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

美国必须在科学、技术、工程和数学（STEM）学科留住更多的学生，以保持熟练的劳动力。与其他专业相比，STEM本科专业的保留率通常较低，特别是对于代表性不足的少数民族。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的指导可以提高学生的保留率，并加强整体的学术体验。这两种模式被结合起来形成了学习环境和学术研究网络（LEARN）。LEARN旨在通过识别有风险的一年级学生来提高STEM学科的保留率，并提供加入学习社区的机会，他们在其中生活，学习课程，与教师和研究生一起在研究实验室当学徒，并作为一个群体进行互动。学习的参与者成为一个为期四年的研究网络的一部分，在那里他们可以在他们的学术经历中找到导师。学习计划以学生学习为中心，为他们提供继续STEM学科教育的技能和信心。该计划在三年内达到约120名本科生（参与者和同伴导师）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STEM学科学生保留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.