Glendale Community College (GCC) recently received $492,626 from the National Science Foundation for innovation in two-year college STEM education. The funds will be used to build capacity for Undergraduate Research Experiences (URE) and Critical Inquiry. The intent of the project is to contribute to the broader field of STEM education by addressing the gap in knowledge about URE at community colleges using primary data, as well as the ways in which URE can influence how students view themselves as scientists and STEM professionals.
“Being able to provide this opportunity for our students will give them an advantage when they are on the job market or applying to graduate school. Undergraduate research experiences have been shown to increase persistence in college, so it is our hope that students who participate will be more likely to complete their degrees and realize their career goals. We are excited about this grant and the invaluable academic and professional growth it will afford our students.” Stated Ladonna Lewis, PhD, Director of GCC Honors Program.
The scope of the URE project, at GCC, is to leverage institutional infrastructure to integrate pockets of existing undergraduate research. The overarching goals are to incorporate evidence-based practices, undergraduate research and universal design, as well as provide faculty development opportunities to broaden exposure to URE in STEM. The program is also designed to contribute materials to open education repositories that promote access for students and faculty.
Glendale Community College offers a bachelor’s degree, 41 associate’s degrees, 61 certificate programs, along with a range of non-degree and community education courses, all available to students in traditional, online and hybrid formats. Founded in 1965 to serve the northwestern part of the greater Phoenix metropolitan area, GCC is part of the Maricopa County Community Colleges District, has two campuses and enrolls approximately 26,000 students annually, and employs over 1,000 resident faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, and administrators with an operational budget of $83 million.
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GCC Media contact: John Heckenlaible, (623) 845-3809, [email protected]