Students will present their original work in a formal conference environment at the Maricopa Community College District-wide Student Conference on April 27, 2011, hosted by Estrella Mountain Community College (EMCC). The conference provides students with a learning opportunity in which they will demonstrate the broad themes of research, innovation or creativity in a variety of forms, including oral, exhibition, posters and live performance. EMCC faculty members will serve as sponsors, mentors and judges.
The Conference will also feature keynote speaker Albert Ojeda, EMCC alumni, who has spoken at the White House Summit on Community Colleges.
The objective of the conference is to provide a forum in which students may demonstrate critical and creative thinking, communication mastery and teamwork. Research has shown that students who participate in rigorous undergraduate research enjoy increased rates of persistence, completion and success. Publishing work prior to graduation helps students demonstrate their capabilities and enhance transfer opportunities to high-quality institutions of higher learning. Program participants have used this opportunity as a springboard to future careers; for instance, going on to be hired by organizations such as NASA.
For many years, EMCC faculty and staff have been helping students gain this type of experience, either through venues such as the Student Conference, or through classroom research, internships and partnerships with other institutions. Estrella Mountain is a member of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), which helps develop undergraduate research programs within two-year and four-year educational institutions.