Implementation of a research program at an undergraduate institution

In this paper, the authors relate their experience in implementing an undergraduate research program in computer science. This program was funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation´s CISE Minority Institutions Infrastructure (MII) Program. One component of Xavier´s MII Program is to increase the number of minority computer science students interested in graduate studies and to better prepare them for such study. Since Xavier was also selected by the National Science Foundation as one of its Model Institutions for Excellence, MII students are also included as participants in the MIE program at the University. In doing so a successful model can be developed that can be duplicated at other institutions. In the course of the three years we have run the program, we have learned some important lessons in organizing and implementing such a program. This program was implemented at Xavier University of Louisiana. It enrols approximately 3500 students, 2800 of which are in undergraduate students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences. The University has a 90% African American enrolment, and is 70% female. The Computer Science Department offers two majors, Computer Science and Computer Information Systems, and has about 140 majors. The authors discuss the structure of the program and how it has evolved. This includes the selection process, student support, the student´s use of a journal, the model used for publication and presentation of papers, oversight by the program director, and student retention, probation and dismissal. The authors also discuss some of the student research projects.