Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

A student looking at a microscope with a professor.

Experience-Driven Learning Venture Grants 2024

The Experience-Driven Learning Venture Grants fuel ambition and innovation in creating experiential opportunities for Western students. The inaugural 2024 class of recipients includes nearly two dozen faculty-led projects that bolster the University's strength in experience-driven education by enriching learning and ensuring students are career-ready after graduation.

The inaugural grants were supported with financial investments from the Empowering Futures Gift, the Office of the President, Office of the Provost, University Advancement, Office for Business and Finance, and Division of Student Affairs. 

Provost and Vice President
for Academic Affairs
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5204 USA
(269) 387-2380

2024 Venture Grant projects

Accelerating Community-Based Research Experiences, Internship Accessibility, and Personal and Professional Well-Being for Undergraduate Family Science and Human Development Students

Animal-Assisted Interventions Course Series

Bronco Blitz Digital Career Activation Program

The Center for Excellence and Research in Public Service (CERPS) Grant

Creation of the (AI + Innovators Hub)

The Emergence, Decline and Revitalization of the Historic African American Lake Community Known as the Black Eden

Educational, Community and Cultural Engagement in Music

Enhancing Student Research Engagement in Behavioral Neuroscience

Experiential Learning Through °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s Cold Case Program

Experiential Technologies for the Kinetic Imaging Program

Expanding the Practical Application Experience of Public Health Students

Grant Writing for Social Impact

IDEAS Collaboratory: Interdisciplinary Experimentations in Art and Science Collaboration Laboratory

Non-Extractive and Non-Intrusive Community-Engaged Learning for Media Production Courses

Paid Summer School Pre-Internship Hours for Grow Your Own Future Teachers in Van Buren County

Service-Learning for Social Justice with the Kalamazoo Defender Organization

Supporting the Growth and Impact of The Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact

TechBoost: A Technological Infrastructure Upgrade for Experiential Learning Excellence at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Unified Clinics

The Undergraduate Research, Innovation and Creative Scholarship Summer Scholars Program

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ School of Communication XDesign Lab

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Undergraduate Student Engineering Research Program

 

Accelerating Community-Based Research Experiences, Internship Accessibility, and Personal and Professional Well-Being for Undergraduate Family Science and Human Development Students

This project will look to further fortify the accessibility and impact of professional experience programming for family science and human development students through the expansion of community partnerships and the development of internship opportunities.

Project leaders

Dr. Antoinette London-Johnson Wright, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences; Ms. Melinda Holohan, faculty specialist II of family and consumer sciences; Dr. Kimberly Doudna, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences; Dr. Jou-Chen Chen, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences; Dr. Karen Blaisure, professor of family and consumer sciences 

Informed by existing experiential-learning investments, improvements and practices, Family Science and Human Development (FSHD) unit faculty seek to expand attainable, diverse and supportive professional learning experiences for undergraduate students majoring in °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s child development and services, family studies, and youth and community development programs. The Accelerator Grant investment will bolster the accessibility and impact of FSHD professional experience programming for students; strengthen the well-being of students as they complete a required semester-long internship and transition to a wide variety of roles as early career human-service professionals; and expand undergraduate research and collaboration within existing community partnerships.

The need-based priorities identified and addressed in this project are:

  • Expanding community-based research experiences and partnerships.

  • Developing subsidized internship opportunities.

  • Promoting skills and strategies for personal and professional well-being in the helping professions.

 

Animal-Assisted Interventions Course Series

Western’s therapy dog program has been increasing well-being on campus and in the community for several years. This grant will expand a seminar on animal-assisted interventions and create a practicum in partnership with Unified Clinics and the Holistic Health Program in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies. 

Project leaders

Dr. Angela Moe, professor of sociology; Dr. Lori Gray, director of holistic health and contemplative well-being; Dr. Andrea Perez, director of the Unified Clinics

Animal-assisted interventions involve the incorporation of specially trained animals into settings and practices that increase human well-being (health, education, human services, etc.). Dr. Angela Moe has been working in this area for several years and has been at the forefront of providing therapy dog programming at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ since the pandemic. She directs the Therapy Dog Clinic, where dogs are incorporated into various aspects of outpatient services at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Unified Clinics, and is teaching a new special topics course, HOL 5300 Seminar on Animal Assisted Interventions. Her project, "Animal-Assisted Interventions Course Series," will expand this into a two-part series. The first will be a classroom-based seminar housed within the College of Health and Human Services, in partnership with Dr. Lori Gray, director of the Holistic Health Program. The second will be a practicum, in partnership with College of Health and Human Services as well as with Dr. Andrea Perez, director of Unified Clinics.

