SURE-STEP Supporting Undergraduate Research and Education

中央俄克拉何马大学（UCO）及其在SURE-STEP联盟中的四个合作伙伴：卡梅伦大学、东中央大学、兰斯顿大学（一所历史上的黑人学院或大学）和西南俄克拉何马州立大学，计划将STEM专业毕业的学生人数增加10%。过去七年来，作为路易斯·斯托克斯少数民族参与科学、技术、工程和数学项目联盟的参与者，所有五所联盟大学都帮助学生实现了获得学士学位的梦想。通过这个项目，该联盟正在试点以前在这些机构中没有涉及的方法，以便吸引、留住和毕业更多的STEM学科学生，与高中毕业的学生一起度过关键的大学第一年。在多个机构支持的早期努力下，合作伙伴在吸引更多STEM专业学生方面取得了进展。事实证明，把STEM专业的学生留到毕业并不成功。在五所SURE-STEP大学中，有4700名学生在2001年秋季学期选择了STEM专业。然而，在整个2001-2002学年，只有588名学生从这些专业毕业（OSRHE 2002年报告）。SURE-STEP资助计划正在为学术卓越和学生参与创造重要桥梁，承诺增加所有五所大学STEM毕业生的数量。首先，已被秋季学期录取的未被充分代表的低收入家庭和第一代学生正在从地区高中招募，参加为期四周的夏季桥梁课程。招聘后的名额将以先到先得的方式分配给其他有兴趣的学生。参与者参与特定学科的研究和学术技能建设研讨会，与教师和同伴导师一起探索校园，并开始熟悉他们的学生群体。SURE-STEP参与者还可以在线访问导师和补充指导（SI）领导者。在秋季，每所大学都为历史上困难的第一年STEM课程（生物、物理、数学、化学和计算机科学）提供补充指导。第二年，SURE-STEP的参与者成为研究大使，通过在高中、当地的数学和科学日以及研讨会上演讲来招募学生。项目中的其他人会指导新生。参与者继续指导，并在商业、工业和研究实验室实习。由于联盟大学的研究组成部分的实力，俄克拉何马州EPSCoR承诺帮助支持SURE-STEP参与者的夏季研究经验。为了传播该计划的成果，所有SURE-STEP参与者为地区大学研究日制作摘要和研究海报。对SURE-STEP项目的形成性评估是基于教师、同伴导师、科学探究组长和参与者的调查和访谈。总结性评估将包括参与者的保留数据，以及对照组和gpa。数据将在网站上提供。该项目的结果将在地方、州、区域和国家的研讨会和专题讨论会上提出/发表。

The University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and its four partners in the SURE-STEP Consortium, Cameron University, East Central University, Langston University (a Historically Black College or University), and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, plan to increase the number of students who graduate in STEM majors by 10%. As participants in the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program for the past seven years, all five of the consortium universities have helped students realize their dreams of earning baccalaureate degrees. Through this project, the Consortium is piloting methods not previously related in these institutions in order to interest, retain, and graduate many more students in the STEM disciplines, working with students from high school graduation through their critical first years of college experience. Under earlier efforts supported by a variety of agencies, the partners have made progress in attracting more STEM majors. Retaining STEM majors to graduation has not proved as successful. Among the five SURE-STEP universities, 4,700 students declared STEM majors in the Fall, 2001 semester. However, for the entire 2001-2002 school year, only 588 students graduated in these majors (OSRHE 2002 report). The SURE-STEP grant program is creating the vital bridge to academic excellence and student engagement that promises to increase the number of STEM graduates at all five institutions. First, underrepresented, low-income and first-generation students who have been admitted for the Fall semester are being recruited from area high schools for the four-week summer bridge component. Spaces available after recruitment are filled first-come, first-served by other interested students. Participants engage in discipline-specific research and academic skill-building workshops, explore the campus with faculty and peer mentors, and begin to get acquainted with their student cohort. SURE-STEP participants also have on-line access to mentors and supplemental instruction (SI) leaders. In the Fall, each university offers supplemental instruction for the historically difficult first-year STEM courses (biology, physics, mathematics, chemistry, and computer science). In year two, SURE-STEP participants become Research Ambassadors, recruiting students by speaking at high schools, local math and science days and seminars. Others in the program mentor new students. Participants continue to mentor, as well as work in internships in business, industry, and research labs. Because of the strength of the research component at the consortium universities, Oklahoma EPSCoR has committed to help support SURE-STEP participants in summer research experiences. In order to disseminate the results of the program, all SURE-STEP participants produce abstracts and research posters for Research Day at Regional Universities. Formative assessment of the SURE-STEP program is based on faculty, peer mentor, SI leader and participant surveys and interviews. Summative assessment will include retention data for the participants as well as a control group and GPAs. Data will be available on the website. Results of the project will be presented/published at local, state, regional and national seminars and symposiums.