This fall, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) students had the opportunity to take a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences (CURE) class. CURE engages a class of students around a research topic or question of interest to the broader scientific community.
Thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), 12 JCCC professors had the opportunity to incorporate a research project into a course and engage students in a range of science practices including:
- Collecting and analyzing data
- Building and defending arguments
- Working with peers and experienced scientists
- Troubleshooting problems with their research
Through CUREs, students can participate in undergraduate research without additional time or money. This opportunity is available to anyone who takes a particular laboratory course with a CURE project. Toward the end of the semester, students showcase their CURE research in a conference-style poster session, an event that is uncommon at most community colleges.
Monarch butterfly habitat research

In JCCC Adjunct Professor Sarah Powell’s Environmental Science course, students conducted research on the monarch butterfly population in Johnson County. Next month, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will re-evaluate the monarch butterfly as an Endangered Species. Monarchs were first included in FWS’s candidates for the Endangered Species Act list in 2020.
Johnson County is a part of the monarch butterfly migration route, which typically begins in late summer and early fall. Powell’s students spent the semester researching possible life-sustaining habitats for monarch butterflies in Overland Park and on JCCC’s main campus.
Students collected data on the availability of nectar-bearing plants in the area, evaluated native plants at JCCC, and observed and tagged monarch butterfly presence during the migration season. Their research will be reported to the conservation organization Monarch Joint Venture, and tagged data uploaded to the public database for scientists at MonarchWatch.org.
Flying squirrels in Johnson County
Johnson County is on the far western edge of the range for Southern flying squirrel presence (Glaucomys volans) in North America. In JCCC Adjunct Professor Stephanie Ferrero’s fall Environmental Science course, students studied urban oak-hickory forests (the Southern flying squirrel’s preferred habitat) in Johnson County. Students monitored trail cameras and nest boxes placed throughout the forested areas of Antioch Park, Thomas S. Stoll Park, Shawnee Mission Park, and Quivira Park to analyze flying squirrel activity. They placed bird suet nearby as bait to attract flying squirrels to the observation sites.
Flying squirrels have been observed in Osage County, Kansas, where forest habitats are more dense. The status of flying squirrels in northeast Kansas, however, is relatively unknown aside from reported sightings and fur sample findings. In rapidly urbanizing Johnson County, conservationists have concerns about declining oak-hickory habitats, and flying squirrel presence can provide insight into forest health.
All findings will be provided to the Johnson County Parks and Recreation District and the City of Overland Park’s Parks and Recreation Department upon completion. JCCC student research will help inform the region’s overall conservation strategy. Ferrero will continue research with a new class of students in the Spring 2025 semester.
CURE Symposium
These are just two examples of research projects at JCCC this semester, and on Wednesday, November 20, and Thursday, November 21, all CURE course students have the chance to present their findings at the 2024 CURE Symposium. These free events are open to JCCC students, faculty, staff, and the general public.
- Wednesday, November 20
9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 6 – 7:30 p.m. - Thursday, November 21
9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
For more information, visit jccc.edu/cure.
Learn more about STEM opportunities at JCCC
CURE is part of a six-year grant of approximately $1.5 million from the NSF for JCCC to create the STEM Scholars program, which comprises three parts: scholarships, program activities, and research. Students studying in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields can become STEM Scholars, an esteemed cohort who receive support through their studies, one-on-one mentoring, career-focused field trips, and transfer guidance.
Eligible students who apply to be STEM Scholars must intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree upon completion of their program at JCCC. STEM Scholars then may receive up to $10,000 a year for two years to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other expenses.
Learn more about JCCC’s STEM Scholars program and scholarship.
JCCC’s Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Research will track the progress of the student scholars and report to the NSF certain key statistics, including whether JCCC STEM Scholars successfully transfer to a four-year school and continue to pursue a STEM degree.
This project is funded by an award from the National Science Foundation (Grant: DUE-2220912). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.