ASEE-2008Pittsburgh - Pennsylvania

REU Sites: Much More than a Research Experience for Undergraduates

Miguel A. LabradorCesar D. Guerrero

Rafael PerezDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering

University of South FloridaTampa, FL 33620

{labrador, guerrerc, perez}@cse.usf.edu

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REU Site at USF Main components Additional Components Results Conclusions

Outline

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Provide a broad range of research project options in computer science and engineering

Recruit under-represented minority students mainly from Puerto Rico and Florida

Include international students

REU Site at USFA Computer Science and Engineering REU Site for Florida, Puerto Rico, and Latin America

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Main Components

Recruitment Plan

Program Evaluation

Projects and Mentors

Social and Educational Components

Administration Time

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Set up a website and advertise it.

Program Flyer. Talks in technical

societies and minority organization meetings

Personal visits to target institutions

Main ComponentsRecruitment Plan

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Define a program evaluation guide based on program objectives.

Collect information before, during, and after the program.

Evaluate not only students but mentors experiences. Evaluate the long-term impact on the students’ lives

and careers.

Main ComponentsProgram Evaluation

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Advertise projects before students apply. Have backup projects and mentors. Involve mentors in the selection process. Make sure the students have all they need to

perform the assigned project before they arrive.

Make sure students are making progress and help mentors in addressing problems if they exist.

Provide mentors with some sort of gift or token of appreciation

Main ComponentsProjects and Mentors

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Social activities depend on the city in which the program is located.

Transportation has to be planned with each activity.

Workshops. Students formal presentations. Poster competition. Coordinate joint activities with other REU

programs running at your university.

Main ComponentsSocial and Educational Components

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REU site administration is time consuming usually underestimated.

Make a weekly plan of activities or a to-do list to be updated every year.

Start planning early (at least four months before the program starts).

Main ComponentsAdministration time

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Additional Components

The “Reverse”

International Component

Graduate Student Mentors

Extending the Summer

REU Experience

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Additional ComponentsThe “Reverse” International Component

Bringing international students to participate in your REU program in the U.S.

USF allocates around $7,500 to bring one student per year.

International students are carefully selected in their home institution: they are of prime quality.

Real cultural exchange occurs. Leads to new opportunities for

collaboration in academic and research areas.

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Additional ComponentsGraduate Student Mentors Faculty Mentors experience difficulties in

committing enough time to the REU program

By mentoring undergraduates, graduate students can enhance their research projects

Developing mentoring skills is a key factor for those graduate students having academic careers in mind.

REU students may consider the Graduate Student as a more approachable mentor.

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Additional ComponentsExtending the Summer REU Experience

Involving the REU students in a part time, 10 hrs/week, REU experience over the subsequent fall and spring semesters.

Establishing one-to-one relationship with the students’ advisors or mentors in their respective institutions.

Publishing the students’ research in prestigious conferences and journals

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ResultsREU students participation (2005-2007)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 TotalsNo. of applications 42 63 73 178No. of students accepted 14 14 13 41Acceptance ratio 33% 22% 18% 23%Males 10 10 12 32Females 4 4 1 9Hispanics 11 9 7 27African Americans 2 1 0 3Caucasians 1 2 5 8Others 0 2 1 3No. of International students 3 2 1 6% minority participation 93% 71% 54% 73%No. of projects 9 12 12 33No. of faculty mentors 11 8 8 27No. of graduate student mentors 2 9 6 17

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ResultsREU students performance (2005-2007)

Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 TotalsNo. of participants 14 14 13 41No. of students who graduated 12 10 N/A 22No. of students still in college 2 4 N/A 6No. of students who dropped out of college 0 0 N/A 0No. of students who joined graduate school 3 2 N/A 5No. of students who joined the workforce 7 4 N/A 11

Students looking for jobs 2 2 N/A 4No. of students applying to graduate schools 0 2 N/A 2

53%

73%

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Conclusions REU ameliorates dropout rates, graduation

rates, and enrollment in graduate school. Main components of a successful REU site were

presented. The “reverse” international component is a low-

cost and highly beneficial initiative. Involving graduate students as mentors

provides additional support to faculty and undergraduate students.

Extending the REU experience beyond the summer can materialize technical publications.

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Thanks!

Questions?