Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges

“The transformative power of an undergraduate research experience has been well documented, and colleges and universities continue to explore opportunities to scale the experience in order to broaden participation for their students. The capacity to achieve greater participation has grown in recent years as a result of the expanding role of community colleges. With her decades of experience in higher education, Hensel provides her thoughtful and comprehensive perspectives on the state of undergraduate research at our nation’s community colleges. This is a must-read for community college faculty and administrators committed to adopting this high impact practice on their campuses.”

James A. Hewlett

Executive Director, Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative

“The Council on Undergraduate Research and Community College Undergraduate Research Initiative collaborated with community colleges to expand opportunities for students to participate in undergraduate research as part of their 2-year college experience. This important book provides a wealth of excellent examples of transformative undergraduate research practices and describes their impact on the wide diversity of students who attend community colleges before they transfer to four-year institutions, enter the workplace, or both. I highly recommend it as it will inspire readers to develop creative course-based, community-based, basic and other research programs of their own.”

Elizabeth J. Teles

Retired ATE/NSF Colead and Community College Mathematics Faculty

“This is an invaluable resource for faculty, college leaders, and even policymakers who want to see community college students gain opportunities for a richer education and better career outcomes. Nancy Hensel has made a compelling case for community colleges to embrace undergraduate research, and this book is full of inspiring examples of authentic opportunities for students to research topics ranging from the needs of student veterans to the behaviors of birds, rattlesnakes, and other fauna found on campuses across the country.”

Marcella Bombardieri

Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

“This book is loaded with invitations to use and develop new strategies and tactics for teaching with research in all settings, but especially community colleges. It offers examples from multiple disciplines, embracing core concepts in student development, student learning, and course-based undergraduate research. At a time when community colleges are poised to become even more important in higher education this book adeptly addresses innovation and equity in education.”

Julio C. Rivera

William B. Yersin Professor of Applied Business Analytics, Carroll University