 

Bronco Blitz Digital Career Activation Program

The program will fund a rapid professional outreach program to introduce °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥'s acclaimed digital marketing program and students to Great Lakes businesses and establish the first digital marketing career fair on campus.

Project leaders

Dr. Scott Cowley, associate professor of marketing and director of the Digital Marketing and eCommerce Program; Dr. Eric Harvey, assistant professor of marketing; Greg Gerfen, executive-in-residence and marketing instructor

Western is one of the only universities offering a digital marketing degree. In a few short years, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s program has achieved rapid growth and status, winning international awards with an innovative, hands-on curriculum. Through the Experience-Driven Learning Incubator Grant, the Bronco Blitz Digital Career Activation Program will help students in this flourishing young program by funding a rapid professional outreach campaign to introduce the University to major Great Lakes businesses and agencies seeking this type of talent for jobs and internships.

The initiative will help bridge the talent gap by giving more insider hiring information to students, while giving companies better access to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ talent. The culmination of this program will be the first digital marketing-oriented career fair held on Western’s campus in fall 2024, which will bring both sides together for the beginning of many professional relationships and collaborations.

 

The Center for Excellence and Research in Public Service (CERPS) Grant

This center provides students with applied research and experiential-learning opportunities. Students, faculty and practitioners will collaboratively explore and foster public service sustainability in local governments, nonprofit organizations and Tribal governments. This grant will expand CERPS by investing in capacity-building research projects, career workshops and community outreach activities.

Project leaders

Dr. Daniela Schroeter, associate professor of public administration; Dr. Vincent Reitano, associate professor of public administration

The Center for Excellence and Research in Public Service (CERPS) at the School of Public Affairs and Administration bridges °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ students with hands-on learning and career pathways, concurrently delivering essential services to local government, nonprofit and Tribal entities. Through immersive projects, symposium participation and research endeavors, students acquire practical competencies, on-the-ground experience, professional connections and insights into public service vocations. Concurrently, organizations benefit from student assistance across various initiatives such as strategic planning, program assessment, budget management and grant composition. By fostering student involvement within the community, CERPS cultivates the future cadre of public administrators, nonprofit executives and Tribal communities. This mutually advantageous alliance fosters experiential education and generates tangible impacts within Kalamazoo and beyond. Engage with CERPS to mentor aspiring students and fortify your organization's capacity.

 

Creation of the (AI + Innovators Hub)

This innovative project is focused on the creation of an experiential-learning laboratory—to be named the AI + Innovators Hub—where skilled students will share artificial intelligence software skills and competencies across Western.

Project leaders

Philip Repp, director and professor, Richmond Institute for Design + Innovation

A student hub that provides practical assistance to students and faculty on appropriate and productive use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Students develop skills to train and share which AI tools are relevant to disciplines across campus. Feasibility of a shared campus effort to create this hub will be the initial focus.

 

The Emergence, Decline and Revitalization of the Historic African American Lake Community Known as the Black Eden

This project builds on a Study in the States course about the Idlewild community by addressing infrastructure improvement to revitalize the historic site. Students will develop and launch a mobile coffee business and a boat tour experience.

Project leaders

Dr. Luchara Wallace, director of the Lewis Walker Institute and associate dean of the College of Education and Human Development; Dr. Karika Parker, postdoctoral fellow; Dr. Denisha Griffey, program manager; Shimonta Dickerson, administrative assistant senior

This proposal responds to feedback gathered from Idlewild residents during our spring 2023 Study in the States course. Key priorities identified by residents include youth development and increasing community infrastructure. We propose developing History House Coffee (HHC), a mobile coffee business. With HHC, we would be able to employ teens from the community and provide internships for Western students who have an interest in the areas of entrepreneurship, marketing, business management, youth and community development, etc. This unique opportunity would allow °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ students to work on the weekends while also participating in the Broncos Lead professional development sessions on campus during the week. Second, we would partner with the Idlewild Community Development Corporation to develop an Idlewild boat tour experience. The boat tours would allow students enrolled in HNRS 4300 this spring to be able to develop the map’s historical descriptions and tour script for the boat tour.

