Why Engage Students in Research, Scholarship, & Creative Practice
Every GVSU student — undergraduate or graduate, in any discipline — can take part in research, scholarship, or creative practice. But before the "how," it's worth being clear on the "why." Engaging a student isn't just a favor to them; it's one of the more effective ways to advance your own work while shaping theirs.
Why It Matters for Students
The evidence is consistent. Students who participate in research, scholarship, or creative practice show:
- A better understanding of their career and education path
- Greater problem-solving skills
- A deeper understanding of research methods and their discipline
- Greater confidence and independence
They also, as a group:
- Report higher satisfaction with their college experience
- Are retained and persist at higher rates, both at the university and within their major
- Are more likely to be accepted to graduate or professional school
- Are more competitive on the job market
This body of evidence draws on research from the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), Shanahan et al.'s "Ten Salient Practices of Undergraduate Research Mentors: A Review of the Literature" (2015), and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine's "The Science of Effective Mentorship in STEMM" (2019).
Why It Matters for You
The benefits aren't one-directional. Mentoring a student researcher, scholar, or artist:
- Extends your own capacity — an engaged student can meaningfully contribute to a research, scholarly, or creative agenda that's larger than what you could take on alone
- Sharpens your teaching and advising, since one-on-one mentorship surfaces gaps and questions that classroom teaching doesn't
- Is recognized formally at GVSU — through the Haas-Stiner Mentoring Award, the Seeger Faculty Fellowship, and the university-wide Distinguished Undergraduate Mentoring Award or Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award
- Is supported, not something you're left to figure out alone — CSRSE offers structured research mentor training, ongoing professional development, and faculty learning communities built around evidence-based mentoring practices
- Gives you a documented record of your mentoring impact — something you can point to when it's time to reflect on your own scholarly and professional contributions.
Ready to Start?
- New to mentoring? Visit Become a Mentor
- Already have a student in mind, or need help structuring the experience? Visit the Getting Started Guide
- Want to meet students directly? Attend the Undergraduate Research Fair, held annually the first Tuesday in October
- Have a student who's already asked you about research and you want CSRSE to take it from here? Use the Referral Form and CSRSE staff will follow up directly with the student.
