The award from the Chemistry Division supports an Undergraduate Research Center (URC) planning grant. The PI is Marcus McEllistrem. The co-PIs are Kimberly Kostka, Aaron Monte, Robin Tanke and senior investigator Asif Habib. This collaborative program initially involves the University of Wisconsin comprehensive universities at Eau Claire, LaCrosse, Platteville, River Falls and Stevens Point, and UW- Colleges (two year institutions) at Sheboygan, Manitowoc, Rock County, Waukesha County and Washington County. The URC will eventually include all of the comprehensive and 2-year campuses within the University of Wisconsin system. The URC will incorporate curricular reform in the first and second year experience using research and inquiry methods, and build research programs at participating institutions, outreach to regional secondary students and faculty, and improve connections between two-and four-year colleges. The planning grant will develop the consortium, its administrative structure and begin pilot projects. Planning funds will be used to develop web-based databases on effective methods for providing research experiences for undergrads and for faculty meetings. The pilot projects involve several campuses developing lab and research course materials.