 

Educational, Community and Cultural Engagement in Music

Partnering with Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus, Kalamazoo Public Schools and The Gilmore Piano Festival, this program will enhance the musical and educational experiences of children participating in community arts organizations while providing °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ music performance, technology and education majors with relevant experience in the public school and nonprofit music sector.

Project leaders

Dr. Jacob Berglin, assistant professor of music education

The Educational, Community and Cultural Engagement in Music (ECCE-MUS) project will enhance experiential-learning opportunities for students in the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music. Through partnering with community organizations such as the Kalamazoo Children's Chorus, Gilmore Piano Festival and Kalamazoo Public Schools, the project will bring student teaching artists from education, performance and composition majors to support and collaborate with K-12 students outside of the school day.

Graduates of the Irving S. Gilmore School of Music who participate in the ECCE-MUS project will enhance the musical and educational experiences of children participating in community arts organizations, while receiving applicable, relevant experience in the breadth of careers in music in the public school and nonprofit sector.

 

Enhancing Student Research Engagement in Behavioral Neuroscience

Students will participate in a paid summer research practicum to gain direct experience with research methods in behavioral neuroscience.

Project leaders

Dr. Lisa Baker, professor of psychology

This experiential-learning opportunity will promote and enhance undergraduate student engagement in behavioral neuroscience research. Students will be invited to apply for a paid summer research internship that will include a tuition scholarship for up to three credit hours of independent study and part-time wages from May to August 2024. Participating students will gain hands-on laboratory experience with neuroanatomy and behavioral neuroscience research methods. They will gain direct experience with various stages of the research process, including scientific literature review, management of computer-controlled behavioral testing and experimental data collection, graphic analysis of experimental data and preparation of research poster presentations. Students interested in pursuing advanced graduate study in neuroscience are encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

 

Experiential Learning Through °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s Cold Case Program

The Cold Case Program has already helped solve two homicides and is working on more than a dozen other cases. This grant will enhance its impact with additional funding to grow contacts, credentials and external opportunities to fuel the next generation of law enforcement.

Project leaders

Dr. Ashlyn Kuersten, professor of sociology and director of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s Cold Case Program

The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Cold Case Program with the Michigan State Police (MSP) is an immersive, collaborative experience that equips Broncos with some of the essential skills required for careers in law and law enforcement. Students in the program receive training in forensic science, law and criminal investigation tactics. Then they assist detectives in their review of cold homicide and missing person cases. By conducting research that supports detectives in their investigations, Broncos gain hands-on investigative experience, a deeper understanding of the workings of our criminal justice system and potential career paths. Broncos have so far helped detectives give closure to family members of two victims of violent crimes.

MSP’s generosity is seen in a pilot program recently instituted that pays Broncos for their work on cold cases in both posts and crime labs. Thanks to the generosity of the Experience-Driven Learning Accelerator Grant, the program can focus 2024 on finding state funding for the director’s position and ensure the longevity of this worthwhile program.

 

Experiential Technologies for the Kinetic Imaging Program

This project will ramp up technologies in the new kinetic imaging program, giving students access to immersive innovations, such as virtual reality and motion capture, to put them on the leading edge of the ever-evolving field of media arts.

Project leaders

Eric Souther, assistant professor of kinetic imaging; Jacklyn Brickman, assistant professor and area coordinator of kinetic imaging

Kinetic imaging (KI) is a new program focusing on art and technology in the Gwen Frostic School of Art, offering a Bachelor of Science degree with tracks in animation, game art and video art. Throughout the grant period, KI will implement high-touch, high-tech facilities that are radically accessible and embrace the future of experiential learning and community engagement. We focus on interactive, gestural and responsive approaches for the artistic production and audience participation via virtual reality, motion capture, face tracking and other interactive sensors to create immersive artworks. Additionally, we will install new displays for student exhibitions that will increase KI visibility. With these cutting-edge technologies in place, KI students will leave our program with expertise in a wide range of abilities and be adept at navigating an ever-evolving field of media arts.

