Undergraduate Research (UGR) is any creative effort undertaken by an undergraduate that advances the knowledge of the student in an academic discipline and leads to new scholarly insights or the creation of new knowledge that adds to the wealth of the discipline. Undergraduate research is valued and encouraged at several HBCUs; however, the history, implementation, nor progress has not been sufficiently published and disseminated nationally. Importantly, a great deal of learning occurs when undergraduate students conduct research and, of course, much of this learning does not happen during the traditional coursework. Research leads to better understanding of and deeper appreciation for the discipline. Further, it is contended that students' career goals and academic expectations are enhanced as a result of research participation. Extensive undergraduate research can increase access to PhD programs. From the voices of faculty mentors, student mentees and UGR program directors and program coordinators this volume describes the successes of programs across HBCUs and discusses how retention and graduation rates have been increased as a result of participation.

The primary thrust of the proposed volume is to provide information for higher education minority serving institutions (MSIs) and other institutions and individuals interested in providing and/or improving mentoring programs and services to a variety of target groups. The editors are interested in how mentorship can produce beneficial outcomes for the mentor that may be similar to or different from outcomes in other educational contexts. Thus, the purpose of this volume is to showcase, through case studies and other forms of empirical research, how successful mentoring programs and relationships at MSIs have been designed and implemented. Additionally, we will examine the various definitions and slight variations of the meaning of the construct of mentoring within the MSI context. It is our intent to share aspects of mentoring programs and relationships as well as their outcomes that have heretofore been underrepresented and underreported in the research literature.

The primary thrust of the proposed volume is to provide information for higher education minority serving institutions (MSIs) and other institutions and individuals interested in providing and/or improving mentoring programs and services to a variety of target groups. The editors are interested in how mentorship can produce beneficial outcomes for the mentor that may be similar to or different from outcomes in other educational contexts. Thus, the purpose of this volume is to showcase, through case studies and other forms of empirical research, how successful mentoring programs and relationships at MSIs have been designed and implemented. Additionally, we will examine the various definitions and slight variations of the meaning of the construct of mentoring within the MSI context. It is our intent to share aspects of mentoring programs and relationships as well as their outcomes that have heretofore been underrepresented and underreported in the research literature.