Undergraduate Research and Civic Engagement:
A Tale of Two Programs

Jane L. Wolfson & Michael O’Leary

Towson University

Towson University

Undergraduate/graduate; 15,000/4,000 and growing

Suburban location-North of Baltimore

Metropolitan mission

Undergraduate research priority

Dual academic mission

Liberal arts tradition

Preparation for work force

Incoming freshman:

SAT 1020-1170, H.S. GPA 3.47

Civic Engagement

Applied component of curriculum

Programs implement differently

Environmental Science and Studies—

Jane L. Wolfson, Ph.D., Director

Applied Mathematics Laboratory—

Mike O’Leary, Ph.D., Director

Outline

Environmental Science and Studies Program

[ESS]

Overview

Projects

Challenges

Applied Mathematics Laboratory

Overview

Projects

Challenges

Feel free to ask questions as we go

Environmental Science and Studies [ESS] Program Goals

Provide context for environmental problems/issues

Provide tools/skill sets of use in problem solving

Understanding of challenges of problem resolution

Environmental Science and Studies

Civic Engagement

Internship

Senior Seminar --- Capstone course

Structure (program and course)

Constraints

Challenges

Structural Issues

Who are the students?

Broad Curriculum-4 Colleges

Environmental Studies -4 areas of specialization

Environmental Science-4 areas of specialization

Senior Seminar is Required

My Objectives for the Course

Integrate prior coursework

Analyze environmental problems and the context for these problems

Identify stakeholders

Generate and evaluate potential solutions

Work with others with different strengths and interests

Communicate ideas effectively

Course Goals--Students

Analyze environmental problems, identify stakeholders and generate of proposed solutions.

Enhance cooperative teamwork and group problem-solving skills -- members have different backgrounds and perspectives.

Produce written and oral reports for management entities and concerned citizen groups.

Enhance skills in locating, compiling and analyzing information appropriate to problem-solving.

To develop and enhance critical thinking skills.

Past Projects

2005	Small Farms in Maryland: Big Challenges for a Shrinking Community.

2004	Electrical Energy Assessment at Towson University: How much do we use, how much can we save?

2003	Managing the Landscape of Towson University: Becoming a Model .

2002	Recycling at Towson University: Where We Are and Where We Can Go .

2001	Composting at Towson University: A Feasibility Study.

2002	Recycling at Towson University: Where We Are and Where We Can Go .

Finding the project

Preparation issues

Campus facilities

Human Subject Review

Project issues

Student sensitivity--Protect staff

Data analysis

Implementation

2005	Small Farms in Maryland: Big Challenges for a Shrinking Community.

Off campus

Finding the farmer

Assurances [data and liability]

Urban/suburban students

Structural Issues/Solutions

3 credit

Required

Once a year

Enrollment 15-19

Different types of preparation

Bi-weekly updates

Class scribe

Sub-groups for particular components

Introductory meeting with client

Deadlines

Mid-term update for client

Public presentation

Challenges for students

Different

Independent

Grading – peer evaluation

More work than most 3 credit courses

One semester

Stressful

Their project—limited direction—chaos

“this was the most chaotic experience I have ever had in school….”

Rewards for Students

Real problems—potential for use

Integrate prior studies

Pride in results

Student assessment overwhelming positive

“I learned

“a huge amount….”

“there are no simple solutions”

“to work closely with a group, being able to compromise and organize….”

“to apply my previous knowledge from classes to attempt to solve a real world problem”

Selecting project

Limited expertise

Dealing with challenges students face—helping them take possession of the project

Living with chaos

Finishing the project—editing/writing

Challenges for Instructor

The Applied Mathematics Laboratory

We look for mathematical research problems sponsored by local companies and government agencies.

These problems are studied by teams of 2-6 students, led by two faculty members, usually for a full academic year.

The Applied Mathematics Laboratory

The Applied Mathematics Laboratory has been operating at Towson University for over 25 years.

The inspiration for the Applied Mathematics Laboratory comes from the Math Clinic at Harvey Mudd College.

A few similar programs exist at e.g.,

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Center for Pure and Applied Mathematics (UCLA)

Projects

All of our projects are sponsored by local companies or government agencies.

Usually they are interdisciplinary

All of our projects are real and are important to the sponsor.

