Higher education in the United States is characterized by a decentralized organizational structure in both public and private colleges and universities across the fifty states and five major territories. Institutional diversity is distinguished by fundamental, self-identifying features that include but are not limited to mission and history, location, funding and endowment, architecture and facilities, campus culture, and degrees offered. The history of the US educational system is of interest to the development of undergraduate research in view of the early emergence of college student research in American higher education and US leadership in undergraduate research. In the US undergraduate research began through the senior capstone or honors thesis requirement. Beginning in the late 1990s the growing recognition of undergraduate research as a high-impact educational practice for student success resulted in expansion of undergraduate research across disciplines and institutions impacting curriculum design, academic culture, and student outcomes.

The Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR) works to unite the undergraduate research community, seeking to communicate the impact of undergraduate research; equip students, faculty, staff, and administrators with the tools for success; and provide undergraduate research to more students – particularly those from underserved populations. CUR began in 1978 as a small group of chemistry faculty at US private, liberal arts institutions, but it has evolved over time into an organization with more than 13,000 members on 900 campuses worldwide. CUR’s growth largely occurred because of its dedication to including a wide range of voices, different perspectives, and the challenges of changing circumstances. The work presented here reflects those values. By assembling lessons learned from students and faculty mentors in multifaceted academic environments, we can improve our knowledge of successful initiatives, adapt them to different settings, and appreciate the richness of diverse experiences in the undergraduate research community.