[FUN_Mail] FW: Neuroscience Program Requesting Research Input

Tue Apr 16 11:35:17 EDT 2013

And an email from Gary Dunbar to the mailing list (same deal, Gary--must have originated from an email not registered at FUNfaculty.org, so it was bounced to me).  

-------------------
Bob Calin-Jageman

-----Original Message-----
From: Dunbar, Gary [mailto:dunba1g at cmich.edu] 
Sent: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 7:38 AM
To: Gizerian, Samantha; Sara Bagley; FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
Cc: Michael R. Jarcho
Subject: RE: Neuroscience Program Requesting Reserach Input

Sara:

We have recently provided students with two options for our neuroscience major.  One is a Grad Prep option, which still requires students to complete a directed/independent research project, and the other is a General Major option, which no longer requires this research.  After 10 years of having the research requirement as a cornerstone of our major, we decided to make this change for three reasons.  First, there were a growing number of students who wanted to major in neuroscience, but as pre-professional majors (PT, OT, PA, etc) they had several other requirements that made it difficult for them to become immersed in a research project.  These students still felt that the neuroscience curriculum fulfilled most of their requirements for getting into the programs they wanted and, since our university looks favorably to our neuroscience program as one of our fastest growing majors, we decisded to allow students this new General Major option (it also allowed us to "beef up" our Grad Prep option by requiring a year-long Foundation course that we require of our first-year neuroscience grad students).  The other reasons have been given by other respondents to your inquiry; namely, the growing number of majors taxed our time and resources for supporting the directed research projects, and, finally, we knew it would be so much easier to work with students who are passionate about doing the research rather than some who were doing it simply because it is required.  That being said, there have been a substantial number of students over the years that were not particularly eager to do the research (i.e., did it only because it was required in our major), who actually got turned on to neuroscience research in a big way--some going on to do incredibly insightful and meaningful research both as undergraduates and, later as graduates and during their careers as neuroscientists.  Knowing this, made our decision to allow the two options a bit more difficult, but so far, it seems to be working out for the better.  My preference has always been to make research an integral part of the major, if time and resources allow it, but in these tight economic times, I think practical alternatives need to be seriously considered.  Good luck with your decision!

Best Wishes,

Gary

________________________________________
From: fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org [fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org] on behalf of Gizerian, Samantha [sgizerian at vetmed.wsu.edu]
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 6:44 PM
To: Sara Bagley; FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
Cc: Michael R. Jarcho
Subject: Re: [FUN_Mail] Neuroscience Program Requesting Reserach Input

Hi Sara,

We required a research project of each of our Neuroscience students until recently, dropping the requirement about two years ago.  While we have a wonderful students who produce excellent research, the few who were not interested were really dragging down the labs they were in and taking places that interested younger students could have filled.

When we did have the requirement, students needed to complete 2 credits worth of independent research under the direction of a mentor, which could be a bench project or a literature project.  Each credit translates to roughly 3 hours per week over a 16 week semester.  Most students took both credits in their next-to-last semester because students were required to present this research in both poster and oral form (10 minutes) in their final semester, as a requirement for graduation.  Research is typically pursued at WSU (or one of our branch campuses), but we also have a number of students who participate in summer internships and fellowships elsewhere.

Interestingly, since we have removed the requirement, we still have about 80% of our students asking about doing research, and roughly 2/3 of them earn at least one credit for research activities, without it being required.

Samantha
_____________________________
Samantha S Gizerian, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Undergraduate Neuroscience Advisor
Dept. of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience (formerly VCAPP) College of Veterinary Medicine Washington State University Pullman, WA 99164-7620 sgizerian at vetmed.wsu.edu
509-335-0986

-----Original Message-----
From: fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org [mailto:fun_mail-bounces at lists.funfaculty.org] On Behalf Of Sara Bagley
Sent: Monday, April 15, 2013 2:23 PM
To: FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
Cc: Michael R. Jarcho
Subject: [FUN_Mail] Neuroscience Program Requesting Reserach Input

Dear FUN Colleagues,
Loras College, a small liberal arts college, just approved a Neuroscience major last September. My colleagues and I are in the process of creating courses and are seeking input from current Neuroscience programs about their research requirements. Do any of your current Neuroscience programs require research experiences or internships? If so, how is it arranged in your curriculum? How do you ensure that all of your students will find research experiences or internships? Thank you, in advance.

Best,
Sara L. Bagley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Psychology and Neuroscience Programs
Loras College
190 Hennessy Hall
563-588-7783
Sara.Bagley at loras.edu<mailto:Sara.Bagley at loras.edu>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email, including any attachments, is the property of Loras College. The information may be legally privileged and/or confidential and is intended solely for the use of the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient be advised that any unauthorized disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents herein is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify the sender immediately and destroy all electronic and hard copies of the communication, including attachments.
_______________________________________________
--remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --

FUN_Mail mailing list
FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
http://lists.funfaculty.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fun_mail
http://www.funfaculty.org/drupal/mailarchive/FUN_mail
_______________________________________________
--remember replies to the mailing list go to everyone on the list!! --

FUN_Mail mailing list
FUN_Mail at lists.funfaculty.org
http://lists.funfaculty.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/fun_mail
http://www.funfaculty.org/drupal/mailarchive/FUN_mail