None should be critical to the sponsor.

We do not guarantee results.

Projects need to balance our educational needs with the research needs of the sponsor.

Past Projects

In 2002-2003 the Baltimore City Fire Department asked us to analyze their scheduling process.

They were two million dollars over their budget in overtime costs.

The students’ analysis showed that the city could save as much as $250,000 per year by hiring additional staff.

The students presented their results to the Mayor at City Hall.

Past Projects

Past Projects

In 2003-2004 and in 2004-2005 we worked with the Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Resource Management.

The rural portion of the county uses well water for homes.

We performed a statistical analysis of their database of well-water permits looking for patterns in well failure rates.

Past Projects

In 2004-2005 we were asked by the Carroll Area Transit System (CATS) to analyze their operations.

CATS is an on-demand bus service that primarily services the elderly.

Carroll County is primarily rural.

We estimated the number of buses that the system would need over the next decade.

Our work was supported by a grant from CATS.

Recent/Current Projects

In 2005-2006 and again in 2006-2007, we were asked by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to work on the problem of finding the optimal police search area for a serial criminal.

Our students presented their results at the National Institute of Justice in May 2006.

A new team will continue working on this project in 2006-2007.

Our work has been supported by grants from the NIJ.

Organization

Director of the Applied Mathematics Laboratory

Finds projects; day-to-day administration.

Applied Mathematics Laboratory Committee

Oversight, assistance, advice.

Project director

Each project is directed by a faculty member from the Mathematics Department

Project co-director

Most projects have a faculty co-director.

Organization

Since inception 22 different faculty members have served as project directors or co-directors.

More than half of our current tenured and tenure-track faculty in mathematics have served as either a project director or co-director.

Academic Structure

Student participants enroll in a three credit course.

Applied Mathematics Laboratory I or II

At the end of the Fall semester, students write an interim report and give a presentation to the sponsor, usually at Towson University.

At the end of the Spring semester, students write the final report and give the final presentation, usually at the sponsor's offices.

How do we find Students

Student participation is by invitation only.

Students are chosen based on

faculty recommendations,

transcripts, and

area of interest.

How do we find Projects?

Publicity is the key!

Outside the university

Inside the university

Public Lectures

We occasionally give public lectures.

We send letters of invitation to local companies and government agencies, inviting them to attend-

and describing the Applied Mathematics Laboratory and what we might be able to do for them.

We found the Baltimore City Fire Department and the Carroll Area Transit project in this fashion.

The University

The University Relations Department has been invaluable

They created the mailing list for the lecture invitations, and did the manual work for the mailing.

They have featured the Applied Mathematics Laboratory in their publicity materials.

They have also helped us get in contact with local media outlets to publicize the Applied Mathematics Laboratory.

Personal Contacts

Conferences and professional meetings are another good place to make contact with potential project sponsors.

The project with the National Institute of Justice was found in this fashion.

Don't forget your alumni!

Our first contact at the Baltimore City Fire Department was with one of our alumni.

How are we Supported?

When a private company sponsors a project, we ask them to support the university by covering our direct costs.

Such projects are more difficult to find.

Many of our projects for government agencies are done without charge.

The university covers some of the costs.

How do we Recruit Faculty?

If the project is supported financially by the sponsor, we can use the money for summer support and release time.

Fairly easy to find volunteers

If the project is not supported financially by the sponsor, then it becomes more complex.

How do we Recruit Faculty

Faculty generally like working on projects, even though they are unrelated to their usual research interests.

Most recent projects have resulted in one or more publications

Some in regular research journals

Two papers have been accepted in the MathServe section of the UMAP Journal.

Questions?	Comments?

Jane Wolfson
Environmental Science and Studies Program

Towson University

Towson, MD 21251
jwolfson@towson.edu

410-704-4920

www.towson.edu/ess

All over campus—different perspectives

People don’t set out to create problems –good guys/ bad guys.

Broaden their perspective

Solutions aren’t easy to come by

Hard work of clear communication

syllabus

Integrate prior coursework

Analyze environmental problems and the context for these problems

Identify stakeholders

Generate and evaluate potential solutions

Communicate ideas effectively

Students do not need to participate in both semesters.

Undergraduate Research and Civic Engagement: A Tale of Two Prog

2006-06-12T16:37:05