Sponsoring a Sterling College
Senior Applied Research Project (SARP)
Introduction
When Sterling College began to award Bachelor of Arts degrees in 1999, faculty created a capstone learning experience in which students would integrate the primary goals of our mission (structured academics, experiential challenges, plain hard work, problem solving, and environmental stewardship). The Senior Applied Research Project (SARP) provides the opportunity for students to apply the skills they have gained during their Sterling education both in the classroom and in the field. The SARP requires a student to investigate a question or problem, conduct research, propose answers, present results in both oral and written form, and take at least one significant step toward disseminating his/her information or implementing a solution to a problem.
A faculty member, chosen as the student’s SARP Advisor, works closely with the student to find a SARP Sponsor who can offer a project of appropriate scope, provides structured support of the research process, and guides project design. SARP Committee Members provide additional support by contributing expertise, editing drafts of SARP proposals and the final SARP paper, and backing the SARP Advisor as needed.
Faculty members provide the structure of this academic capstone experience, but Sponsors are needed to work with students to provide the project’s central question or problem. The SARP Sponsor and student work in collaboration to identify a problem or research idea. (See Figure 1) The student contributes to the goals of the sponsor while gaining real-life experience in an area of academic/career interest. The SARP is not a thesis; the implementation step is unique and provides an experiential hands-on piece.
Figure 1. The SARP often emerges organically while meshing
the needs of the Sponsor and the student’s interests.
Role of the SARP Sponsor
Research Sponsors play an important role in the Sterling College B.A. curriculum by providing opportunities for students to apply new learning while addressing authentic questions and problems.
Q: Who may serve as a SARP Sponsor?
A: A SARP Sponsor is a person or organization that has an interest in a student’s research results and will plan to use that information.
Q: What is required of a SARP Sponsor?
A: A SARP Sponsor must have interest and professional experience in the student’s research area. A SARP Sponsor is not required to fund work, although some may be willing to cover certain expenses. A SARP Sponsor must be willing to spend time, minimally two meetings, with a student to discuss the research and to help view it in the larger context. A SARP Sponsor should be interested in seeing a student’s work progress. A SARP Sponsor may not work with the student as a colleague on the SARP. The student’s research, while of an applied nature, is an academic effort of his or her own.
Q: What should a SARP Sponsor expect from the student?
A: The student is not an intern and should not be expected to work for the SARP Sponsor in that capacity. A SARP Sponsor may be already conducting research but the student needs to formulate his or her own research question. A SARP Sponsor should expect to see a full proposal prior to the beginning of the student’s research, and such a proposal should include references to appropriate literature. Students should keep the SARP Sponsor informed as the research progresses. The SARP Sponsor can expect a report from the student at the conclusion of the project. The SARP Sponsor may request the student give an oral presentation to the organization.
Q: How involved is a SARP Sponsor?
A: This often varies both according to the stage of the SARP and the nature of the Sponsor. It is important that the student consults with the Sponsor during the formative stages of the project, as the student develops the focal question. A SARP Sponsor may want to be kept informed of all aspects of the SARP and may wish to discuss this with the student periodically. Other Sponsors may be content to wait for the final results. A SARP Sponsor must not be involved in conducting the research.
Role of the SARP Advisor (Sterling College Faculty)
Q: What are the responsibilities of a SARP Advisor?
A: The SARP Advisor offers suggestions on the choice of a SARP Sponsor and approves the chosen SARP Sponsor. The SARP Advisor will work with the student in determining the appropriate methods of analysis of the work. Reading drafts of and making suggestions on the SARP proposal and the final SARP paper are the responsibility of the SARP Advisor. The SARP Advisor helps the student determine when s/he is prepared to present the SARP to the Sterling College community and reviews all SARP presentation materials.
Role of the SARP Committee (Sterling College Faculty)
Q: What does the SARP Committee do?
A: Two to three additional faculty members round out a student’s SARP Committee. Committee members bring additional expertise and are a good source of suggestions and support for the student’s work. They could have suggestions about SARP Sponsors and may be willing to introduce students to prospective Sponsors. They evaluate the SARP proposal, SARP presentation, and final SARP paper. They will grade the students work throughout the three SARP courses.
For additional information contact:
Sterling College
Career Resource Center
CALL: 802-586-7711 x126
EMAIL: