UNM Educator Symposium on Undergraduate Research Engagement

Register Here

November 13, 2024, 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Location: Stamm Commons Room, first floor of Centennial Engineering Center (building 112 on the UNM Central Campus Map), UNM Main Campus

The University of New Mexico is an R1 University dedicated to fostering research excellence and outstanding student research educational experiences.  To help expand and strengthen UNM’s undergraduate research efforts, UNM faculty, staff, administrators, graduate teaching assistants and graduate researchers from all UNM campuses are invited to attend the UNM Educator Symposium on Undergraduate Research Engagement.

Symposium goals include:

  • Providing an opportunity for UNM educators to learn about undergraduate research opportunities and strategies at UNM
  • Gathering your insights and recommendations on improving and expanding undergraduate research at UNM

Register here for the UNM Educator Symposium on Undergraduate Research Engagement.  For questions regarding this symposium, please contact Dr. Tim Schroeder, Director UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network at timschroeder@unm.edu. This symposium is hosted as part of UNM’s Research & Discovery Week.

Symposium Schedule

9:00-9:45 Welcome and Keynote

  • Academic Affairs Welcome, Dr. Pamela Cheek, Vice Provost for Student Success
  • Keynote: Donna Riley, Jim and Ellen King Dean of Engineering and Computing and Professor, Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. The Value of Undergraduate Research Experiences: Personal & Systematic Perspectives.

10:00-10:50 Lightning Presentations.  This series of three-minute presentations will introduce participants to: existing formal undergraduate research programs at UNM; faculty benefits of engaging in UGR; and best practices in undergraduate research education.

11:00-12:15 Facilitated Recommendation Groups.  Breakout groups will create specific recommendations to UNM leaders to improve undergraduate research at UNM.  Breakout groups for this session include:

  • How can UNM create a stronger network of faculty, staff and community partners to work together to increase and improve undergraduate research?
  • How can UNM expand opportunities for expanding undergraduate research by creating new cohort-based programs, and by funding individual undergraduate students to engage in existing faculty-led research?

12:15-1:15 Luncheon.  Luncheon will include a facilitated 20-minute panel where undergraduate student researchers share their experiences and challenges.  Following the panel, groups at each table will engage in structured conversations with undergraduate students to learn more about student research experiences at UNM.

1:15-2:30 Facilitated Recommendation Groups.  Breakout groups will create specific recommendations to UNM leaders to improve undergraduate research at UNM.  Breakout groups for this session include:

  • How can UNM better connect students who want to engage in research with faculty who want to work with students? How can UNM better introduce students to research, even if they don’t yet know they might be interested?
  • How can UNM better track, recognize and celebrate students who are engaged in undergraduate research?

2:45-3:30 Break-out Sessions.  These sessions are designed for educators who are new to UNM or new to undergraduate research education.

  • Staff Session: How can staff at UNM support undergraduate student engagement in research? This session is presented by Jake Greenberg, University College.
  • Graduate Student Session: How can graduate student teaching assistants and researchers better engage with undergraduate researchers? This session will include a moderated panel of graduate students who have experience teaching and/or mentoring undergraduate researchers. Moderated by Tim Schroeder, Director UNM Undergraduate Research, Arts & Design Network.
  • Note: New faculty members who are interested in incorporating undergraduate research pedagogy into their courses are encouraged to register for the UNM Classroom-Educator Workshop on Inclusive Undergraduate Research on November 15, 2024.