 

Expanding the Practical Application Experience of Public Health Students

By providing paid practical experiences for all students in the public health cohort, this grant will scale up valuable on-the-job training in the program, helping to further employment opportunities for students upon graduation.

Project leaders

Dr. Robert Bensley, director of the Bachelor of Science in Public Health program

This project builds on the current practice of providing students with practical experiences while in the public health program at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥. Key to this project is building a network of public health agencies within Southwest Michigan that can serve as partners in providing paid practical experiences for all public health students. The benefits of this approach are numerous, with the most important being students’ ability to immediately apply concepts being learned within the program to real-life situations, providing students with paid job opportunities that are essential for their resumes and securing sought-after jobs, and expanding community partnerships between local agencies and the University. In addition, implementing this model will set °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ aside as a premier provider of undergraduate public health curricula in Michigan.

 

Grant Writing for Social Impact

Expanding on an extremely successful grant writing course, this opportunity pairs students with community health nonprofit Lori’s Hands to prepare submission-ready grant proposals while also participating in a service project with clients.

Project leaders

Dr. Brian Gogan, associate professor of English; Shawn Tenney, director of service-learning; Dr. Todd Kuchta, chair and associate professor of English

Since 2012, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s Department of English has offered a service-learning undergraduate course that pairs students with community organizations to write grant proposals. These partnerships are immensely successful: Seven different times, the proposals that emerged from this course secured five-figure awards and multiple students have pursued careers as grant writers.

With the support of an Experience-Driven Learning Accelerator Grant, our Grant Writing for Social Impact course will expand to offer undergraduate and graduate students an opportunity for professional training as grant proposal writers as well as for intergenerational teaching and learning.

Students enrolled in this 40-seat service-learning course will partner with Lori’s Hands, a community health service-learning nonprofit that supports independent living and reciprocal learning, to develop submission-ready funding proposals. Key to this partnership is an experiential excursion to the Lori’s Hands chapter in Detroit, Michigan, during which students will meet with leadership and participate in a service project with clients.

 

IDEAS Collaboratory: Interdisciplinary Experimentations in Art and Science Collaboration Laboratory

This grant will establish a new laboratory with an emphasis on an experience-driven pollination of ideas between science and art, engaging students in cross-disciplinary research approaches with field, laboratory and studio-based work.

Project leaders

Jacklyn Brickman, assistant professor and area coordinator of kinetic imaging; Dr. Sharon Gill, professor of biological sciences

InterDisciplinary Experimentations in Art and Science Collaboration Laboratory (IDEAS Collaboratory) is a new laboratory with a collaborative emphasis on experience-driven, cross-disciplinary pollination of ideas between science and art at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥. The IDEAS Collaboratory focuses on engaging students and faculty from across the University in science and art research approaches with field, laboratory and studio-based work. Participants experience the nature of collaboration between science and art, building a greater understanding of each others’ viewpoints and one another’s practices as emerging scientists and artists. The IDEAS Collaboratory scaffolds a framework for relevant student experience, while also providing ample openness, opportunity and support for experimentation and risk-taking—where true collaboration unfolds.

 

Non-Extractive and Non-Intrusive Community-Engaged Learning for Media Production Courses

Exploring community-engaged media production, this course allows students to host immersive experiences and expand on non-extractive and non-intrusive approaches to documenting and digitizing community stories while also creating a guide for best practices.

Project leaders

Dr. Lusike Mukhongo, associate professor of communication; Wendy Swalla, senior instructional designer; Shawn Tenney, director of service learning

The project explores innovative methodological approaches for community-engaged scholarship, specifically focusing on non-extractive and non-intrusive media production practices in documenting and digitizing community stories. The goal of the project is to collaboratively expand on the adoption and implementation of community-engaged learning through the following: expand on high-impact practices in teaching by introducing community-engaged pedagogies into other media production courses; strengthen ongoing community partnerships through hosting more immersive experiences in the community; and create a guide on best practices for non-extractive and non-intrusive community-engaged learning that could be useful for other faculty interested in adopting community-engaged teaching pedagogies in their courses.

