Recruiting and Supporting BIPOC Students in Undergraduate Research at BSU

Presenter(s)

Jenny Shanahan

Abstract or Description

The well-established benefits of student participation in undergraduate research are most pronounced for students of color. Developing research skills in the context of supportive relationships with mentors and peers is particularly efficacious for students who have experienced interpersonal and systemic racism. Yet data from multiple institutions indicate persistent inequality, as access to research opportunities still disproportionately favors white, economically advantaged students. 

This BSU-based, practice-oriented research addresses that disparity and brings to light strategies that create a more inclusive learning culture and equitable access to mentored research. Methods were composed of (a) a narrative review of the literature of the last 10 years on diversity, inclusion, and equity in undergraduate research; (b) open-ended surveys of over 100 BSU students of color participating in faculty-mentored undergraduate research; (c) interviews and focus groups with 22 BSU students of color who participated in BSU’s Research Internship program; and Institutional Research data on retention and graduation rates of students of color who participate in undergraduate research. Findings show that particular recruitment efforts and forms of social-emotional support from faculty increased BIPOC students’ engagement in and satisfaction with research experiences. Participation in research is also significantly correlated with persistence and 4- and 6-year graduation rates of students of color.

This presentation lays out five prominent themes that BIPOC students reported as effective faculty practices:

• Seeking out and recruiting BIPOC students intentionally

• Bridge-building between academia and home life

• Alleviating the “racial battle fatigue” and isolation on campus of students of color

• Committing to a long-term relationship with student-researchers and making

oneself accessible and open to their needs

• Advocating for and sharing power with students, especially through professional

socialization (e.g., presenting at conferences)

The results illustrate how heightened attentiveness to equity can ensure that inclusion is core to undergraduate research, one of the most consequential opportunities in higher education.