Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges: Equity, Discovery, and Innovation
Registry Member Nancy Hensel shines a light on the transformative power of undergraduate research in two-year colleges in her book, Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges: Equity, Discovery, and Innovation, co-published with the Council on Undergraduate Research. This work highlights the exciting and essential role of community colleges in preparing students for their future careers through active engagement in undergraduate research (UR).
Author, Nancy H. Hensel:
“When I was the Executive Officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research, I attended a science conference and went to a session at UC San Diego that focused on transfer students from El Centro Community College. They mentioned that it took these community college students an extra year at UCSD because they lacked research experience. I realized that CUR needed to assist community colleges in developing undergraduate research programs. We wrote an NSF grant that funded visits to six community colleges, and during those visits, we discovered that some student research was already taking place. We then wrote another NSF grant and collaborated with about 100 community colleges. I was impressed by the faculty and the programs they had developed. I wrote the book because I wanted to learn more about community colleges and also to highlight the high quality of education they provide.”
The book emerged from initiatives across five community college systems—California, the City University of New York, the Maricopa Community College District (Arizona), Oklahoma, and Tennessee—thanks to two National Science Foundation grants awarded to the Council on Undergraduate Research. Drawing from these collaborations, Hensel examines how community colleges have developed undergraduate research programs that foster student discovery, strengthen academic and professional skills, and promote equitable access to high-impact learning experiences.
Chapters one through three provide valuable background on the landscape of community colleges and the systems studied, while later chapters explore a range of research approaches, including basic/applied, course-based, community-based, interdisciplinary, and partnership research. Additional sections focus on success strategies, assessment and evaluation, inclusive pedagogy, and pathways for advancing undergraduate research initiatives nationwide.
Today, with 942 public community colleges serving 6.8 million students across the United States, Hensel’s book underscores the profound impact that quality undergraduate research experiences can have on student engagement, retention, and preparation for future education and careers. Through Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges, Nancy Hensel offers both inspiration and practical guidance for educators, administrators, and policymakers working to expand access to transformative learning opportunities.
Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges: Equity, Discovery, and Innovation
Registry Member Nancy Hensel shines a light on the transformative power of undergraduate research in two-year colleges in her book, Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges: Equity, Discovery, and Innovation, co-published with the Council on Undergraduate Research. This work highlights the exciting and essential role of community colleges in preparing students for their future careers through active engagement in undergraduate research (UR).
Author, Nancy H. Hensel:
“When I was the Executive Officer of the Council on Undergraduate Research, I attended a science conference and went to a session at UC San Diego that focused on transfer students from El Centro Community College. They mentioned that it took these community college students an extra year at UCSD because they lacked research experience. I realized that CUR needed to assist community colleges in developing undergraduate research programs. We wrote an NSF grant that funded visits to six community colleges, and during those visits, we discovered that some student research was already taking place. We then wrote another NSF grant and collaborated with about 100 community colleges. I was impressed by the faculty and the programs they had developed. I wrote the book because I wanted to learn more about community colleges and also to highlight the high quality of education they provide.”
The book emerged from initiatives across five community college systems—California, the City University of New York, the Maricopa Community College District (Arizona), Oklahoma, and Tennessee—thanks to two National Science Foundation grants awarded to the Council on Undergraduate Research. Drawing from these collaborations, Hensel examines how community colleges have developed undergraduate research programs that foster student discovery, strengthen academic and professional skills, and promote equitable access to high-impact learning experiences.
Chapters one through three provide valuable background on the landscape of community colleges and the systems studied, while later chapters explore a range of research approaches, including basic/applied, course-based, community-based, interdisciplinary, and partnership research. Additional sections focus on success strategies, assessment and evaluation, inclusive pedagogy, and pathways for advancing undergraduate research initiatives nationwide.
Today, with 942 public community colleges serving 6.8 million students across the United States, Hensel’s book underscores the profound impact that quality undergraduate research experiences can have on student engagement, retention, and preparation for future education and careers. Through Undergraduate Research at Community Colleges, Nancy Hensel offers both inspiration and practical guidance for educators, administrators, and policymakers working to expand access to transformative learning opportunities.
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