Evaluation of the Impact of the NWC REU Program Compared with Other Undergraduate Research Experiences

Undergraduate research is increasingly valued as a critical component of a good undergraduate science education. Through research, it is expected that students will develop significant knowledge, skills and dispositions. The NSF REU provides such an opportunity for college students. One of the authors recently reported an analysis of applicant characteristics, “best practices” implemented since 2001, and new additions to the program. This paper provides a research-based synthesis on the effectiveness of REU programs in general, summarizes the history of the National Weather Center REU program and its positive impact on students, describes the unique characteristics of the current program, and uses students' written comments to evaluate the program's effectiveness. It was found that REU students were significantly more committed to attend graduate school at the end of the program. No statistically significant difference was found on the students' career plans and interest in becoming research scientists before and after the program. A qualitative analysis provides a context from which the statistical data can be interpreted.