FAQ

WHO CAN APPLY?

  • Students who identify as low-income.
  • Students whose parents did not complete a college degree in the United States.
  • Current first-years, sophomores, or juniors.

If you have questions about whether or not you are considered a “first generation college student,” or whether or not you “count” as a low income student, don’t hesitate to contact a member of the research team.

DO STUDY ABROAD PLANS PRECLUDE ME FROM JOINING?

Not at all!

  • Students are welcome to join the team even if they have plans to study abroad for a semester or a full academic year.
  • Students do not participate on the research team while they are abroad, but if they would like to rejoin the team when they return, we will save their spot on the team.
  • Previous team members have studied abroad before or after being on the team, so study abroad plans pose no problems for us.

CAN I RECEIVE ACADEMIC CREDIT?

Yes!

  • Team members can receive 0.5 units of independent credit (SOCI, EDUC, or LALS 298) for their work as part of the research team each semester. 
  • 0.5 units of credit = 40 hours of work during the semester, which averages out to approximately 3 hours of work per week for 14 weeks.
  • Students are allowed a maximum of 5 units of ungraded credit (e.g. CEL, INDP) during their time at Vassar, so please take this into consideration when thinking about your schedules.
  • The only member of the team who is not eligible to receive academic credit for their participation is the student who serves as Prof. Rueda’s research assistant. Since an RA position is a paid work study position, that student cannot receive academic credit.

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTATIONS FOR TEAM MEMBERS?

Although the projects we undertake vary from year-to-year, the following expectations are consistent:

  • Attend weekly meetings.
    • Our weekly meetings are coordinated according to our schedules. Friday afternoons have been the most popular meeting times over the years.
    • We meet to check-in, collectively decide on a project (e.g. research agenda and research design), discuss assigned reading, receive methodological training, divide up tasks, etc.
  • Open communication with Prof. Rueda and other members of the team.
    • Since our work is entirely collaborative, and everyone contributes a small piece to a larger whole, we have to have great communication!

Depending on what kind of project the team decides to undertake in a given semester, these are the types of expectations we have had in the past:

  • Read assigned scholarship relevant to the semester’s chosen project – e.g. access to higher education, ethical research practices, interview research methods, qualitative coding, and qualitative data analysis.
  • Conduct interviews with first gen/low income students on campus. 
  • Review interview transcripts and write interview memos.
  • Learn how to use MAXQDA qualitative coding software.
  • Co-author reports and conference papers.
  • Create or update course syllabi.
  • Co-facilitate the Accessing the Ivory Tower course.