This paper presents perspectives and outcomes from a multi-stage research project focused on improving understandings of foundations for student success. The research has shifted from a focus on the phenomenon (developing an understanding of student diversity and its impacts on student success), to experimental research (studying the impact or…

This essay describes an undergraduate research project involving collaboration among two professors and a student. The result, a business case about the student's workplace, was ultimately presented at an academic conference and is now under consideration for publication. We describe the circumstances that led to the project, its outcomes, and our…

Transcending disciplinary boundaries is becoming increasingly important for devising solutions to the world's most pressing issues, such as climate change and food insecurity. Institutions of higher education often present challenges to teaching students how to work and innovate on transdisciplinary teams. We first define transdisciplinarity and…

This article describes a model for supporting undergraduate research that can be adapted for very different classroom contexts; we implemented this model in a first-year general education composition class, a second-year Psychology class and a fourth-year English literature seminar. We examine student work created for each class as well as…

This essay discusses the effectiveness of a graduate course for physics students, with a course goal to write a publishable article on a modern research topic (graphene). I analyze the tools used to this end, which included Web 2.0 methods, in-class discussions and presentations, as well as extensive peer-review. In addition to producing a…

This essay synthesizes our roundtable discussion about how to develop a campus culture of undergraduate research. Our discussion began with descriptions of the University of Alberta, Augustana's initiatives: Independent Studies courses, the Student Academic Conference, and summer research assistantships. Common concerns from roundtable…

Graduate students aspiring to become faculty members should be provided with meaningful opportunities to explore the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and to formulate questions about student learning and effective teaching. To this end, teaching and learning centres should incorporate SoTL-oriented components within the framework of…

Authentic research, in which students pose original questions and attempt to find the unknown answers, addresses principles of undergraduate education in an ideal way. With careful planning and reasoned considerations it will benefit students, faculty, and institutions.