Undergraduate Research and Mentoring in Separations

Abstract

A Research Experiences and Mentoring (REM) program was developed to provide summer research and mentoring opportunities to underrepresented minority community college students. It was the goal of the program to introduce underrepresented minority community college students to STEM research opportunities they are not traditionally exposed to and aid in their transfer to the University of Arkansas. Over the course of the 10-week program, several strategies to expose the students to these opportunities and maximize the quality of their experience were implemented. This report details these strategies and the degree to which they both increased the awareness of STEM opportunities and influenced the students to pursue them. A common issue among this demographic of students is low self-confidence in STEM areas, often due to lack of successful peers or role models. REM students were paired with students from a parallel Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program to address this issue. Both programs contained strong representation of underrepresented minority groups. All seven REM students were from underrepresented minority groups, including five women. Four out of seven REU students were from underrepresented minority groups. This diverse community fostered the self-confidence of both the REU and REM students. Overall, the program was a strong success based on the outcome of student projects and reports, the feedback from the students, and the continued interest from the NWACC students to transfer to the University of Arkansas. The final component of the REM program is ongoing mentoring for the seven local REM students over the course of the upcoming academic year.