The Effectiveness of the AAS REU Program

A paper presented at the American Astronomical Society Meeting
on 10 June 1996, Madison
by Mary Kay Hemenway, Peter Boyce and Robert Milkey in the special oral session on
Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Reference BAAS 28, 851, 1996 (abstract 20.02)

abstract In an attempt to address the particular needs of astronomy faculty and undergraduate students, in 1991 the Education Office of the American Astronomical Society approached the National Science Foundation with a unique proposal for funding through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. The goals of the AAS program were to "slow the hemorrhage of students out of science...", extend the REU program to non-NSF-funded scientists, to reach under-represented women and minority students particularly in small educational institutions, and to encourage research scientists there to mentor students. As this grant has now expired, the AAS has surveyed the 44 mentors and their students to assess the program's effect on the mentor and the mentor's career; the educational institution; and the student's education and career choices.

Approximately half the mentors responded by the abstract deadline. The program clearly had an effect upon the individuals involved. The greatest effect (85% of the cases) was to develop more interest in the mentor's research project both among the students and among the mentor's faculty colleagues. The mentors rated the grant to be a medium or strong factor in their student's decision to pursue graduate study, which 90% of them did.

All but one of the AAS-REU students did attend an AAS meeting and 3/4 gave a paper on their project research. Over 90% of the mentors felt that the research experience strongly promoted a greater interest in science, a greater understanding of science and a desire to continue in science. According to the mentors, this was a very positive and beneficial program for the students as well as for themselves.

text: Proposal Summary

This proposal offers a mechanism to provide undergraduate science majors with an opportunity to perform astronomical research. This proposal is envisioned as an addition - not a replacement - to the current REU Supplement and REU Site programs. The American Astronomical Society, as the administrator of the project, would solicit individual proposals from astronomers who wish to mentor undergraduates, would select the participants, and would evaluate the results of the program. All proposed awards would be subject to NSF approval. The students and their mentors would be encouraged to present their results at a national AAS meeting. The participants would also be provided an opportunity to meet each other at those meetings. Special efforts would be made to seek female and/or traditionally underrepresented minority students in the program.

The AAS/ REU Colleges

Appalachian State California State Univ., Fullerton Colgate University College of Charleston Fisk University Georgia Inst. of Technology Gettysburg College Millikin University North Carolina State Univ. Pennsylvania State Univ. Pomona College Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst. Sam Houston State Univ. Sonoma State University Southwest Research Institute St. Cloud State University St. John Fisher College Swarthmore College

Sweet Briar College Trinity University Tufts University Univ. of Arizona Univ. of Kansas Univ. of Montana Univ. of Nebraska Univ. of Nebraska at Kearney Univ. of Oklahoma Univ. of Pittsburgh Vanderbilt University Vassar College Wellesley College Wesleyan University Western Carolina University Wittenberg University Yale University

Statistics
Number of grants: 42 plus two renewals
Response to survey 34/42 = 81%
Total number of Students = 42
Male: 26
Female: 16
Number of under-represented minority students = 4

Of the 34 responses:

• 21 are institutions w/ less than 6000 undergraduates
  
• the average number of undergraduate astronomy majors is 22, with a range from 0 to 50
  
• 13 of the institutions do not have a graduate school
  
• 16 of the students have gone onto graduate school; this REU was a strong factor in that decision for most
  
• 5 students have gone onto careers related to science
  
• 27 students (79%) attended an AAS meeting
  
• 22 students (65%) published the results in a format other than BAAS abstract
  
• Although awards were for either summer or academic year, most students worked for a longer period of time on the project

The Survey Questions:

Results of the REU grant:

• more interest in the research project by students 76%
  
• more institutional recognition of mentor 56%
  
• almost all the students exhibited a greater interest and understanding of science
  
• opportunity to meet other REU students came mostly from the AAS meeting and was valued by the students
  

• For two mentors, this was their first funded proposal as a PI
  
• For 53%, it allowed them to attend an AAS meeting they otherwise could not attend.
  
• For 65%, it allowed them to do research that otherwise might have been impossible or very difficult
  

• focus on real science rather than work in cafeteria
  
• work study student who would have been working in library to support herself
  
• without grant, he would have continued working at resort to pay for his education
• important component to educational experience, including observing run and trip to AAS. It was a pleasure to watch her "defend" her poster and share ideas with important researchers
  
• leader of six students in astronomical instrumentation
  
• incentive to continue in Astronomy at a period when his course work was overwhelming
  
• award for best physics presentation at South Carolina Academy of Science & five fellowship offers for grad school
  

This document last updated: 27 May 1997
Selected Publications