service-learning experiences for fine arts and geology students, and an oceanography program for dual-enrolled high school researchers.
View the table of contents for the spring 2021 SPUR, download the issue, or visit the SPUR Volumes and Issues webpage. Questions or comments about the issue may be addressed to SPUR Editor-in-Chief James T. LaPlant or SPUR Technical Editor Elizabeth Foxwell.
About the image: The custom-built research vessel Phocoena (funded by NSF) on the waters of Possession Sound with high school student researchers and SPUR author/captain Ardi Kveven (Everett Community College, WA).
BONUS WEBSITE FEATURE: Editor-in-chief Matthew Schuster (Anoka-Ramsey Community College) talks about the STAR Journal, one of the few undergraduate research journals produced at a community college.
Founded in 1978, the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) focuses on providing high-quality and collaborative undergraduate research, scholarly, and creative activity. Among the many activities and networking opportunities that CUR provides, the organization also offers support for the professional growth of faculty and administrators through expert-designed institutes, conferences, and a wide-range of volunteer positions. The CUR community, made up of nearly 700 institutions and 13,000 individuals, continues to provide a platform for discussion and other resources related to mentoring, connecting, and creating relationships centered around undergraduate research. CUR’s advocacy efforts are also a large portion of its work as they strive to strengthen support for undergraduate research. Its continued growth in connections with representatives, private foundations, government agencies, and campuses world-wide provides value to its members and gives voice to undergraduate research. CUR is committed to inclusivity and diversity in all of its activities and our community.
CUR focuses on giving a voice to undergraduate research with learning through doing. It provides connections to a multitude of campuses and government agencies, all while promoting networking and professional growth to its community.