The purpose of this study is to evaluate the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program, sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF), from 2011 to 2013. We examine the experiences of selected undergraduate students from across the country who came to Missouri S&T to participate in active art of researching; more specifically within the field of additive manufacturing. The student participants' experiences were monitored and evaluated through a set of qualitative and quantitative

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... sures. Quantitative data for each year was gathered through a survey distributed at the beginning of the first week and at the end of the last week. Additional quantitative feedback was provided from either weekly or bi-weekly presentation evaluations. A follow-up survey was also conducted for all three years participants. Qualitative data was gathered through two semi-structured interviews, administered near the beginning and the end of the program in each year. Based on the results and analysis from gathered data, our evaluation indicates that the Missouri S&T Additive Manufacturing REU program improved each year and succeeded in its goals of increasing students' knowledge of the additive manufacturing processes. Our results also show improvement in the students' abilities to conduct individual research projects, work in an interdisciplinary environment, utilize computeraided tools and laboratory facilities, and improving students' communication and presentation skills. Some limitations of the REU program are explained in the paper. participate in state-of-the-art research in the field of additive manufacturing. In the interests of both Missouri S&T and the NSF, student participants' experiences are monitored and evaluated through various qualitative and quantitative measures. Missouri S&T REU program's purpose is to increase the students' knowledge of additive manufacturing, improve the students' ability to conduct an individual research project and integrate their research with that of others in an interdisciplinary team-based environment, improve the students' ability to utilize computer-aided tools in laboratory facilities, improve and increase the students' communication skills in a variety of media, and attract underrepresented students to participate in these activities. The evaluation process focuses on these points in addition to providing any relevant feedback pertaining to the program, especially feedback about how to improve the program. PROJECT BACKGROUND Additive manufacturing and its processes are unique for the engineering field in that they can construct almost any complex three-dimensional mechanical parts with its internal features in ways that are tool-less, minimize scrap material, and have functionally graded material properties. Missouri S&T conducts a large amount of research on additive manufacturing materials and methodologies. Various labs focus on different additive manufacturing processes, including: solid freeform fabrication (compression molding), rapid freeze prototyping using freeze-form extrusion fabrication (FEF), and selective laser sintering (SLS) using laser metal deposition (LMD). Missouri S&T Additive Manufacturing REU program for the past three years has been held during the summer for ten weeks. The REU program is a research program that combines analytics, computer aided design, and hands-on lab work. Students are given individual research projects in the fields of mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, and materials science and engineering. The individual projects are performed in a loosely team-based, interdisciplinary environment with a mentoring system that connects the undergraduate students with professors, research assistants, and graduate students. Weekly discussions with industry and faculty experts gave students information and insight on new technologies, research methods and ethics, graduate school, and technical help. Students were also given the opportunity to develop communication and presentation skills, teamwork abilities, individual and group project management skills, and leadership abilities. Weekly extracurricular activities, including industry field trips to Boeing Research and Technology in St. Louis, Steelville Manufacturing Co., Mo-Page 24.63.4