Learning Without Walls: Engaging Students in Active Research

PURPOSE - to discuss the rapport building, recruitment, retention, training, and experiential learning derived from engaging students in active research projects. When faculty mentoring is a positive collaborative experience for the student; relationships are sustained, other HPERD students seek participation, a cyclical process that boosts program morale.

METHODS – the presenter will describe how students were recruited, retained, trained via active research projects (administration of the Core alcohol and drug survey; collection of data via focus groups/phone interviews; and presentation of data at professional conferences). The presenter will also emphasize the importance of faculty-student relationships, student skill development, and resume enhancement as a result of research participation.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS - relevant outcomes included student experience related to alcohol and drug prevention, survey administration, preparation of semi-structured focus group/phone interview guides, protection of human subjects' protocol, and context-specific limitations to research. The outcomes presented are transferrable to other HPERD disciplines and are practical skills students can learn in a supervised environment.