Program Overview

Summer Institute

The 2025 Summer Institute aims to support full-time faculty members who are seeking to create, develop, or expand opportunities for active research-based learning practices in their courses.

Overview

Pedagogical strategies such as course-based undergraduate research experience, research in the classroom, inquiry-based learning, experiential learning, project-based learning are all high impact active learning practices which can lead to successful student outcomes.

Goal and Participants

• The goal of the Summer Institute is to increase undergraduate student exposure to classroom-based research experiences.
• Participants are full-time CUNY faculty at professorial or lecturer ranks who are scheduled to teach one or more courses in Fall 2025 and who commit to incorporating a new or revised classroom-based research experience into one or more of those courses.

Facilitators

• Dr. Diana Samaroo, University Faculty Leadership Fellow, CUNY Office of Faculty Affairs, Professor of Chemistry, New York City College of Technology
• Dr. Cynthia Chris, University Faculty Leadership Fellow, CUNY Office of Faculty Affairs, Professor of Media Culture, College of Staten Island

Applications

Applications for Summer Institute Fellow are due by 12:00pm (noon), Monday, April 7, 2025. Selection decisions will be made by April 14, 2025.

Selection Criteria

Selection criteria will include the feasibility of project completion and potential for greater impact, along with considerations such as the diversity of CUNY institutions, discipline areas, and faculty rank.

Expectations

If selected, summer institute fellows commit to actively participating in the three-day workshop consisting of two days in-person and one day via Zoom.

Deliverables

1. Fellows will develop one high impact undergraduate research-based activity or assignment.
2. Fellows will present their activity or assignment, including their plans to implement, assess, and give student feedback, on day three of the summer institute.
3. Fellows will submit a write-up of their activity or assignment.
4. Fellows will implement their project in the Fall 2025.
5. Optional: Fellows will present their project either at their campus or at a CUNY-wide venue or conference.

Timeline

• April 7: Summer Institute fellowship application due date.
• April 14: Decisions finalized.
• June 2, 3, 4: Participation in the 3-day workshop.
• June 4: Project presentation by Summer Institute fellows
• June 30: Submission of the final draft of the institute assignments or activities that incorporates the Summer Institute theme
• Fall 2025: Project implementation and optional presentation at participant's campus or at a CUNY-wide venue or conference

Presenters

• Kristina Baines, Professor of Anthropology, Department of Humanities & Social Sciences, Guttman Community College
• Heather Huggins, Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Theatre, & Media Production, Queensborough Community College
• Effie Maclachlan, Director of Grants & Research Programs, Office of Research, CUNY
• Katherine Gregory, Associate Professor, Department of Health Sciences, City Tech
• Ron Nerio, Research Programs Director, Office of Research, CUNY
• Naphtali O'Connor, Department of Chemistry, Lehman College

References

• Downs, Douglas and Elizabeth Wardle. 2010. "What Can a Novice Contribute? Undergraduate Researchers in First-year Composition."
• Harrison, Melinda, David Dunbar, Lisa Ratmansky, Kimberly Boyd, and David Lopatto. 2011. "Classroom-based science research at the introductory level: changes in career choices and attitude."
• Lucas, Kristin and Pavlina Radia. 2017. "Experiential Learning in the Humanities: From Theory to Practice in an After-School Shakespeare program and an Online Journal."
• Sanders, Nathan E., Susanna Kohler, and Elizabeth Newton. 2021. "Preparing Undergraduates for Research Careers: Using Astrobites in the Classroom."
• Scott, Kathleen M. 2021. "Classroom Undergraduate Research Experiences Are a 'CURE' that Increases Engagement by Students and Teachers."
• Weiser, Irwin. 2022. "Taking the Long View: The Evolution of Undergraduate research in the Humanities."

Stipend

A stipend of at least $1500 per individual participant (15 – 20 participants) will be provided for successful completion of the institute.