Undergraduate research is a critical component of student engagement and retention and the pandemic has challenged us to be creative and adapt. Our colleges have been engaging in collaborative projects for years, establishing a working relationship across campuses, so we were able to leverage this experience to continue working with students on a sounding rocket payload and other projects. The first few months, all work stopped, but we were able to utilize that time to plan. Allowing students to work at home kept the projects alive, weekly journaling kept them communicating and zoom check-ins kept them engaged and accountable. Support from Colorado Space Grant was pivotal in switching to a virtual model, without their support we would not have been able to do robotics and aerospace projects. Burnout is an issue for both students and faculty, as we have supported the stressful struggles of students while going through similar issues.

Community College Student Research Projects in the Time of COVID

Undergraduate research is a high-impact practice, shown to engage STEM students and increase retention, especially in underrepresented populations. Providing educational access to a diverse student population, community colleges are a vital part of the STEM pipeline, so it is critical to develop research skills as early as possible in their academic career. Colorado Space Grant Consortium has allowed our students and faculty access to excellent research opportunities at an affordable price, including payloads on high altitude balloons and sounding rockets. However, the cost of doing research on suborbital rockets, even through COSGC, can be prohibitive. In order to facilitate a student designed and built payload flown on a sounding rocket, Red Rocks Community College and Arapahoe Community College partner, combining resources both financial and advisory. The project is extra-curricular, allowing a wide range of student backgrounds and interests to participate and acquire a wide array of engineering and scientific skills.

Undergraduate Suborbital Research: Increasing Student Engagement Through Community College Partnerships

PS.E-MO-09: Voices from the Field: COVID and Support for Transitions in Course Delivery Modes II

technical paper

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AAPT SM 21

C2.8 Promoting Retention and Making Physics More Accessible

AAPT® is a strong professional physics science society dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in physical science education.

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Jennifer Jones

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Community College Student Research Projects in the Time of COVID

Undergraduate Suborbital Research: Increasing Student Engagement Through Community College Partnerships

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