UROP Project

FSU Next Student Involvement

FSU Next Pathways Involvement Engagement First Year

Research Mentor: Dr. Michele Dames,
Department, College, Affiliation: Transfer Student Success, Undergraduate Studies
Contact Email: mdames@fsu.edu
Research Assistant Supervisor (if different from mentor):
Research Assistant Supervisor Email:
Faculty Collaborators:
Faculty Collaborators Email:

Looking for Research Assistants: Yes
Number of Research Assistants: 2
Relevant Majors: Open to all majors
Project Location: On FSU Main Campus
Research Assistant Transportation Required: No, the project is remote
Remote or In-person: Partially Remote
Approximate Weekly Hours: 5, Flexible schedule (Combination of business and outside of business. TBD between student and research mentor.)
Roundtable Times and Zoom Link:

• Day: Thursday, September 3
  Start Time: 12:00
  End Time: 2:00
  Zoom Link: https://fsu.zoom.us/j/9154344918

Project Description

This project will examine student involvement and engagement among FSU Next students enrolled in IDS 1002: Gateway to Garnet and Gold. First we will begin with a literature review of how student involvement supports success. Then, using existing course survey data and program documents, the research assistant will identify the types of campus, community, academic, and professional activities students participate in during their first semester. We will examine how our findings connect to the research. The project aims to better understand patterns of involvement, factors that influence engagement, and opportunities to strengthen student success initiatives. Findings will be used to inform program improvement, student support strategies, and future research on transfer and pathway student engagement.

Research Tasks: The research assistant will primarily support the project through literature review, data organization, analysis, and interpretation of existing program materials. Tasks may include:

Regular, scheduled meetings weekly.
Conducting a literature review on student involvement, engagement, belonging, and transfer student success.
Reviewing IDS 1002 course surveys and related program assessment data.
Cleaning, organizing, and preparing survey datasets for analysis.
Coding and categorizing student responses regarding involvement activities.
Conducting descriptive analyses to identify trends and patterns.
Reviewing relevant program documents, course assignments, and engagement records.
Creating tables, charts, and data visualizations to summarize findings.
Assisting with interpretation of results and identifying implications for practice.
Contributing to written summaries, reports, presentations, or conference proposals.
Participating in regular meetings to discuss findings and project progress.

Skills that research assistant(s) may need: Required
Regular, scheduled meetings weekly.
Organized and efficient time management skills.
Teamwork and collaboration with other researchers.
Professional communication and responsiveness, including responding to emails and project communications within 24 hours on weekdays whenever possible.
Attention to detail and accuracy when reviewing data.
Ability to work independently and meet project deadlines.
Strong written communication skills.
Basic proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
Willingness to learn qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Ability to maintain confidentiality when working with student data.
Commitment to creating accessible materials

Recommended
Interest in higher education, student success, or transfer student experiences.
Experience creating charts, tables, or data visualizations.
Interest in conducting literature reviews and synthesizing research.
Familiarity with Excel and willingness to learn more (LinkedIn certificates, etc)
Interest in presenting findings through reports, posters, or conference presentations.