Enhancing Workforce Preparation in Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics

弗吉尼亚联邦大学（VCU）与J. Sargeant Reynolds社区学院（JSRCC）合作，正在开展一项国家科学基金会CSEM学者计划。40名NSF CSEM（计算机科学，工程和数学）学者根据需要（符合佩尔助学金资格）和他们在两年内通过全日制入学完成本科学位的潜力来选择。作为城市机构，VCU和JSRCC（它的主要附属社区学院）都为大量的兼职学生提供服务，其中包括很大比例的少数民族和妇女。在1998-99学年，超过295名就读于科罗拉多州立大学CSEM学位课程的学生获得了佩尔助学金。由于工作的限制，这些学生中有三分之二的人无法完成每年30小时的课程，这将使他们在正常的四年时间内毕业；29%的人无法每年承担25笔贷款；19%的学生不能拿到20个学分。通过美国国家科学基金会计算机科学、工程和数学学者计划的支持，该项目的目标是显著增加这个群体中能够在全日制学生正常时间内完成本科学位课程的学生数量。成功的申请者将在颁奖典礼上被认可为NSF学者，并获得2500美元的奖学金。NSF CSEM学者在一位特别指定的顾问的指导下准备一份个性化合同，该顾问与学者一起工作，以最大限度地提高现有大学支持计划在以下领域的有效性：(1)经济援助计划，包括获得额外的奖学金和援助；(2)学术项目计划，学术成就进步和补充辅导和援助；(3)职业规划，通过选择实地经验，如合作或实习项目，通过与在职专业人员的职业日互动来增强。该项目的成功与否由大都会教育研究联盟（MERC）的评估人员监督。评估计划提供了必要的形成性指导，以最大化正在进行的有效性，以及验证计划模型所必需的总结性结论。

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), in partnership with J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College (JSRCC), is conducting a National Science Foundation CSEM Scholars Program. Forty NSF CSEM (Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics) Scholars are selected based on need (Pell Grant eligible) and their potential to complete their undergraduate degree within two years through full-time enrollment. As urban institutions both VCU and JSRCC, its primary feeder community college, serve a large population of part-time students including large percentages of racial minorities and women. During the 1998-99 academic year, over 295 students who were enrolled in CSEM degree programs at VCU received Pell grants. Due to work constraints, two-thirds of these students were unable to carry a 30 hour annual load which would lead to graduation in the normal four year period; 29% were unable to carry 25 credit loads annually; and 19% could not carry 20 credits. Through the support of the NSF Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholars program, the project goal is to significantly increase the number of students in this pool who can complete their undergraduate degree programs in a normal time frame for full-time students. Successful applicants are recognized as NSF Scholars at an awards ceremony and receive $2500 scholarships. The NSF CSEM Scholars prepare an Individualized Contract under the guidance of a specially designated advisor who works with the Scholars to maximize the effectiveness of the existing university support programs in the following areas: (1) financial aid planning, including securing additional scholarships and aid, (2) academic program planning, academic achievement progress and supplemental tutoring and assistance, and (3) career planning through a selected in-field experience such as co-op or internship programs augmented by career day interactions with working professionals. The success of this project is monitored by an evaluator working through the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC). The evaluation program provides the formative guidance needed to maximize on-going effectiveness as well as the summative conclusions necessary to validate the program model.