In our projects, a team of two faculty members (1 CC faculty + 1 university faculty) works with a small group of 2-3 students on a year-long research project. Students have completed both parts of a single-variable calculus course (usually called Calculus I and II) at their community college before entering the project and are expected to complete the next academic year there as well (usually the last year before transfer). The project kicks off in summer, with a math boot camp where students acquire some of the math background necessary to undertake the project. After two weeks of extensive math learning and experiencing student dorms and life, students have the appropriate math and an introduction to the given problem they will be working on at their home institution – the community college they will be attending in the upcoming fall and spring semester. Usually, the university instructor comes up with suggested projects for students to work out, with the CC instructor delegating research duties, and mentoring the team locally. Throughout the next academic year, the teams meet with their CC instructor frequently, while the CC instructor checks-in with their university colleague often. Once a month or so, the entire group meets virtually or at one of the two institutions involved to discuss progress on the project. The project culminates in the MREC^3 Conference, featuring student presentations, guest speakers from industry, and previous math graduates who share their experiences and academic journey.