Engaging in undergraduate research is a powerful way to infuse purpose into the college experience for a wide range of students. It provides curricular connections to a student’s personal and career interests, builds relationships with faculty, and allows students to gain direct exposure to their intended field. At Indiana University Southeast, faculty and students have collaborated to build innovative options for showcasing student research, further supporting their successful transition from college to career. On March 26, 2025, IUS and other IU regional campuses will continue this tradition by showcasing student research at the Indiana Statehouse.
At IU Southeast, research opportunities span disciplines and career pathways, allowing students to explore their interests while building valuable skills. The institution’s commitment to undergraduate research manifests in two major events that bookend the academic year – the spring Student Conference and Showcase and participation in the Indiana University Undergraduate Research Conference (IUURC) in December (Becker, 2024a; Becker, 2024b).
The Power of Faculty Mentorship
Faculty mentorship emerges as a crucial element in connecting research to student purpose. Dr. Rebekah Dement emphasizes that working closely with students allows faculty to “encourage them to research things that they’re passionate about” (Becker, 2024a). This personalized approach helps students see direct connections between their coursework and future goals.
For example, sophomore Abby Gavin’s research on mental health and physical exercise among college students directly aligned with her career goal of becoming a Physician Assistant. She noted that the experience taught her crucial professional communication skills she’ll need in her future role (Becker, 2024b).
Connecting Classroom to Career
The research experience at IU Southeast intentionally bridges academic learning with career preparation. As Executive Vice Chancellor Dr. Michelle Williams notes, “The research [students] do is the extension and the application of learning the students do in the classroom” (Becker, 2024a). This connection helps students understand the relevance of their coursework to their future careers.
Dr. Meghan Kahn, dean of the School of Social Sciences, points out that students complete their degrees with “something they can bring to job interviews to show what they are capable of” (Becker, 2024b). This tangible evidence of skills and accomplishments strengthens students’ career readiness.
Building Confidence Through Presentation
Presenting research findings helps students develop self-confidence and professional communication skills. Dr. Carla Hermann, interim director of graduate studies and research, emphasizes that presenting to faculty and peers helps students “develop self-confidence as they advocate for and defend their work” – skills that transfer directly to future academic and professional pursuits (Becker, 2024b).
The Impact on Student Success
The success of this approach is evident in the numbers: 268 students presented 184 projects at the spring 2024 conference alone, supported by 41 faculty and staff mentors (Becker, 2024a). This level of engagement demonstrates how research opportunities can scale to reach a significant portion of the student population.
Students consistently report that these experiences help them see new possibilities for their futures. As Clara Sellers, a junior majoring in Sustainability and Regeneration, reflected on presenting at the IUURC, “Seeing other academics from my home campus present research they have worked so hard on, while also realizing how we are a part of such a larger network and community at IU was a beautiful experience” (Becker, 2024b).
Research as a Retention Strategy
The impact of undergraduate research extends beyond career preparation to directly influence student persistence and completion. Studies have consistently shown that engaging in research activities increases student retention rates, particularly for historically underserved populations (Kilgo & Pascarella, 2016). This makes research opportunities a powerful tool for both purpose-building and student success.
The mentored research model exemplified at IU Southeast aligns with what researchers have identified as key factors in retention:
- Early Engagement: When students like Abby Gavin engage in research as sophomores (Becker, 2024b), they develop early connections to their field of study.
- Faculty Relationships: The close mentorship described by Dr. Wallen, who emphasizes “the unique opportunity to work with students in my lab and really interact with them one-on-one” (Becker, 2024a), mirrors what researchers have found to be crucial for student persistence.
- Sense of Belonging: As demonstrated by Clara Sellers’ experience of feeling connected to “such a larger network and community” (Becker, 2024b), research participation helps students feel part of both their academic discipline and institution.
Recent studies suggest that students who participate in undergraduate research are 33% more likely to persist to graduation than their peers who don’t engage in research activities (Johnson & Stage, 2018). The impact is even more pronounced for first-generation college students and historically underrepresented student populations, where research participation can increase persistence rates by up to 40% (Martinez & Chang, 2020).
At Hispanic-Serving Institutions, structured research programs have shown particular promise in increasing STEM degree completion rates (Carpi et al., 2017). This suggests that IU Southeast’s model could be especially valuable for institutions looking to support diverse student populations while strengthening retention rates.
Recommendations for Institutions
Based on IU Southeast’s success, institutions looking to strengthen purpose-driven strategies should consider:
- Creating multiple opportunities throughout the academic year for students to present research
- Emphasizing faculty mentorship as a key component of the research experience
- Helping students make explicit connections between research projects and career goals
- Celebrating student achievement through formal presentations and recognition
When integrated thoughtfully into the curriculum, undergraduate research becomes more than just an academic exercise – it becomes a powerful tool for helping students find and pursue their purpose.
References:
Becker, A. (2024a). 20th Annual IU Southeast Student Conference and Showcase Celebrates Student Achievement. IU Southeast News.
Becker, A. (2024b). IU Southeast students present at IU Undergraduate Research Conference. IU Southeast News.
Carpi, A., Ronan, D. M., Falconer, H. M., & Lents, N. H. (2017). Cultivating minority scientists: Undergraduate research increases self‐efficacy and career ambitions for underrepresented students in STEM. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 54(2), 169-194.
Johnson, S. R., & Stage, F. K. (2018). Academic engagement and student success: Do high-impact practices mean higher graduation rates? The Journal of Higher Education, 89(5), 753-781.
Kilgo, C. A., & Pascarella, E. T. (2016). Does independent research with a faculty member enhance four-year graduation and graduate/professional degree plans? Convergent results with different analytical methods. Higher Education, 71(4), 473-489.
Martinez, E. D., & Chang, M. J. (2020). Undergraduate research as a high-impact practice: Examining its impact on retention and degree completion. The Review of Higher Education, 43(2), 163-190.
