The Center of Inquiry in the Liberal Arts will hire a number of students as Summer Interns to work on several research projects. To apply, please complete the attached application and submit it via email to Richard Lynch at lynchr@wabash.edu. Applications are due on Friday, March 5, 2004. The project descriptions are included below.
• Internships will begin in mid-May (after Commencement), and will continue for eight weeks. Interns will be paid a stipend; on-campus housing will also be provided.
• Each project is intended for two interns, who will work as a team with a Research Fellow.
• All student interns will be expected to present their work at Wabash's "Celebration of Student Research" in January 2005, and may also have the opportunity to submit work to NCUR (the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research) or other publication venues.
• In addition to the primary project, interns will be invited to participate in reading groups and seminars on topics in the liberal arts, and other activities at the Center. Interns will be encouraged to be intellectually engaged in each others' projects and to take advantage of opportunities for informal conversations with each other and the Fellows about liberal arts education as well as life beyond college. Other tasks may also be assigned.
• We seek students who are self-motivated, can work independently, and are able work (and develop relationships) with others on a team. All projects require the ability to write well. Additional, specific skill or background requirements are listed in the project descriptions.
Internship Project Descriptions:
1. Wisdom literature review: This project involves moving an existing literature review to the next stage. The Center of Inquiry has been gathering a comprehensive collection of philosophical literature on wisdom. This project will entail reading these writings, developing an organizational outline and writing a synthesis of the material. At key intervals, these students will engage in discussions of their readings with Center staff and work toward the development of a presentation regarding wisdom. These students will confer regularly with the research fellows regarding their work and as time permits, assisting with other projects. Good critical thinking skills are important. [Contact person: Cherry Danielson, danielsc@wabash.edu]
2. Campus support and assessment: We seek students who are interested in working with other campuses and institutions. Students will have the opportunity to work with (and perhaps visit) campuses where the Center of Inquiry is working to identify, pursue, and assess specific goals and outcomes of liberal arts education. Project activities may include literature reviews and qualitative case study research, including transcription and analysis of case study data. Interns will have a direct role in writing summary reports, co-facilitating related presentations and developing research articles when appropriate. Interns will also have the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing development of an "assessment toolkit" designed specifically to help campuses assess the impact of a liberal arts education. This project is best suited for students who would like to gain a better understanding of both the challenges and successes of postsecondary institutions. Good research skills are important. [Contact person: Kim Kline, klinek@wabash.edu]
3. Citizenship literature review: This project is to create and develop a review of educational and research literature about citizenship.. Students working on this project will first search the library and web for related literature—how research studies define citizenship and how educational practices aim to foster or develop citizenship. Then after reading the materials, they will work to develop a category structure that will assist in the writing of a comprehensive synthesis of the materials. At key intervals, these students will engage in discussions of their readings with Center staff and work toward the development of a presentation regarding of their work. These students will confer regularly with the research fellows regarding their work and as time permits, assisting with other projects. Research skills are essential and good critical thinking skills are important. [Contact person: Cherry Danielson, danielsc@wabash.edu]
4. Business blends: We seek students with an interest in careers in business. Students working on this project will undertake a four-part project that carries forward a Center of Inquiry investigation of radically distinctive blends of business studies and liberal arts. Project activities include a) conduct research on innovative programs and on interest in such programs at colleges and universities, b) work with research fellows to develop a research plan for studying students in "distinctive blends" programs, c) design and test a record system for the research program, and d) work with research fellows to develop a dissemination plan for a preliminary report based upon a colloquy held at the Center of Inquiry in late March 2004, "Learning to Manage: Distinctive Blends of Business Studies and Liberal Arts." [Contact person: Fred Ohles, ohlesf@wabash.edu]
5. Medical schools: This project is quantitative and involves assisting with a study of the relationship between a liberal arts education and acceptance rates at medical schools across America. Students working on this project should have a good understanding of statistics and be interested in analyses and discussion of results. Students will be encouraged to develop a presentation of these research findings. Good analytic skills are important. [Contact person: Cherry Danielson, danielsc@wabash.edu]
To apply, please complete the application and submit it via email to Richard Lynch at lynchr@wabash.edu. Applications are due on Monday, March 22, 2004.