The ASLE Executive Council’s Undergraduate Task Force has been considering the best and most helpful ways to encourage undergraduate participation in various facets of ASLE.  They have composed a document that details best practices for, among other things, bringing undergraduates to the ASLE 2017 Biennial Conference in Detroit next year.  This document is posted to the Undergraduate Students page on the ASLE website, and can be downloaded directly: ASLE Guide to Faculty Undergraduate Engagement.

Many of us are evaluated for promotion based on integrating undergraduates in our research, and mentoring them through the conference experience can be a gratifying experience.  Research also shows that such professional mentoring is particular important for underrepresented communities of students, whose perspectives would, in turn, contribute much to our field.

If you have particularly motivated students who might like to attend the ASLE conference next year in Detroit, please consider reading the Guidelines linked to above.

One exciting new benefit for undergrads attending ASLE is that the Graduate Student Liaisons (GSLs) will be launching an undergraduate mentoring program, modeled on the Graduate Mentoring program, to provide networking and advice for interested undergrads.  Stephen Siperstein, Aubrey Streit-King, and the newly elected GSL will follow up in the spring to identify undergrads to match with grad students.