Improved Recruitment and Retention Through Academic and Financial Support

该项目为30-35名工程技术专业的学生提供年度奖学金支持，这些学生要么参加为副学士/学士学位获得者提供的“2 2”计划，要么参加传统的四年制学士学位计划。该项目的学术价值在于它专注于工程技术，而在受资助机构周围的地区，工人严重短缺。该项目的其他有益方面包括全面的学生支持活动，包括在每年的学者中培养社区意识的暑期桥牌计划；学者第一年的后续研讨会；在数学入门课程中为学生提供批判性支持(辅导、使用Aleks系统提供在线帮助和“通过真实世界进行数学”实验室)；以及由高水平学生同伴和教员积极指导。通过该项目对区域经济发展的积极影响，特别是在“高科技”领域，人们感受到了该项目更广泛的影响。该项目得到了强有力的行政支持，这也对教师作为本科生研究项目的导师和赞助者参与这一努力产生了积极影响。最后，该机构正在利用奖学金继续其强劲的记录，让学生在毕业后找到工作。

This project is providing annual scholarship support for 30-35 engineering technology students enrolled either in a "2+2" program for Associates/Bachelors degree recipients or a traditional four-year baccalaureate degree program. The intellectual merit of the project lies in its focus on engineering technology, for which there is a critical shortage of workers in the region surrounding the grantee institution. Additional meritorious aspects of the project are in the comprehensive student support activities, including a summer bridge program to develop a sense of community among each year's scholars; a follow-on first-year seminar for scholars; critical support for students in introductory mathematics courses (tutoring, use of the ALEKS system for on-line help, and a "Math through the Real World" lab); and active mentoring by upper-level student peers and faculty. The broader impacts of the project are felt through its positive influence on regional economic development, especially in a "high tech" area. Strong administrative endorsement of the project is also having a positive effect on faculty involvement in the effort as mentors and sponsors of undergraduate research projects. Finally, the institution is leveraging the scholarships to continue its strong record of placing students in employment upon graduation.