A growing number of future scientists are beginning their academic careers at community colleges. While there are numerous benefits to attending community college, one drawback is the lack of research opportunities and exposure to field-related experience that community college students have access to. Once students transfer, there is often very little time to form faculty connections at their new university or obtain the necessary institution grades in time for undergraduate research deadlines before their senior year. This lack of opportunities combined with a time crunch can prolong the time it takes for students to apply and be accepted into graduate programs, for which undergraduate or post-baccalaureate research or internship in the field is often recommended or required.

Research Experiences for Community College Students (RECCS) is a passion project by Soul Stough. The project began with a department-wide survey they created under the supervision of faculty advisor Dr. Helena Kopecky, which revealed that the majority of community college students wished to engage in undergraduate research but did not think there were any opportunities available to them and did not know where to start in finding them.

Our goal is to close the experience gap for future scientists currently attending community college by providing an accessible database of research and experience opportunities as well as advocating for the necessity of integrating experience opportunities into educational programs at the community college level.