Chapter 11: Cultural Reflections Stemming from the Evaluation of an Undergraduate Research Program

Established in the summer of 1988, the Summer Pre-Graduate Research Experience Program (SPGRE) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers undergraduate students throughout the country the opportunity to work full time on self-selected research projects under the direction of university faculty members. The program is designed for students who are interested in pursuing graduate studies, particularly the PhD degree. The program’s main objective is to address the obvious shortage of PhD recipients from underrepresented groups, particularly those from African American, Native American, Mexican American, and Puerto Rican populations.

To reinforce and promote interests in the pursuit of graduate study, the SPGRE program immerses participants in an environment intended to help prepare them for those critical research aspects associated with graduate study while engaging them in innovative and original research projects. For 10 weeks, beginning in late May and ending in late July, participants are involved in research ranging from fields in the basic biomedical sciences to the humanities and the physical sciences to the social sciences. The range of research options is extremely broad and is tailored to students’ interest. In addition to their research task, participants attend weekly seminars that explore various aspects of life in the academy as well as GRE preparation courses. Financial support is provided for participants in the form of a stipend, food allowances, and travel reimbursements. In addition, the program covers the cost of housing as well as all university fees, giving participants full access to the university’s resources.