Getting Started
Undergraduate Research Center
Morris Hall 265
507-389-5191
The High Impact Practice of
Undergraduate Research
Students who engage in “highimpact” educational practices,
especially undergraduate
research, show significantly
greater learning outcomes than
similar students without those
opportunities.
(Astin, 1997; Bauer & Bennett, 2003; Brownell & Swaner, 2010; Kuh, 2008)
•The benefits are most pronounced for students
who have been underrepresented in higher
education:
•students of color (11.9%)
•low-income students (26.9%)
•first-generation students (45.2%)
(Gonzales, 2006; Gregerman, 1999; Locks & Gregerman, 2008; Nagda, Gurin & Lopez, 2003 )
•Students who learn research skills do
better than their peers in the areas
employers value most.
•Half of employers surveyed in 2012 by
The Chronicle of Higher Ed and public
radio’s Marketplace said they had
trouble finding college grads qualified
to fill positions.
Why Research?
• Transform your educational experience
• Build strong faculty collaborations
• Build confidence
• Alter your view of yourself and the world
Why Should I do Research?
 Prepare for Professional work
 Prepare for Graduate work
< Bridge the gap between field work and research
< Apply knowledge back to the field
The Mission of the URC
To actively engage faculty and students in
mentoring relationships that enable students
to participate directly in the research process
from its inception, through the dissemination of
new knowledge, so that students ultimately
view themselves as participants in a
community of scholars.
Research= research, scholarly and creative activities
How To Find a Faculty Mentor
• Ask your faculty advisor
• Ask other students
• Ask your class instructors
• Look at university webpages
• Attend campus seminars
• ScholarBridge
• http://www.mnsu.edu/urc/find_mentor.html
What “research” should I do?
 Does it matter what discipline I do research in?
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Biology
Exercise Science
Education
Psychology
Speech Audiology
Special Education
Developing Your Project
• Define your research interests
• Determine which subject most interests you
• Think about your goals, such as acquiring a
specific set of skills
• Read about the faculty mentor's research
program
• Look at the URC Proceedings to see what
previous students have worked on
Funding Your Project
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Minnesota State Foundation Student
Research Awards
NorthStar STEM Alliance Awards
Undergraduate Research Center grants
Travel Grants
Departmental/College grants
Completing Your Project
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Prepare an oral presentation
Design and print a poster
Perform or display your creative project
Write a manuscript
Apply to Present Your Findings
• Call for National Conference of Undergraduate
Research abstracts: Oct 5 – Dec 2
• MSU Mankato’s Undergraduate Research
Symposium applications: Mar 4
• MN Undergraduate Scholars Conference: Mar 4
Attend a Conference
• Posters at St. Paul
• February 25, 2016 in St. Paul, MN (tentative)
• National Conference of Undergraduate
Research
• April 7-9, 2016 at University of North
Carolina at Asheville
• MN Undergraduate Scholars Conference
• April 4, 2016 at WSU, Winona
• Undergraduate Research Symposium
• April 18, 2016 at MSU, Mankato
Submit Your Work
• Journal of Undergraduate Research
• http://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/jur/
• If not at MNSU, then where?
http://www.nsf.gov/crssprgm/reu/reu_searc
h.jsp
Contact
 URC Director: Karla Lassonde
 Administrative Assistant: Sadie
Anderson
 Graduate Assistants:
Cassandra Schreiber and
Felicia VandeNest
 urc@mnsu.edu