STEM Focused Engagement of Undecided Students

该项目旨在增加学生进入，毕业，推进研究生学习和/或追求STEM学科的职业生涯的数量。 科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）的学校继续探索招聘，教学，动手实验室和研究经验，指导的改进策略，以及一些其他的学术强化计划STEM专业。一个有价值的，丰富的和未充分利用的资源，以增加学生进入STEM专业，并获得STEM学位在学院的数量是“未定”。“未决定的学生是指没有申报专业进入学院的学生，其中许多人对STEM有真正的兴趣和好奇心，但以75%的比例选择其他专业。由于环境中没有有组织的努力，使Undecided暴露在STEM的奇迹，挑战，奖励，成就和职业多样性中，该项目正在实施创新的招聘方法。 此外，为了帮助确保STEM新兵的成功入学，并提高所有STEM专业的整体保留率，一个专注于提高科学和数学技能并增强整体STEM体验的计划正在进行中。 该项目代表了STEM管理人员，系主任，学科协调员，教师和上层学生的共同努力。此外，还与本尼迪克特学院学生支援服务部合作开展了这项工作。智力成果：为了促进更多的学生攻读STEM学位，本项目包括以下战略：（1）获得STEM学位？一个全年的招聘计划，目标是未定的专业，并向他们介绍STEM职业的兴奋和好处;（2）STEM成功单位。一个有凝聚力的混合单元设计，将教师指导和建议，点对点指导和辅导以及团队建设整合在一起，以促进学生的成功，并为每个STEM招聘人员提供支持系统。(3)准备好成功。的取向（新生）和重新定位（上升的学生）开始第一和第二学年，分别在一个准备成功的模式，其中包括一个正式的数学和科学学习技能发展计划，迷你课程，非传统和新的STEM经验，早期介绍研究，被推销和提供给未定的专业，以及大一和大二的STEM专业;（4）为教师和高年级学生提供导师培训。更广泛的影响：该项目承诺扩大影响，实现以下目标：（1）每年增加15名STEM毕业生;（2）评估、记录和传播一个有凝聚力的混合单元模式，该模式可用于其他环境，对全国STEM学生产生积极影响;（3）增加学生参与STEM技能丰富的机会，花费更多的时间和在小班环境中进行互动，以探索实验室和研究环境;以及（4）增加受过培训的教师和学生同行的数量，他们可以在学生中促进STEM的兴趣和成功，从而增加传统上代表性不足的学生毕业的STEM学位的数量。

This project is directed at increasing the number of students entering, graduating, advancing to graduate studies and/or pursing professional careers in STEM disciplines. The School of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) continues to explore improvement strategies for recruitment, instruction, hands-on laboratory and research experiences, and mentoring, as well as a number of other academic reinforcement programs for STEM majors. A valuable, plentiful and inadequately tapped resource for increasing the number of students entering STEM majors and obtaining STEM degrees at the College is the "Undecideds." Undecideds refer to students who enter the College without a declared major, many of whom have a genuine interest and curiosity of STEM, but select other majors at a rate of 75%. Since no organized effort existed in the environment to expose Undecideds to the wonder, challenge, reward, fulfillment and diversity of careers in STEM, this project is undertaking the implementation of an innovative recruiting approach. In addition, to help ensure successful matriculation of the STEM recruits and improve the overall retention of all STEM majors, a program that focuses on improving science and mathematics skills and enhancing the overall STEM experience is underway. The project represents a joint effort of School of STEM administrators, department chairs, discipline coordinators, faculty, and upper class students. In addition, this effort is presented in collaboration with the Benedict College Student Support Service Unit.Intellectual Merit: The project includes the following strategies in order to promote an increase in the number of students pursuing and obtaining STEM degrees: (1) Got STEM? A year-round recruiting initiative that targets undecided majors and introduces them to the excitement and benefits of STEM careers; (2) STEM Success Units. A cohesive hybrid unit design that integrates faculty mentoring and advising, peer-to-peer mentoring and tutoring and team building in a manner that promotes students success and provides a support system for each STEM recruit. (3) Ready for Success. An orientation (freshman) and reorientation (rising sophomores) to begin the first and second academic years, respectively, in a ready for success mode which includes a formal math and science study skills development program, mini courses, non traditional and new STEM experiences, an early introduction to research, being marketed and offered to undecided majors, as well as freshman and sophomore STEM majors; and (4) Mentorship training for faculty and upper class student peers.Broader Impact: This project promises to broaden impact with the following objectives: (1) A target increase of 15 STEM graduates per year; (2) A cohesive hybrid unit model to be assessed, documented and disseminated that may be used in other environments to positively affect STEM students nationally; (3) Increased number of opportunities for students to engage in STEM skills enrichment, spending additional time and interacting in smaller class settings for exploring the laboratory and research environment; and (4) Increased number of trained faculty and student peers who can promote interest and success in STEM within the student body, thereby increasing the number of traditionally underrepresented students graduating with STEM degrees.