Student Impact
Student Impact
The Research through Inclusive Opportunities (RIO) program, run by the Office of Undergraduate Research at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½, is designed for sophomore and first-year transfer students. The foremost goals of RIO are to provide all students, with an emphasis on low income and first generation students, with research experience and to foster a greater interest in research.
In addition to the main goals of fostering interest in research and providing research experience to students, the RIO program has a list of objectives that it seeks to fulfill, which include increasing students’ sense of belonging in the Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ community, creating an environment that is conducive to research development, educating students about the research/creative projects process, and assessing students’ individual struggles and stories over the academic year. To gauge how effectively the RIO program has met these objectives over the 2020-21 year, an evaluation was performed in April 2021, which includes a survey completed by RIO students.
Results of evaluation:
- All students felt that both OUR and RIO staff provided them with the necessary support and guidance.
- Nearly all students (96.8%) said that they would recommend the RIO program for incoming students.
- A majority of students (96.8%) felt that RIO helped create a sense of belonging for them.
- Most students (93.5%) felt that their participation in RIO helped them connect to the campus community.
- Most students (87.1%) felt that RIO encouraged them to participate more in their classes.
- Most students (93.5%) felt much more confident in their research writing and how to set up and present their projects at future conferences.
- Most students (96.8%) understand the process of research or creative activities.
- 80.7% of students agreed that RIO encouraged them to think about their own culture and identity.
- 80.2% of students felt that the activities in RIO encouraged them to reflect about other cultures.
