The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have released a new report (Undergraduate Research Experiences for STEM Students: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities) that examines what is known about the effectiveness of undergraduate research experiences.
TCNJ is included in the National Academies’ report, and TCNJ was featured at the national launch of the report as a case study of how a college/university has institutionalized undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity.
TCNJ has a rich history and a strong institutional commitment to involving our undergraduates in research, scholarship, and creative activity. The College has strategically developed, promoted, and supported a scholarly culture at TCNJ that is grounded in deep student engagement and the teacher-scholar model for the faculty. The College has institutionalized undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activities in ways that weave it into the fabric of TCNJ’s learning environments through a range of synergistic connections. For example, some of the mechanisms include:
- One of TCNJ’s five signature experiences.
- A comprehensively transformed curriculum.
- A comprehensive faculty work load system.
- Inclusion into the documents and practices associated with faculty reappointment, tenure, and promotion.
- A council within the shared governance system.
- A full-immersion summer program—MUSE, or Mentored Undergraduate Summer Experience.
- An endowed professorship in faculty–student scholarly engagement.
- An annual conference—The Celebration of Student Achievement.
- An annually published Journal of Student Scholarship.
These efforts have led to significant positive impacts on our students, programs, institution, alumni, and external partners.
About the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. The Academies operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.
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