Undergraduate research in the chemical sciences at the two-year college: Yesterday, today and tomorrow

CMA 11

Onofrio Gaglione, oggag@aol.com and Kaveh Zarrabi, kaveh_zarrabi@ccsn.edu. Department of Physical Sciences, Community College of Southern Nevada, 6375 West Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89146
In the last two decades research in the chemical sciences has been conducted by the faculty and students at associate degree institutions mostly as an extra-curricula activity.  Recently such activities have emerged as credit bearing programs supported by college administrations and external funding agencies.  These undergraduate research programs have been found to

    * enrich the education of their students.

    * increase student retention in the science pipeline.

    * enhance student transition from two-year to four-year college science programs.

    * promote the professional development of faculty.

    * assist in the recruitment of students.  

The challenges as well as the benefits of these programs are also discussed.  The research in chemistry program at Community College of Southern Nevada is described as one type of model that has been successful over the last decade.  The need to make undergraduate research in chemistry systemic at two year colleges in the future is suggested.