Intentional Excellence in the Baldwin Wallace University Neuroscience Program

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience Education
• Undergraduate Research

Background:

• The undergraduate Neuroscience program at Baldwin Wallace University (BWU) was recognized by the Society for Neuroscience for its excellence.
• The program is research-intensive, requiring all students to complete an empirically-based senior thesis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative peer mentoring system implemented in an undergraduate Neuroscience program.
• To detail the development and impact of a Neuroscience Methods course.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a 3-step peer mentoring system integrated into the curriculum, research labs, and senior thesis process.
• Development of a Neuroscience Methods course to train students in research safety, ethics, and practices.

Main Results:

• Student feedback indicates peer mentorship was excellent, boosting confidence and research success.
• The Neuroscience Methods course equips students to assist with senior theses and develop independent projects.

Conclusions:

• The peer mentoring system and specialized methods course effectively support students in a growing, research-intensive undergraduate Neuroscience program.
• These initiatives provide innovative models for other neuroscience programs seeking to enhance student training and research engagement.