2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) - Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), provides research experiences for a diverse group of college students interested in mitigating the effects of natural hazards. The program engages in targeted recruitment for underrepresented students in engineering including women, first-generation college students, students who may not have research opportunities at their home universities, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups. The program structure and activities are designed to prepare undergraduates for research work with the ultimate goal of retaining students in science, technology, engineering, and math fields as well as preparing them for graduate school. This paper demonstrates an effective hybrid-model (virtual and in-person) research program for undergraduate students across a distributed network with eleven (11) participating research sites across the continental U.S. Through a longitudinal case study, data will be presented as evidence of 100% retention of the NHERI REU alumni in the engineering and STEM fields; enrollment in engineering PhD programs; and diversity measures for participation by gender, first-generation college student status, and race and ethnicity. The NHERI-REU Program also collects qualitative and quantitative data on the progress of students’ preparation of scholarly work including their self-efficacy and confidence levels throughout the program. This paper will include the qualitative data to show how students increased their confidence and levels of self-efficacy as they participated in a ten-week research experiences program. Thematically coded, student quotes will also show the various stages and degrees of experience and confidence in research that students come to the program and how these converge to demonstrate high levels of success in scholarly products as well as increased confidence levels in research.