Undergraduate Research Projects
According to the American Association of Colleges & Universities (2007), Undergraduate Research is included in a set of verifiable, effective educational practices that are correlated with positive educational results for students from widely varying backgrounds (see “High-Impact Educational Practices: A Brief Overview,”, pp.9-11). In connection with the AAC&U essential learning outcomes, Undergraduate Research fosters broad knowledge of human cultures and the natural world, strengthens intellectual and practical skills, and it is a practice of interactive and applied learning.
At Mesa Community College, Undergraduate Research (UGR) experiences occur in all disciplines. MCC’s HSI-STEM: Guided Pathways Enhancement Project aims to increase faculty and student engagement with undergraduate research as a way to increase student persistence, successful completion, graduation, and transfer. In these videos, students from MCC share the benefits of participating in undergraduate research.
The HSI-STEM grant supports two types of research: Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) and undergraduate research internships. Grant funds are available for
- research project supplies,
- faculty development projects including faculty-faculty project development mentorship,
- hourly wages for grant-eligible students completing undergraduate research internships,
- tuition scholarship for grant-eligible students completing undergraduate research internships in a one-credit special projects course, and
- grant-eligible student and faculty travel funds for symposium awards.
What are Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences?
Faculty integrate undergraduate research into regularly scheduled courses. The CURE projects are offered as an assignment option or a course requirement for all students. Students document the project by creating a research poster.
What are Undergraduate Research Internships?
Faculty recruit students for undergraduate research internships to contribute to an original research project. Students document the project by creating a research poster.
Faculty Undergraduate Research Development Projects
Projects are funded for development during the spring to summer terms.


Develop a New UGR Project
Approved faculty applicants that complete the items listed below will be eligible for a $1500 one-time payment.
- Complete the UGR faculty development project application.
- Participate in UGR community of practice meetings to discuss projects and develop together. These meetings will be scheduled to accommodate participant schedules during the semester.
- Meet regularly with your assigned mentor and develop a project.
- Integrate a student research poster as part of the project plan.
- Share the project plan with your department.
Implement a UGR Project
- Special Projects UGR Internship ONLY:
- Identify students that will enroll into the special projects course (Z formula funding applies). Grant-eligible students may qualify for undergraduate research hourly pay: Student interest form
- Complete the project overview document.
- Request UGR project supplies.
- Implement the UGR project.
- Participate in UGR community of practice meetings to discuss projects and develop together. These meetings will be scheduled to accommodate participant schedules during the semester.
Mentor Faculty Developing a New UGR Project
Approved faculty mentors that complete the items listed below will be eligible for a $350 one-time payment.
- Submit the UGR faculty-to-faculty mentor form.
- Determine if you will mentor faculty that are developing a course-based project or original research offered as a special projects course for UGR internships.
- Participate in UGR community of practice meetings to discuss projects and develop together. These meetings will be scheduled to accommodate participant schedules during the semester.
- Document regular meetings with your assigned mentee.
Funded by a U.S. Department of Education Title III HSI-STEM grant.