Experiences in which students undertake significant research projects using the methods of their chosen discipline.

Overview

The College has long recognized the value of undergraduate research as an excellent extension of traditional classroom pedagogy. Such research leads to an enhanced and more practical understanding of professional methods and fields of study appropriate to the various academic disciplines. In some cases, research may result in the discovery of previously unknown information. In many instances, however, the pedagogical value of such research lies as much in the methods used as in the results obtained. The primary objective is that the project be substantial (in breadth, scope, scale, maturity, effort, and time involved), and that research methods of the chosen discipline be learned and demonstrated.

Each Odyssey research project, whether curricular or extracurricular, whether on-campus or off-campus, must be conducted under the supervision of a Hendrix faculty member in the field of study related to the research in question. The faculty supervisor must be consulted in the planning stages of the research and frequently throughout the duration of the project. Examples of research experiences that may qualify for Odyssey credit include, but are not limited to, participation in courses that have research as the primary component, participation in senior capstone experiences where research is a significant part of the capstone requirement, or enrollment in independent studies or off-campus experiences the principal focus of which is research.

A research proposal must be prepared for student-initiated projects, as delineated in the Odyssey Program Guide. For off-campus projects, the Hendrix faculty supervisor will ensure that the student will be an active participant in a high quality research project, and that the student has acquired a solid theoretical and practical understanding of that project. Because dissemination is a crucial part of the research experience, all Odyssey research must be presented to the public in an appropriate manner through, for example, presentation at professional meetings, publications, or by means of on-campus venues. Individual departments will determine the way by which student research projects in that discipline achieve public presentation.