STEPping Up Undergraduate Research

STEPMT计划的目标是通过使用本科研究作为一个广泛的定义主题，提高中田纳西州立大学科学，技术，工程和数学学科的保留率和毕业率。为实现这些目标，正在实施三项策略：(1)强调以发现为基础的学习并引入研究元素的课程改革；(2)创建本科研究社区；(3)与地区高中、大学和工业界合作。这种三管齐下的方法为从大一开始的STEM学生提供了广泛的学习机会，让他们了解研究在STEM学科中的作用、同伴支持结构以及与参与研究的教师和高年级学生的直接互动。该计划通过课程改革的努力影响了大量的学生，同时集中关注本科生研究社区的多样化核心学生。STEPMT的成功基于两个前提：第一，结合基于发现的学习可以大大降低学生的退学率和失败率；第二，教师导师和本科生之间的一对一接触对学生的留存率有显著影响。这两个前提都得到文献和当地经验的支持。

The goal of the STEPMT program is to improve retention and graduation rates in the science, technology, engineering, and math disciplines at Middle Tennessee State University through the use of undergraduate research as a broad defining theme. Three strategies are being implemented to realize these goals: (1) curriculum reform that emphasizes discovery-based learning and introduces elements of research, (2) creation of an undergraduate research community, and (3) partnerships with area high schools, universities, and industry. This three pronged approach provides a broad cross-section of STEM students beginning in their freshman year with an appreciation of the role of research in STEM disciplines, a peer support structure, and direct interaction with faculty and upperclassmen involved in research. The program impacts large numbers of students through the curricular reform efforts while offering focused attention to the diverse core of students in the undergraduate research community. The success of STEPMT is based on two premises: first, that incorporation of discovery-based learning can considerably reduce student dropout and failure rates, and second, that the one-on-one contact between a faculty mentor and an undergraduate research student has a significant impact on student retention. Both of these premises are supported by the literature and local experience.