The inGEAR Program: Recruiting International Graduate Students through Undergraduate Research Internships

Katy Luchini-Colbry; Mary Anne Walker

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Conference: 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Publication Date: June 26, 2016
Start Date: June 26, 2016
End Date: June 29, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-692-68565-5
ISSN: 2153-5965
Conference Session: Assessing Learning Outcomes for Flipped Classrooms, Recruitment and Research Internships, and Alternate Assessments for Online Courses
Tagged Division: Graduate Studies
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 15
DOI: 10.18260/p.26195
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/26195
Download Count: 477

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Paper Authors

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Katy Luchini-Colbry Michigan State University

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Katy Luchini-Colbry is the Director for Graduate Initiatives at the College of Engineering at Michigan State University, where she completed degrees in political theory and computer science. A recipient of a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, she earned Ph.D. and M.S.E. in computer science and engineering from the University of Michigan. She has published more than two dozen peer-reviewed works related to her interests in educational technology and enhancing undergraduate education through hands-on learning. Luchini-Colbry is also the Director of the Engineering Futures Program of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society, which provides interactive seminars on interpersonal communications and problem solving skills for engineering students across the U.S.

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Mary Anne Walker Michigan State University orcid.org/0000-0001-7371-0415

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Mary Anne Walker serves as the Director of Global Engineering at Michigan State University. She has been working in the field of international development, research, education and training for 30 years. Mary Anne did her undergraduate work at Northeastern University (Comparative Int’l Politics) studied abroad through London School of Economics & Kings College with graduate work at Tufts Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (U.S. Foreign Policy), in Madrid, Spain (language pedagogy) and American University (International Law and Organizations). She also served as a Fellow to the United Nations University.

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Abstract

We describe a pilot program to engage undergraduates from international institutions in engineering research at a major research university in the Midwestern United States. The inGEAR (Internship in Global Engineering & Advanced Research) program was developed after a number of years of working to accommodate individual faculty who wished to bring international students from outside the United States to campus for short-term research projects. The logistics of obtaining appropriate visas, housing, and compensation for international research interns can be challenging. In response, the College of Engineering developed the inGEAR program to meet the following goals: (1) to partner with key institutions internationally; (2) to offer a single, streamlined process for bringing highly talented international students to campus as visiting scholars; (3) to allow our faculty to engage with talented students from outside the US; (4) to allow students to connect with prospective mentors for their future graduate studies; and (5) to gather key academic and professional information from applicants that can be used to recruit prospective graduate students. Nearly 1,000 applications were received and 20 senior undergraduates were selected to work with engineering faculty at our institution for 8 weeks during Summer 2015.

inGEAR students were responsible for their own travel expenses, but received on-campus housing, meals and bus passes for the duration of their stay. Students participated in full-time research activities with a faculty mentor and presented the results of their research at a poster symposium at the conclusion of the program. inGEAR students also participated in weekly professional development activities, which were designed and delivered by the College of Engineering in concert with an existing undergraduate research program. Throughout these research and professional development activities, inGEAR students had multiple opportunities to work in teams that crossed disciplinary and cultural boundaries. inGEAR students completed pre- and post-experience surveys and completed a number of research assignments. We describe the logistics of the application and selection process; share lessons learned about visa and compensation options for short-term research internships; and offer practical guidance for institutions interested in adapting or replicating these activities to recruit strong international students to engineering graduate programs in the United States.

Citation
Format

Luchini-Colbry, K., & Walker, M. A. (2016, June), The inGEAR Program: Recruiting International Graduate Students through Undergraduate Research Internships Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.26195

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - We describe a pilot program to engage undergraduates from international institutions in engineering research at a major research university in the Midwestern United States.  The inGEAR (Internship in Global Engineering &amp; Advanced Research) program was developed after a number of years of working to accommodate individual faculty who wished to bring international students from outside the United States to campus for short-term research projects.  The logistics of obtaining appropriate visas, housing, and compensation for international research interns can be challenging.  In response, the College of Engineering developed the inGEAR program to meet the following goals: (1) to partner with key institutions internationally; (2) to offer a single, streamlined process for bringing highly talented international students to campus as visiting scholars; (3) to allow our faculty to engage with talented students from outside the US; (4) to allow students to connect with prospective mentors for their future graduate studies; and (5) to gather key academic and professional information from applicants that can be used to recruit prospective graduate students.  Nearly 1,000 applications were received and 20 senior undergraduates were selected to work with engineering faculty at our institution for 8 weeks during Summer 2015.  

inGEAR students were responsible for their own travel expenses, but received on-campus housing, meals and bus passes for the duration of their stay.  Students participated in full-time research activities with a faculty mentor and presented the results of their research at a poster symposium at the conclusion of the program.  inGEAR students also participated in weekly professional development activities, which were designed and delivered by the College of Engineering in concert with an existing undergraduate research program.  Throughout these research and professional development activities, inGEAR students had multiple opportunities to work in teams that crossed disciplinary and cultural boundaries.  inGEAR students completed pre- and post-experience surveys and completed a number of research assignments.  We describe the logistics of the application and selection process; share lessons learned about visa and compensation options for short-term research internships; and offer practical guidance for institutions interested in adapting or replicating these activities to recruit strong international students to engineering graduate programs in the United States. 

AU  - Katy Luchini-Colbry
AU  - Mary Anne Walker
CY  - New Orleans, Louisiana
DA  - 2016/06/26
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - The inGEAR Program: Recruiting International Graduate Students through Undergraduate Research Internships
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/26195
DO  - 10.18260/p.26195
ER  -