Abstract:

Mentored undergraduate research (MUR) is a college educational offering that produces individuals with sophisticated skills to meet the workforce requirements of a rapidly changing global economy. MUR is defined as, “undergraduate student engagement in authentic research conducted under the direct supervision of faculty researchers” (Seymour, Hunter, Laursen & DeAntoni, 2004). According to the Chronicle of Higher Education (Fisher, 2013), employers are mostly happy with students’ technical readiness, but seek experience over academic record. Employers report being concerned that college graduates are not being prepared to communicate well, not skilled in decision making, are weak in critical thinking abilities, are unable to find and evaluate options, and cannot draw scientifically based conclusion (Fisher, 2013). This paper presents a roadmap to successful mentoring (Handbook of Mentored Undergraduate Research) that benefits the mentor, which in turn benefits the mentee and industry. The paper contains tried and true methods and tools to use in the mentoring process to help the mentor (faculty member) move the student into the mentoring third space where the mentee and mentor become partners and where the integration of knowledge moves the undergraduate into the community of practice where optimized academic dispositions are attained (Richards 2012).

Keywords:

Curriculum Development, Industry Connection, Mentored Undergraduate Research.