RE-C^2: Research Experiences in Community Colleges
RE-C^2 (Research Experiences in Community Colleges) project brings together a mastes-degree-granting institution and two community colleges in a predominantly Hispanic/Latino area of Los Angeles, namely, California State University, Northridge (CSUN), Los Angeles Mission College and Los Angeles Pierce College.
The goal is to take mathematical research to community colleges and, as a result, to attract talented students from this large and growing undergraduate population to the mathematical sciences. Built on the cornerstones of undergraduate research, strong mentoring, and strategic recruitment, RE-C^2 engages community college faculty and their selected students in meaningful research experiences led by CSUN faculty. The project starts in the summer and blend into the entire following academic year. The summer program includes an introductory boot camp and intensive work in the research groups. During the academic year students and community college and CSUN faculty continue their work and also participate in workshops and conferences.
RE-C^2 is funded by a National Science Foundation grant (DMS- 1541911) from the Division of Mathematical Sciences to California State University Northridge (CSUN). M. Helena Noronha from CSUN is the Principal Investigator of the grant and Project Director. Edouard Tchertchian (Pierce College) and Tigran Mkrtchyan (Mission College) are co-PIs; Sheri Lehavi (Pierce College) and Emil Sargsyan are senior personnel in the project.