Undergraduate Research and Gen Z: (Re)Engagement, Enhancement, and Commitment to Scholarly Excellence
Abstract
This article introduces an enhanced model of undergraduate research for today’s Gen Z (born after 1997) generation of college students who have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic in their formative years. The model is based on the integration of (1) experiences with an interdisciplinary student data analytics research group, (2) established theory and practice regarding undergraduate research, (3) the impact of the pandemic on Gen Z, (4) the recent research on academic stress/anxiety, and (5) the role university connectedness has on stress/anxiety reduction. This comprehensive approach promotes scholarly excellence and student wellbeing and is applicable across disciplines.
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