Article Gold Open Access 2023

A Call to Assess the Impacts of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences for Career and Technical Education, Allied Health, and Underrepresented Students at Community Colleges

CBE Life Sciences Education
Journal · Vol. 22 · Issue 1 · Art. ar4
Abstract

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have the potential to impact student success and reduce barriers for students to participate in undergraduate research. Literature review has revealed that, while CUREs are being implemented at both community colleges (CCs) and bachelor’s degree–granting institutions, there are limited published studies on the differential impacts CUREs may have on CC students in allied health programs, career and technical education, and nursing pathways (termed “workforce” in this essay). This essay summarizes proposed outcomes of CURE instruction and explores possible reasons for limited reporting on outcomes for CC and workforce students. It also provides recommendations to guide action and effect change regarding CURE implementation and assessment at CCs. This essay is a call to action to expand the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career development pathway to include workforce students, implement CUREs designed for workforce students, and assess the differential impacts CUREs may have on workforce student populations at CCs. © 2023 C. T. Leonetti et al.

Keywords

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Index Keywords

human Humans Students curriculum student education Educational Measurement engineering technology
Author Affiliations
Department of Biology, Pima Community College, Tucson, AZ, United States
Department of Biology, Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke, VA, United States
Department of Natural Sciences, Middle Georgia State University, Macon, GA, United States
Department of Biosciences, Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ, United States
Funding & Acknowledgements
National Science Foundation, NSF
Grant: 1832543, 2120021, HRD-1730130, HRD-1832543, HRD-1730130
We greatly appreciate the helpful discussions, edits, and feedback provided by Seth Goodman, Ann Roselle, Herbert Wildey, Anna Marti-Subirana, Pamela A. Marshall, Lisa Limeri, Amy White, and the CBE-LSE reviewers and editor for their insightful conversations and guidance on this essay. This work was supported in part by NSF STEM-CURE grant no. HRD-1832543 and NSF CC Bio INSITES grant no. HRD-1730130.
National Science Foundation, NSF
We greatly appreciate the helpful discussions, edits, and feedback provided by Seth Goodman, Ann Roselle, Herbert Wildey, Anna Marti-Subirana, Pamela A. Marshall, Lisa Limeri, Amy White, and the CBE-LSE reviewers and editor for their insightful conversations and guidance on this essay. This work was supported in part by NSF STEM-CURE grant no. HRD-1832543 and NSF CC Bio INSITES grant no. HRD-1730130.
References 10 References
1 Adedokun, Omolola A., Effect of time on perceived gains from an undergraduate research program, CBE Life Sciences Education, 13, 1, pp. 139-148, (2014)
2 Research in Science Education Research Based Undergraduate Science Teaching, (2014)
3 Datapoints Community Colleges and Student Aid, (2020)
4 Fast Facts, (2022)
5 Ashcroft, Jared M., Early Career Undergraduate Research as a Meaningful Academic Experience in Which Students Develop Professional Workforce Skills: A Community College Perspective, ACS Symposium Series, 1365, pp. 281-299, (2020)
6 Scholarship and Practice of Undergraduate Research, (2021)
7 What is Allied Health, (2015)
8 Auchincloss, Lisa Corwin, Assessment of course-based undergraduate research experiences: Ameeting report, CBE Life Sciences Education, 13, 1, pp. 29-40, (2014)
9 Scholarsh Pract Undergrad Res, (2021)
10 Ballen, Cissy J., A call to develop course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) for Nonmajors courses, CBE Life Sciences Education, 16, 2, (2017)
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