Improving STEM Student Retention via Early Research Engagement: A Pilot

Abstract

We describe here the results of a pilot study, the goal of which was to expose freshman to an ongoing research project during the academic year to promote student growth and improve retention in the STEM disciplines. Freshmen worked with a faculty mentor and were also chaperoned by a more senior student researcher in order that they learn lab techniques and the capacity to work independently. Participants were fully engaged in a research project (performing experiments, analyzing and discussing results), not a classic classroom projects, but discovery based projects. By bringing students into the research lab at this early stage, our aim was to improve retention by allowing science students to actually act as scientists, providing an enhanced experience over the usual freshman survey course content. Of the 6 students who joined the program as freshmen, 5 are still in their major, 4 are still actively engaged in research with a faculty member and have co‐authored 11 different papers and conference presentations as of their junior year.Support or Funding InformationIndiana Space Grant Consortium