Biology Department Transitions Project

Summary

Our experiences have shown that students who grow the most during their time at Fairfield are those who become wholly involved in our research community. We wish to strengthen and build an inclusive and active community of students that champions the culture of scientific inquiry among peers. Our efforts will aim initially at first-year students, who are just beginning their discernment process, and junior/seniors, who are making the choices that will influence the rest of their lives, along with the lives of others they encounter on their journey. The specific outcomes that this initiative will attain are: a student mentoring program; internships; student/faculty research; a graduate studies and professional transition program; and an alumni mentoring program.

Need

In the past decade, advances in the biological sciences and computational technology have contributed to an explosive growth in professional and career opportunities for students receiving a bachelor of science in biology. However, most students today still enter the biology major with the intention of attending medical school after graduation. Just after beginning their first year, they become aware of the many different avenues open to them. Because of the multitude of choices available today, there is now, more than at any time in the past, a greater need for striving for informed discernment moments to occur during a student's undergraduate education. Optimally, these discernment moments should occur during the sophomore and junior years to allow the student to identify the areas and sub-disciplines of biology that speak to them most strongly. Further, the graduating students should be provided with the tools, contacts, and inner confidence that will enable them to pursue their identified calling.

Project Description

The proposed initiative will build an inclusive community of scholars within the Biology Department that is focused on scientific research and is informed by the Jesuit traditions of academic excellence, active self-reflection, and holistic mentorship. This program of discernment for biology majors will rely upon the experience and expertise of our faculty, students, and friends in the professional, government, and business communities. Through these efforts, we expect that we will not only strengthen the biology program at Fairfield University, but also provide a model that may be used by sibling Jesuit schools, as well as the greater academic community, for enhancing biology students' experiences and lives. Our present record of accomplishment and our Jesuit heritage position us to become a leader in this innovation.

The projected duration of this work will span two years. The project timeline includes, in its first year, a newly established Science Scholarship Center (the centerpiece and home of our efforts); student and alumni mentoring programs; expansion of our undergraduate research activities; a research assistantship program; industry speakers; and faculty-run programs in discernment. The second year will continue the work of the first year, with an expansion of the research assistantship program and further development of the test preparation and interview programs.

Responsible Staff

Drs. Glenn Sauer and Shelley Phelan will serve as co-directors of the project and will be assisted by other members of the Biology Department.

Budget Statement

The total project budget is $71,489 for this two-year project, of which $50,989 requires external funding. The project has been approved by the College of Arts and Sciences Board of Advisors and the University. This project is one of the College's four priority initiatives for which funding is currently being sought from members of the Board of Advisors.