Author(s):
Need: Many community and technical colleges report institutional barriers to undergraduate research, including a need for research culture, institutional support, and connections to research infrastructure. Colleges and systems must address these barriers to improve access and equity for underrepresented groups in STEM. The Washington Community and Technical College Consortium for Undergraduate Research and Equity (WA CURE) project is a collaborative initiative involving 34 Community and Technical Colleges in Washington State (WA), led by the WA State Board of Community and Technical Colleges and supported by Green River College, Yakima Valley College, and Edmonds College. It is the result of an IUSE Level 1 Capacity Building project (NSF # 2121486) that established a state-wide leadership structure for scaling undergraduate research practices, inventoried the system’s potential, and mobilized a network of faculty innovators. This project aims to expand educational equity through course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) at community colleges by forming and institutionalizing a statewide consortium and professional development program. Guiding Questions: The project’s primary research questions are: 1) How, and in what way, does participation in a CURE learning community affect a faculty’s pedagogical practice? 2) To what extent do CUREs, as implemented by participating faculty, affect and potentially close equity gaps across student outcomes in academic performance, persistence, completion, and transfer? and 3) How, and in what ways, does the college-wide implementation of CUREs demonstrate promising practices about organizational change, scaling CUREs in WA, and replicating the CURE model in other states? Outcomes: WA CURE will: 1) create a professional development program to expand implementation of high-quality CUREs and curate a shared open-access CURE curriculum archive; 2) catalyze scaling undergraduate research at every participating college by creating a college institutionalization incubator–the WA CURE Academy– to cultivate faculty leadership, establish strategic action plans and initiate change through implementation projects; and 3) build an assessment and research support structure to foster a culture of scholarly teaching and research and increase awareness of research opportunities for students and faculty.Broader Impacts: CUREs implemented in introductory courses effectively engage historically underrepresented students in STEM fields, build critical skills and STEM identity, and increase the likelihood of completing undergraduate degrees. Community and technical colleges play a crucial role in broadening participation in STEM by enrolling a significant proportion of historically underrepresented students, including students of color, first-generation students, and non-traditional learners. Enhancing the experiences and success of community and technical college students in STEM courses, especially during the first two years, can contribute to improved retention, transfer rates, and equity in STEM education. The WA CURE project aims to strengthen these student outcomes and generate insights into the change processes that can be adaptable to other community colleges and state systems.
Coauthors
Valerie Sundby (WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges), Irene Shaver (WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges), Matthew Loeser (Yakima Valley College), and Shannon Newman (Green River College)
