I. What is the Researcher Development Program?

a. The Researcher Development Program (RDP) is a joint initiative between the UCEA Graduate Student Council (GSC) and the AERA Leadership for School Improvement Special Interest Group (LSI SIG). RDP is aimed at providing graduate students and faculty members at different institutions with opportunities to form research-focused collaborations. Graduate students benefit from the expertise of their faculty mentor and receive feedback throughout the course of project development. Faculty members benefit from collaboration with emerging scholars who share their research interests. The program is unique in its focus on establishing ongoing mentor-mentee relationships through the development of a research product which could include, but is not limited to, conference proposals or presentations, posters, policy briefs, and papers.

II. Purpose of the RDP webpage

a. The purpose of the RDP webpage is to disseminate information about RDP to both faculty mentors and graduate student mentees. For researchers who are not already part of the program, our goal is to bring wider visibility to the program as a service for both faculty and graduate students. For mentors and mentees who are already part of RDP, the webpage will serve as a central place for the RDP program committee to announce upcoming events, store important program documents, and build institutional memory around the accomplishments of mentors and mentees in our community.

III. Webpage Content

1. 1.  Overview of RDP – This front page will describe the program and its purpose, explain how it provides a service to both faculty and graduate students, and outline important expectations for mentors/mentees who join. This page will also provide contact information for RDP program organizers (i.e., ​researcherdevelopmentprogram@gmail.com​)
   2. Announcements for Upcoming Events – This page will provide mentors/mentees with an annual calendar of important RDP events (when applications are due, meeting logistic during AERA and UCEA, when RDP travel grants are due).
   3. Notes and Documents from Previous Events – We will upload notes and information disseminated at RDP meetings to this page for program participants who miss meetings or who need to check details.
   4. RDP Newsletter – The newsletter allows us to build our community by spotlighting mentors and mentees, sharing tips for developing research collaborations, and highlighting accomplishments from RDP participants.

IV. Current RDP Program Committee

1. 1. 2019 Student Representatives: Lamar Foster, Parker Morse Andreoli, Mariama Nagbe

   2. 2018 Student Representatives: Alison Wilson, Lam Pham, Tamilah Richardson, Bryan V anGronigen

   3. Faculty Advisor: Angela Urick (2018-2020) Jennifer Clayton (2019-2021)