About the Episode
About the Episode: Join us on Breaking Silos as we explore Miami University's standout approach to undergraduate research. This episode features Nate Jorgensen, senior director of marketing, and Joyce Fernandes, professor of biology and director of undergraduate research, discussing how they have partnered to elevate student research through strategic marketing and comprehensive workshops. They'll share how their collaboration helps communicate complex research effectively, enhances student skills, and integrates prospective students into unique campus experiences. Discover how interdisciplinary teamwork at Miami University is transforming the academic and research landscape, preparing students to make impactful contributions
Learn more about undergraduate research in this piece from Inside Higher Ed.
Key Takeaways
- Undergraduate Research as a Differentiator: Miami University’s robust undergraduate research program engages over 8,000 students annually, equipping them with transferable skills like critical thinking and teamwork.
- Strategic Marketing Enhances Visibility: Marketing efforts, such as personalized emails and accessible storytelling, make complex research more relatable and engaging for prospective students and broader audiences.
- Teaching Communication Skills is Key: Workshops that teach students how to pitch their research to diverse audiences ensure that they can articulate the value and impact of their work effectively.
- Interdisciplinary Research Shines: Miami has successfully broadened its undergraduate research focus beyond STEM, including fields like art history, business, and music, making it a university-wide initiative.
Episode Summary
The Scope of Undergraduate Research at Miami University
Dr. Joyce Fernandes shares how undergraduate research is woven into the academic fabric at Miami University. With 18,000 undergraduates, the university boasts 2,000 students engaged in one-on-one mentored research annually, while 8,000 participate in research-focused courses. These experiences develop skills employers value, such as leadership, creative problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Undergraduate research at Miami isn’t confined to STEM fields. Projects range from analyzing deer herd behavior and its ecological impact to exploring haunted prison ghost stories, demonstrating the program’s interdisciplinary breadth and creativity.
Marketing’s Role in Amplifying Undergraduate Research
For Nate Jorgensen, the appeal of Miami’s undergraduate research program was immediate. With a background in science communication, he recognized the opportunity to position the program as a key differentiator in a competitive higher ed market.
Miami’s marketing team has adopted several strategies to enhance visibility:
- Storytelling through Research Posters: At the annual Undergraduate Research Forum, visually engaging posters simplify complex research, making it accessible to a broader audience.
- Feature Stories and Podcasts: Marketing efforts include feature stories about student researchers and integrating their work into Miami’s podcast for prospective students.
- Engaging Recruitment Communications: By showcasing successful undergraduate researchers in targeted emails, the university drives high engagement rates among prospective students.
These efforts not only highlight Miami’s unique offerings but also communicate the real-world impact of student research.
Teaching Students to Communicate Their Research
One of the standout aspects of Miami’s undergraduate research program is its focus on teaching students to communicate their work effectively. Dr. Fernandes spearheads workshops for students, helping them:
- Articulate their research clearly across various contexts (e.g., to high school students, alumni, or legislators).
- Craft compelling written pitches about their projects.
- Deliver engaging two-minute oral presentations.
These workshops, supported by Miami’s University Communications and Marketing team, provide students with essential skills to share their research with diverse audiences while maintaining scientific integrity.
Lessons Learned and Future Goals
Breaking Down Disciplinary Barriers
Nate and Joyce reflect on the challenges and successes of integrating marketing with undergraduate research. Expanding research visibility across all disciplines—from business to the arts—has been a rewarding yet complex task. By fostering collaboration across departments, they have showcased Miami’s diverse research culture to prospective students and stakeholders alike.
Enhancing Prospective Student Engagement
Moving forward, Miami plans to further align its recruitment strategies with its undergraduate research offerings. Hosting high-achieving prospective students at the Undergraduate Research Forum is one potential strategy to make an impactful first impression.
Overcoming Challenges
Both guests note that simplifying complex research without trivializing it remains a significant challenge. Yet, the partnership between marketing and undergraduate research has laid a strong foundation for improving communication and accessibility.
About the Show: We hear it every day across campuses: “We need to be working more collaboratively.” The higher education industry is notoriously siloed, with colleagues struggling to connect, duplicating services or having disjointed messaging.
Breaking Silos aims to showcase the remarkable work of marketing professionals and their non-marketing colleagues from different departments across campus, who come together to achieve common goals, implement new initiatives, enhance the student experience, and foster better collaboration among teams.
Each episode features a marketer and their non-marketing colleague to talk about their partnership. This unique format will inspire marketers to try new things and connect with colleagues in new ways, while also allowing non-marketing professionals an inside look at some of the most collaborative projects in higher education marketing.
Connect With Our Host:
Shane Baglini
https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanebaglini/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network: Breaking Silos is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and The Application with Allison Turcio.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Maya will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200!
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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