Advisors’ new course encourages first-year students to develop research skills

By Amelia Heymann

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business undergraduate academic advisors Brittany Elmore, Ed.D., and Tanya Wineland understand what students require for a rewarding college career. They also know that for many new students a missing element is exposure to research.

"As an R1 university, we're engaged in research across all disciplines," Elmore said. "But many first-year students may not feel prepared or eligible to get involved in it because they've never before had that opportunity."

"We think it's important to introduce students to research early in their academic careers," Wineland said, "so they can become comfortable developing their own ideas, understand where to start with a research assignment and, hopefully, contribute their ideas in the future to a body of literature."

This was the impetus for Elmore and Wineland proposing a new class to add to VCU's catalog of First-Year Student Success courses. Named after a universitywide initiative, the course, Every Ram's a Researcher, launched in the fall, with Elmore and Wineland as co-instructors. It is available to first-year students throughout the university.

We caught up with Elmore and Wineland to learn more about the class and their tips for undergraduates hoping to get involved in research.

What is the Every Ram's a Researcher course?

ELMORE: It's a 1-credit course, 50 minutes a week for a semester. We designed it as a workshop-style class where students learn about research by developing an idea into a future project. Guests from different areas of the university come to talk about the types of research generally seen in their field and their approach to research.

WINELAND: Teaching it was fun, and we learned a lot. We made some adjustments based on what students were able to grasp in the time frame. The course was kind of a litmus test of what could be done in terms of an introductory-level research class. We were asked to teach it again this fall; we hope it continues well into the future.

As an example of what's out there for students, what kinds of research opportunities can business undergraduates find?

ELMORE: Market research and consumer insights, data analytics, information systems - those are all great opportunities for research. I have some econ students who are really interested in modeling and policy analysis. Management students can conduct research about organizational behavior. And then we also have our applied research opportunities such as internships and capstone projects that students work on either independently or with their peers.

WINELAND: It's up to the individual student and where they'd like to start. There are plenty of opportunities, not only in their specific business discipline but also to fold in other disciplines. Transdisciplinary research is a core focus here.

How does research experience help undergraduates?

ELMORE: It can make them extremely competitive for internships and jobs because they've learned skills such as analytical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making. It can help them build portfolios focused on project design or strategic initiatives they've worked on.

WINELAND: As far as personal value, it can lead to a general wondering or discernment about the impact of things. That impact can be small - like understanding how a business and its customer base is affected - or it can be at the greater societal level.

Do you have any research-related tips for students?

ELMORE: The earlier you start, the better. A lot of students wait until their junior or senior year to even think about the research process. So my hope with our course is that we can provide those nuggets for students early so that by the time they're ready for a graduate program, they'll be superstars.

WINELAND: Talk first with your advisor and then reach out to any professor you've enjoyed learning from or who is teaching content you want to learn more about. Find out how to get involved in research with that professor or as part of a larger team at VCU.

ELMORE: Say yes to any opportunity to work with faculty on research projects. Also, let your interests and your passions lead you. A lot of students come into my office thinking their professional life must focus on only one thing. I encourage them to consider everything they're interested in and see how they can marry those interests and create their own lane.

A version of this article was originally published on the School of Business website.