2016 REU Physics Site Director Workshop

Research Experiences for Undergraduates

REU Site Directors Workshop 2016 group photo

nsf logoOctober 20-21, 2016
Houston, Texas

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program has been funding undergraduate research site programs for over 30 years. This was the second REU workshop hosted by the APS, with support from NSF. Representatives from the funded physics sites gathered for a two-day workshop to discuss effective practices at existing REU sites and suggestions on how to improve physics REU programs.

The workshop program included several keynote speakers to help focus conversations on topics such as increasing diversity of REU participants, measuring impact of REU experiences on students, and how to improve the REU experience for students and faculty mentors. Participants had specific opportunities to share information about their programs and discussed issues of importance to the NSF-REU community as a whole.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 1623204. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Workshop Report

REU Site Directors Workshop Report 2016 cover Discussion summary and next steps following the workshop.
Gray Arrow View Report

2016 REU Physics Site Director Workshop Program

Thursday, October 20, 2016
7:30 a.m. Registration Opens
8:00 a.m. Defining Goals of REU Site Programs (for students, faculty, sites) (working breakfast)
Michael Jackson, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
8:45 a.m. Welcome and Update on NSF REU Program
Kathy McCloud, NSF Program Manager
9:00 a.m. Impact and Outcomes of Undergraduate Research Experiences
Sandra Laursen, University of Colorado Boulder
10:00 a.m. Measuring Success - Assessment Practices
Michael Jackson, Millersville University of Pennsylvania
11:00 a.m. Break
11:15 a.m. Recruiting, Training, Supporting, & Rewarding Mentors
John Mateja, Goldwater Foundation; Mario Diaz, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
12:15 p.m. Research Mentor Training Workshop Preview (working lunch)
Eric Hooper, University of Wisconsin
1:30 p.m. Recruiting Undergraduate Researchers
Steve Turley, Brigham Young University
2:30 p.m. Training Undergraduate Researchers
Alex Crowell, Duke University
3:30 p.m. Coffee Break
4:00 p.m. Supporting Undergraduate Researchers
Richard Baker, University of Houston; Sherry Yennello, Texas A&M
5:00 p.m. Wrap up Discussion on Big Ideas and Questions From the Day
Cathy Mader, Hope College
Friday, October 21, 2016
8:00 a.m. Setting the Day's Agenda (working breakfast)
Cathy Mader, Hope College
8:30 a.m. What Does Access Really Mean?
Mary James, Reed College
9:30 a.m. Collaborative and Cooperative Efforts I
Theodore Hodapp, APS
10:45 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m. Collaborative and Cooperative Efforts II
Cathy Mader, Hope College
12:30 p.m. Planning for the Future (working lunch)
Steve Turley, Brigham Young University; Sherry Yennello, Texas A&M
2:30 p.m. Wrap up the Meeting’s Big Ideas and Questions
Cathy Mader, Hope College
2:45 p.m. Workshop Evaluation Survey
3:00 p.m. Closing Remarks
Theodore Hodapp, APS
NMC Conference REU Fair Saturday, October 22, 2016 (additional registration required)
9:30 a.m. REU Table Set up
9:45 - 10:50 a.m. REU & Graduate School Fair

Steering Committee Members

Calvin Howell

Calvin Howell
Duke University and TUNL

CatherineMader

Catherine Mader
Hope College