 

Paid Summer School Pre-Internship Hours for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Grow Your Own Future Teachers 

This grant will provide students with paid teaching pre-internships with mentor teachers to assist in planning and teaching during summer school in districts in Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties.

Project leaders

Katherine Suender, faculty specialist I, elementary education and Grow Your Own success navigator for elementary education

Due to the national teacher shortage, Michigan's Grow Your Own (GYO) funding was initiated to allow current public school employees to become certified teachers for free. About 20-25% of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ GYO students enrolled in the undergraduate early childhood and elementary education future teachers program work full-time for schools outside of classrooms, such as in secretarial positions. This grant will provide a more equitable educational experience for up to 18 Western GYO students by providing up to 60 hours of paid pre-internship time with mentor teachers to assist in planning and teaching during summer school. In addition, three student leaders from the GYO program will be funded for 40 hours to help train, place and monitor the interns while evaluating this new learning initiative. Student participants will be placed in summer schools in Calhoun, Kalamazoo and Van Buren counties. What an excellent opportunity for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ education students to gain valuable classroom and leadership experience, while assisting elementary students during summer school.

 

Service-Learning for Social Justice with the Kalamazoo Defender Organization

This transformative course pairs undergraduate students with pioneering legal nonprofit Kalamazoo Defender, bridging theory and practice by giving them a front-row seat to legal proceedings while also participating in research project design with real-world impact.

Project leaders

Dr. Zoann K. Snyder, associate professor of sociology; Josh Hilgart, executive director, Kalamazoo Defender; SaConna Johnson, client advocate manager, Kalamazoo Defender

Discover a transformative educational experience designed for undergraduate students. This dynamic experiential course combines on-campus sessions with hands-on service work at Kalamazoo Defender, a pioneering nonprofit providing legal defense for indigent individuals in Kalamazoo County. Engaging in 30 hours of service, students will participate in research project design, contributing to data collection and analysis crucial for Kalamazoo Defender's reporting and grant writing initiatives. This immersive experience not only draws upon classroom knowledge but also offers a front-row seat to courtroom proceedings, allowing students to connect with judges, court personnel and the resilient clients of Kalamazoo Defender. Bridging theory and practice, participants gain valuable insights into data analysis and professional writing. Students will receive a stipend upon project completion, cementing this course as a pivotal chapter in their academic and professional journey and empowering them with practical skills and real-world impact. The course is led by Dr. Zoann Snyder, Department of Sociology.

 

Supporting the Growth and Impact of The Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact

This grant will enhance campus engagement and growth in the Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact, an interdisciplinary, experience-driven competition that challenges students to solve problems related to sustainability.

Project leaders

Dr. Timothy Palmer, director of the Center for Sustainable Business Practices; Dr. Neil Drobny, adjunct instructor and director of the Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact; Jeffrey Spoelstra, director of the Office for Sustainability; DeNel Stoltz, chief development officer; Ronicka Hamilton, director of the Seita Scholars Program; Dr. Beth Ernst, director of the Haworth Communication Center

The Bronco Challenge for Sustainable Impact is an experience-driven, problem-solving competition to propose solutions to grand challenges embedded in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Environmental and social challenges associated with the 17 SDGs are especially relevant to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ students who are passionate about addressing issues such as climate change, poverty, human rights and diversity. The challenge is open to students from all majors and at all academic levels. They work over the full academic year in four-person, self-selected, interdisciplinary teams on projects addressing SDGs that are most important to them. Students work not for grades but for prize money that has been donated by corporate sponsors. Based on written and oral presentations of their work, teams are judged by a panel of external experts selected for their knowledge of topics covered by the teams’ projects. The first-place team receives $10,000 to be shared equally by team members and may be used for any purpose. Second and third-place teams receive $6,000 and $3,000 respectively.

 

TechBoost: A Technological Infrastructure Upgrade for Experiential-Learning Excellence at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Unified Clinics

This project will offer students in Unified Clinics the opportunity to develop telehealth service skills with industry-appropriate equipment. The project will allow the academic programs served by UC to adapt to a fast-growing trend that emerged from the pandemic.

