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Students Assessing Teaching and Learning (SATAL)

  •  SATAL Program Description: At UC Merced Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning, the undergraduates from the Students Assessing Teaching and Learning (SATAL) program partner with faculty to conduct multiple assessment research projects. SATAL undergraduates work in teams with faculty focused on pedagogical and curricular exploration with the desire to have the students’ experiences and perspectives inform classroom practice to create more inclusive classrooms (Signorini & Pohan, 2019). SATAL implements a wide range of assessment tools for gathering student perspectives on their learning experience and engagement at different points throughout the term.  

  • The undergraduates working for SATAL receive ongoing professional development on how to gather, analyze, and report findings related to classroom instructional data (e.g., use of instructional time, student engagement, learning activities and provide confidential feedback).  Students utilize various instruments and protocols such as Small Group Instructional Diagnosis (SGID), Classroom Observation Protocol for Undergraduate STEM (COPUS), focus groups, interviews, and surveys to provide instructors with accurate and actionable feedback. 

References: 

  • Signorini, A. (2023). Design Study of a Student-Faculty Partnership Program Implementing Assessment as an Equitable Pedagogical Practice at a Research-Intensive MSI. [Doctoral Dissertation, California State University, Stanislaus]. ProQuest. http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100008134

    Signorini, A., & Pohan, C. (2019). Exploring the impact of The Students Assessing Teaching and Learning Program. International Journal for Students as Partners, 3(2), 139-148. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v3i2.3683 

For more information: Contact Adriana Signorini (asignorini@ucmerced.edu)

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC)

The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center (UROC) at UC Merced was established in Spring 2014 with a mission to encourage and facilitate faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects across all schools and academic disciplines. UC Merced has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since its inception. The campus is also designated as a Minority Serving Institution with over 70% of students identifying as underrepresented minority groups. 

Students in the UROC Programs participate in the nine-week Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) to conduct faculty-mentored research in their discipline and attend graduate school preparation and professional development workshops. The research experience is enhanced with professional development and graduate school preparation while also developing peer networking through program cohorts. This model provides a supportive environment for first-generation and/or underrepresented minority students to develop with peers in structured, intentional workshops to aid their academic and career paths. They explore and become more familiar with the research environment, career possibilities in academia and national labs, and develop application portfolios for graduate school admission. 

The workshops improve self-efficacy, establish a learning community and social network, and promotes URM and first-generation college student retention in higher education. UROC SURI participants attend weekly workshops focused on:

  • Graduate school admissions, CV/resume review, writing for publication, abstract development, communicating and presenting research, fellowship applications, and career planning
  • Dissecting journal articles, research project management, and library research training
  • Lab safety and fire safety training provided by Environment Health and Safety with certification upon completion
  • Bootcamp options for skill development including Matlab, 3D modeling, Python, R, machine shop certification, data analysis, ArcGIS, and Wetlab skills where participation is based on research projects and student development needs
  • Discussion about impostor syndrome and resilience specifically for overcoming challenges
  • Research ethics and conducting responsible research with a presentation by the Office of Research Compliance
  • Networking events and social activities including attendance at graduate admissions fairs at other institutions
  • Reflective writing and application statement development with graduate student mentors
  • Mentorship provided by current UC Merced graduate students hired as UROC SURI Mentors
  • Full participation in the Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, including poster sessions and oral presentations

UROC’s outreach and recruitment efforts cross disciplines and all areas of campus through several avenues – promotion with student groups with a mission of graduate school and career preparation; collaboration with Office of Research and Economic Development series of events during UC Merced Research Week; and ongoing communication with faculty, both previous mentors and newly hired faculty during New Faculty Orientation. 

Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI)

UROC hosts a series of workshops to support students in research programs during the summer and faculty can register their students to participate in SURI from early June through early August. The cost of participation in UROC SURI includes: 
  • Full-day orientation with UROC participants and affiliated partner programs
  • General lab safety training and fire safety training
  • Workshops on graduate school, CV/resume, writing for publications, abstract development, communicating and presenting research, career planning, and professionalism
  • Dissecting journal articles and library research training
  • Networking events and social activities
  • Recruitment events and outreach with graduate school recruiters
  • Ethics in research presentation and certification
  • Fieldtrip to UC Davis for Graduate Admissions Fair
  • Reflective writing and developmental summary report guidance
  • Full participation in the 2019 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, including poster sessions and/or oral presentations

Research Mentorship Training Badge

[Program Faculty, Graduate Students, or Postdocs] will be required to complete training in undergraduate research mentoring. Teaching Commons, a unit that supports instructional development and education research initiatives provides an online training module on mentoring undergraduate research. This training is also offered year-round through the campus learning management system and is partially based on Entering Mentoring: A Seminar to Train a New Generation of Scientists by Handelsman et.al. that was developed under support from Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professors Program. In this training, graduate students and postdocs receive reinforcement for best practices in communicating with mentees, goal-setting, providing mentoring for professional growth, resolving challenges, fostering independence, and progressing the research.