A Comprehensive College-centered Engineering Undergraduate Research Program

Abstract

Undergraduate (UG) research is an important component of today’s engineering education. Research experiences allow students to explore beyond the classroom by applying concepts towards scientific discovery and the development of products and technologies that impact society. The number of UG engineering students interested in participating in research is increasing. However, UG research opportunities are often limited to students finding a project, laboratory, and mentor on their own. Therefore, only a handful of students typically benefit from a mentored UG research experience. In addition, students seeking UG research opportunities and projects have little, if any, knowledge on how to conduct research. A well-structured, guided UG research program could enhance the undergraduate experience of a large number of students and better prepare them for making an appropriate postgraduate choice (industrial R&D, graduate school, etc.) that would lead to career success. In Armour College of Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, we have developed and implemented a college-centered engineering Undergraduate R&D Program that teaches students the art of conducting research using a comprehensive approach. The students are introduced to research methods and concepts through a research course, and a series of competitive research project opportunities is provided. In addition, students are required to present their research findings at a college-wide research expo and submit a paper to studentreviewed campus research journal. The program aims to impact a large number of students interested in working on research and development projects in all disciplines within engineering. The program is centralized at the college level and supports student/faculty teams that compete by submitting formal proposals focused on basic research projects or the development of a technology or product. Proposals are solicited every semester, including summer, and reviewed for quality and impact with special attention to the mentoring plan. Since its inception (Spring 2013), 178 projects have been supported, with participation of engineering students in their second through fourth years. Student participants in this Armour R&D program reported acceptance of their work for presentation in national conferences, received research awards, and published in peer-reviewed journals. Surveys have been implemented to evaluate the impact of the UG research experience on graduate school acceptance rates, industrial internships, and placement opportunities upon graduation. Currently available metrics support the significance and impact of this program on student education and career success. In this paper we present and discuss a more comprehensive analysis of the results from the assessment of the program.