Project leaders

Dr. Michelle Suarez, Resiliency Center co-director and associate professor of occupational therapy

A student doing a Telehealth visit on the computer.
The Unified Clinics TechBoost Project, led by Dr. Michelle Suarez (co-director, Resiliency Center), Dr. Adriana Degani (senior research associate, Resiliency Center) and Kathy Rigley (clinical faculty specialist, College of Health and Human Services/UC), represents a transformative endeavor to enhance experiential-learning opportunities for students through technological infrastructure upgrades at the Unified Clinics. The project addresses the escalating need for expanded technological capabilities in health care education, catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the evolving landscape of health care practices. Through acquiring additional Wi-Fi access points and a mobile docking station with laptops, the project aims to bolster Unified Clinics' capacity for remote-learning capabilities, telehealth services, electronic documentation and student research production. These enhancements will enable °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ students to gain hands-on experience in delivering telehealth services to diverse populations, including marginalized communities. Moreover, the initiative underscores °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥'s commitment to providing students with cutting-edge learning experiences, contributing to academic excellence and preparing future health care professionals for the demands of the digital age.

 

The Undergraduate Research, Innovation and Creative Scholarship Summer Scholars Program

The project aims to grow undergraduate research, innovation and creative scholarship across campus by establishing a comprehensive database of opportunities and developing a Summer Scholars program.

Project leaders

Dr. Christine Byrd-Jacobs, dean of the Graduate College; Julie Garrison, dean of University Libraries; Dr. Carla Koretsky, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences

Undergraduate research—a high-impact experiential-learning opportunity—increases student engagement and preparation for success at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ and beyond. Building off °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥â€™s successful track record of involving undergraduate students in research, innovation and creative scholarship, this project pilots a Summer Scholars program to support an expansion of undergraduate research involvement. Our goals are to build a comprehensive database of current undergraduate research across °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥; pilot a summer program that pairs 10 faculty and undergraduate students for a mentored research experience; assess and evaluate the pilot program; and develop a sustainable funding model for a coordinated undergraduate research program. Anticipated outcomes include increased undergraduate recruitment and retention; promotion of faculty-student connections; strengthened research enterprise at °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥; increased visibility of undergraduate research to alumni and potential industry partners; development of career-ready graduates; and enhanced recruitment into °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ graduate programs.

 

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ School of Communication XDesign Lab

This grant from the School of Communication supports establishing the XDesign Lab (XD Lab), a cutting-edge space dedicated to advancing education in Experience Design (XD) within communicative technology.

Project leaders

Dr. Chad Edwards, professor of communication; Dr. Autumn Edwards, professor of communication; Dr. Bryan Abendschein, associate professor of communication; Dr. Lusike Mukhongo, associate professor of communication; Dr. Cynthia Klekar-Cunningham, director of the School of Communication

Students working with social robots.
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥'s School of Communication is excited to introduce the XDesign Lab (XD Lab), a cutting-edge Experience Design (XD) education hub. This innovative lab surpasses traditional design, merging user insights with advanced technologies like AI, robotics and immersive realities to revolutionize digital and social interaction creation. The XD Lab is a collaborative, creative space where students and faculty work together on groundbreaking projects, exploring new ways to connect in our digital era. It’s a cradle for innovation where future designers learn to navigate and shape communicative technology. By fostering a culture of innovation and exploration, the XD Lab will prepare the next generation of designers to think critically and creatively about the challenges and opportunities in communicative technology.

 

°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ Undergraduate Student Engineering Research Program

This grant targets four programs within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences with an overall plan of providing underrepresented students with viable paid alternatives to traditional summer internships within the industry.

Project leaders

Dr. Steven M. Carr, professor and chair of computer science and associate dean for research, College of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Dr. Alvis Fong, associate professor of computer science; Dr. Kristina Lemmer, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering; Dr. Damon Miller, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering; Dr. James Springstead, associate professor of chemical and paper engineering

Undergraduate research has been shown to be incredibly beneficial for both students and universities. Student retention is higher for those who are active in research, and students learn valuable skills for their future education or employment. The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍøÖ±²¥ College of Engineering and Applied Sciences is implementing a summer research program for computer science, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering and chemical engineering undergraduate students. The objective is to introduce students to research in a way that is accessible to those who cannot or do not traditionally participate. This experience will provide underrepresented students with an opportunity to get a head start on senior design projects.