@inproceedings{a6f4bac34e224e6d97782628443163f4,
title = "Overview of Best Practices for Chemistry REU Programs",
abstract = "This book was conceived as a way to disseminate information about successful NSF-sponsored Chemistry Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Sites. Eleven chapters describe specific REU sites and one chapter describes the Chemistry REU Leadership Group. The authors have shared the expertise they acquired from a broad range of approaches, multi-disciplinary collaborations, and multi-institutional collaborations. Each author contributes distinctive and partially overlapping perspectives into the complex factors that result in running a successful summer research program. Half of the authors participated in a symposium titled {"}Best Practices for Chemistry REU Programs{"} at the spring 2017 national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). Each described their program's distinctive features in the context of their overall summer experience, such as the integration of deaf and hearing impaired, coordination of an international program, and multi-institutional programs. The other half of the authors participated in one of the symposia hosted by the Chemistry REU Leadership Group at spring ACS national meetings between 2013 and 2016. Each of these symposia focused on a different aspect of successful REU programs. These authors describe excellent models for professional development and mentor training workshops among many others. This book hopes to provide undergraduate research advisors at universities across the nation with information they need to design more thoughtful and beneficial college undergraduate research programs for their majors, and to provide investigators with useful information to write more effective proposals that will fund more summer research programs.",
author = "Griep, {Mark A.} and Watkins, {Linette M.}",
note = "Funding Information: The world{\textquoteright}s future depends on creative chemical ideas, which means there is a need to train more chemists. One of the most effective externally funded programs for training students for future careers as chemists is the NSF-funded REU Program (1, 2). According to the Program Solicitation (3), “REU Sites are based on independent proposals to initiate and conduct projects that engage a number of students in research. REU Sites may be based in a single discipline or academic department, or on interdisciplinary or multi-department research opportunities with a coherent intellectual theme.” Every discipline supported by NSF is eligible for this grant program. The REU program began at the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 1987 when it was re-established after a five-year hiatus (4). In fact, two of the programs described in this book (University of Alabama, Texas A&M) have been funded almost continuously since 1987. From 1958 to 1982, the NSF program was called Undergraduate Research Participation Program. Given the longevity of this program, it is surprising that this is the first book on the subject of Chemistry REU Programs. Funding Information: Since the NSF Chemistry REU website maintains a list of its currently funded grants (10), visitors to the site can learn about such characteristics as average funding levels, average terms, typical start dates, and research foci. However, keep in mind that the website is maintained irregularly and appears to include expired grants and to capture only about three quarters of currently funded grants. Therefore, we limited our analysis to those grants from the website that were funded as of 25 February 2018 and that started between 2014 and 2017. Nearly all of those funded in 2014 appear to cover four summer terms. Since then, all grants have covered three summer terms. The average funding per REU Site has increased roughly with inflation. It was 296 ± 58 thousand dollars in 2014 and has increased to 333 ± 72 in 2017 (Figure 1). On the NSF Chemistry REU website (10), the number of total funded grants was 13 in 2014, 21 in 2015, 15 in 2016, and 14 in 2017. If, instead, one uses the NSF search engine, you will find that the number of total funded REU grants by the Chemistry division was 20 in 2014, 23 in 2015, 19 in 2016, and 20 in 2017. Funding Information: The Chemistry REU Leadership Group is supported by a special grant from NSF “to improve the REU program through workshops, travel grants, symposia, and other innovative activities” and to “provide guidance to current and prospective REU Site PIs (11).” The Leadership Group was formed after a fruitful NSF-funded “Workshop for Chemistry REU Site Directors” in 2001. Every year, the Leadership Group hosts a symposium with a different theme at the Spring meeting of the American Chemical Society. Every three years, they host a PI Workshop. The Workshops are also open to prospective REU Site PIs to help them develop their plans. Over half of the currently funded PIs have attended at least one of these meetings. Funding Information: Most programs also encourage students to present their poster or oral at their home institution as further dissemination. It is also a way to raise awareness about the REU program. All reports, posters, presentations, and publications generated by participants should acknowledge the REU grant number. Without the grant number, the NSF program officer won{\textquoteright}t accept them with the annual report or post them on the NSF grant webpage. Since renewals take place every three years, coordinators would be wise to remind everyone (research advisors, mentors, and participants) repeatedly about the importance of including the REU number on their products. Funding Information: We thank all of the chapter authors for sharing information about their programs so that everyone can benefit from their experience. We acknowledge funding from NSF grants 1156560, 1460829.",
year = "2018",
doi = "10.1021/bk-2018-1295.ch001",
language = "English (US)",
isbn = "9780841233539",
series = "ACS Symposium Series",
publisher = "American Chemical Society",
pages = "1--16",
editor = "Griep, {Mark A.} and Watkins, {Linette M.}",
booktitle = "Best Practices for Chemistry REU Programs",
}