Fostering Undergraduate Research with a Nontraditional Student Population

Abstract

Involvement in undergraduate research experiences influences a student's confidence and identity as a scientist. At traditional undergraduate institutions, undergraduate research requires a large commitment of a student's time. For summer research experiences, students are often required to dedicate the entirety of their time during the duration of the program and are restricted from working or taking classes. Metropolitan State University, of St. Paul, Minnesota, serves primarily older students (mean age of approximately 31) with diverse backgrounds. A large majority (63%) of our population attends part-time due to employment and familial responsibilities. Undergraduate research opportunities have been designed to better accommodate our students' more restrictive schedules. The independent study course has been limited to two credits, which equates to 60 hours of laboratory time per semester. The course has been designed to maximize the experience for students, through incorporation of essential soft skill assessments to better prepare students for industry or academic career paths in an effort to create a fulfilling experience.