Cal State Fullerton’s 2024 Day of Giving showcased a significant win for community and academic engagement – an educational approach called course-based undergraduate research experiences (CURE).
The CURE program immerses students in authentic research early in their higher education careers, exemplifying the commitment of CSUF and the College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics to providing impactful academic experiences. Support for this program shows the strong connection the college has with its faculty and alumni.
The introduction of CURE aimed to reduce high dropout and failure rates in the general chemistry program while addressing the equity gap between minority and nonminority students.
Program lead Allyson Fry-Petit, associate professor of analytical and materials chemistry, says of this CURE, “During the first semester, which we acknowledge is a limited sample size and is not isolated to the changes made in the lab, students did perform better in the end-of-semester standardized exam, and the equity gap was removed. Through discussions with students, we have also seen that many of them have a better understanding of how research advances science and what it means to do research.”
A program this ambitious needed adequate funding to succeed, hence its inclusion as part of the University’s Day of Giving events. John Olmsted, emeritus professor of chemistry and biochemistry, significantly boosted the fundraising efforts by providing a matching donation of $3,000. This was in addition to the team’s more grassroots efforts to raise awareness.
“I was happy to support the CURE as it struck several positive chords for me,” says Olmsted. “I almost always had undergraduates in my research lab at CSUF; my research was in a similar area – solar energy-related photochemistry in the solid state. And I actually worked on the redesign of this same chemistry lab when I was at CSUF. It made for a perfect fit, and I am so glad to play a part in the success they had.”
The success stories shared during the event resonated with alumni, prompting them to contribute generously. These funds will facilitate the expansion of the CURE initiative, allowing the program to scale up to accommodate nearly 300 students per semester. The investment will also provide new high-temperature furnaces and upgrade existing X-ray diffraction equipment to handle multiple samples simultaneously, streamlining the research process and ensuring every student has an equal opportunity to participate in groundbreaking experiments.
“I contacted alumni, faculty, staff, emeriti, and friends of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department to tell them of our success and goals,” says Fry-Petit. “The experience with research was transformational to the many people we engaged with or those they know. Giving that opportunity to other students was a clear way they could help others see their potential.”
Looking ahead, the college plans to incorporate more faculty research into the CURE, expanding the program’s scope and enriching the curriculum. This expansion aims to not only maintain the momentum gained from the Day of Giving but also ensure that the CURE initiative remains a sustainable and integral part of CSUF’s educational offerings.
To build out to other research projects, we will need more funding, but right now, we are focusing on taking our pilot from 48 students a semester to close 300 a semester,” Fry-Petit says. “This is a large undertaking. I hope this is something we can expand into a community event to invite family and friends. This will help our students share with those close to them the amazing work they are doing, which is good for everyone!
