Learning Environment and Academic Research Network (LEARN): A Model for Retention in the STEM Disciplines

美国必须留住更多科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学科的学生，以保持一支熟练的劳动力队伍。与其他专业相比，STEM本科专业的留校率往往较低，特别是对代表性不足的少数族裔。研究表明，生活学习社区(即专门的学习宿舍)以及通过本科生研究提供的指导，可以增加学生的记忆力，并加强整体的学术体验。这两种模式被结合在一起，形成了学习环境和学术研究网络(LEARN)。学习旨在通过识别有风险的一年级学生来增加STEM学科的保留率，并提供机会加入学习社区，在这个社区中，他们生活、参加课程、在研究实验室与教职员工和研究生一起当学徒，并作为一个群体进行互动。学习参与者成为一个为期四年的研究网络的一部分，在那里他们在整个学术经历中找到导师。学习计划以学生学习为中心，提供技能和信心，以继续他们在STEM学科的教育。该计划在三年内覆盖了大约120名本科生(参与者和同行导师)和研究生(研究导师)。通过项目评估收集的数据提供了有关提高学生在STEM学科中留存率的最佳实践的详细信息。评估结果被广泛传播。

The United States must retain more students in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines to maintain a skilled workforce. Retention is often lower in the STEM undergraduate majors when compared to other majors, especially for underrepresented minorities. Research indicates that living-learning communities (i.e., specialized learning dorms), as well as mentorship through undergraduate research, increases student retention and strengthens the overall academic experience. These two models have been combined to form the Learning Environment and Academic Research Network (LEARN). LEARN aims to increase retention in STEM disciplines by identifying at-risk, first-year students and provides the opportunity to join a learning community, in which they live, take courses, apprentice in research laboratories with faculty and graduate students, and interact as a group. The LEARN participants become part of a four-year research network where they find mentorship throughout their academic experience. The LEARN program is student-learning centered to provide the skills and confidence to continue their education in STEM disciplines. The program reaches approximately 120 undergraduate (participants and peer mentors) and graduate (research mentors) students in three years. Data collected through program assessment provides details regarding the best practices to increase student retention in the STEM disciplines. Assessment results are disseminated widely.