Baylor Team to Participate in National Undergraduate Research Advocacy Program
WACO, Texas - (October 22, 2024) The Office of Engaged Learning (OEL) is celebrating the selection of a Baylor team for the prestigious Council on Undergraduate Research’s advocacy program - Scholars Transforming Through Research (STR). The Baylor University STR team consists of Dr. Tamarah Adair, Director of Undergraduate Research in the OEL and Senior Lecturer in Biology, Senior Biology major, Chloe Kautt, Junior Political Science major and McNair Scholar, Berkley Ponce, and Sophomore University Scholar, Elise Zeigler. The program consists of four online training sessions and culminates in March 2025, with a 2-day event in Washington, D.C. for hands-on training on Capitol Hill with policymakers.
Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice with significant benefits for students, faculty, and universities. Students who participate in research develop skills that are highly valued by employers and professional schools. For example, a 2020 survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities reports that 85-90% of employers were ‘much more likely’ or ‘somewhat more likely’ to hire a candidate if they completed an active or applied learning experience, including “A research project done collaboratively with faculty”. Faculty mentors also benefit from the enhanced learning environment, the contribution to knowledge, and the connections they form with their students. This type of information, as well as feedback from faculty mentors and undergraduates, propels the OEL to seek ways to increase awareness and enhance support for students from all disciplines to elevate the significant role of undergraduate research at Baylor University. The multidisciplinary team is well-positioned to approach this challenge using the evidence-based methods provided through the STR program. The team has diverse research experiences in biology, biochemistry, sustainable economic development, social entrepreneurship, cross-cultural collaborations, and the impacts of modern technological and the cultural developments on public opinion and political behavior. This variety will allow growth in all disciplines.
Dr. Adair is thrilled to learn alongside these students who share her dedication for expanding undergraduate research opportunities. “Our goals include learning best practices to advocate for the impact of research with media contacts, community members, funding agencies, and governmental representatives, as well as consistently sharing the importance of research findings to our community.”
The Office of Engaged Learning at Baylor University plays a crucial role in guiding students to explore and discover research opportunities. Participation in this program will allow for contributions to the Commitments of Baylor’s Strategic Plan, Baylor in Deeds, as they enhance participation in work for the good of the community and the world at large by advocating for undergraduate research support and communication.