Evaluation of the AGEP Collaborative Research Training: North Carolina Alliance to Create OpportunityThrough Education

本提案用于评估当前资助的NSF项目：AGEP合作研究培训：北卡罗来纳州通过教育创造机会联盟（OPT-ED）。在评估该计划时，OPT-ED联盟管理部门和合作伙伴寻求实现两个目标：1。评估OPT-ED在多大程度上成功实现了AGEP的目标及其具体目标；和2。告知OPT-ED联盟实现AGEP目标的有效策略。随着OPT-ED联盟实施旨在增加URM学生在STEM学科的入学率和保留率并晋升为教授的战略，评估每个项目组成部分的影响以及在产生预期结果方面最有效的策略非常重要。评估结果旨在为OPT-ED联盟伙伴规划未来战略和活动提供信息。它还旨在告知联盟可能包括的其他合作伙伴（例如，社区学院，幼儿教育工作者等）；可利用的现有资源和新资源；以及潜在的新概念。更广泛的影响OPT-ED联盟战略旨在扩大代表性不足群体的参与；即URM的博士毕业生和STEM领域的教师。对OPT-ED的评估旨在确定那些被证明在提高URM学生对STEM专业的兴趣方面最有效的策略；让他们读完大学直到获得博士学位；并影响他们追求STEM教师职位的决定。成功的策略有可能在全国范围内的其他大学中复制。此外，评估将有助于评估该联盟作为复制模式的程度。评估试图回答的问题之一是，每个合作伙伴在提高URM STEM专业学生的入学率和保留率方面发挥的作用。评估结果将确定最关键的合作伙伴类型，合作伙伴之间的网络和协作的类型和水平，以及为成功实施联盟必须克服的障碍。全国对URM小组在STEM领域的小规模存在的关注显然是有道理的。OPT-ED联盟的建立是为了实施战略和活动，提高URM学生对STEM学科的兴趣，并帮助他们克服障碍，直到完成博士学位。该评估将确定关键的合作伙伴关系和成功的战略，以提高URM学生在STEM专业和职业中的入学率和保留率。

Intellectual Merit This proposal is for the evaluation of a currently-funded NSF program: The AGEP Collaborative Research Training: North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity Through Education (OPT-ED). In evaluating the program, the OPT-ED alliance administration and partners seek to accomplish two objectives: 1. Assess the extent to which OPT-ED has been successful in meeting the goals of AGEP and its specific objectives; and 2. Inform the OPT-ED alliance about effective strategies in accomplishing AGEP goals as it moves forward. As the OPT-ED alliance implements strategies that are designed to increase the enrollment and retention of URM students in STEM disciplines and advance into the professoriate, it is important to assess the impact of each program component and the strategies that are most effective in producing the desired outcomes. Evaluation results are intended to inform OPT-ED alliance partners as they plan future strategies and activities. It is also intended to inform the alliance about additional partners that may be included (e.g., community colleges, early childhood educators, etc.); existing and new resources to tap into; and potentially new concepts to incorporate. Broader Impact The OPT-ED alliance strategies are designed to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups; namely, URM doctoral graduates and faculty in STEM fields. The evaluation of OPT-ED seeks to identify those strategies that have proved to be most effective in raising the interest of URM students in STEM majors; retaining them through their college years up to receiving the doctorate degree; and impacting their decision to pursue STEM faculty positions. Successful strategies have the potential for replication across other universities at a national level. Moreover, the evaluation will serve to assess the extent to which the alliance serves as a model for replication. One of the questions the evaluation seeks to answer is the role each partner plays in enhancing the enrollment and retention of URM students in STEM majors. Evaluation results will identify the most critical type of partners, the type and level of networking and collaboration across partners, and the barriers that must be overcome for implementing a successful alliance. The national concern over the small presence of URM groups in STEM fields is clearly warranted. The OPT-ED alliance is established to implement strategies and activities that raise URM student interest in STEM disciplines and help them overcome obstacles to their retention until completion of doctoral degrees. This evaluation will identify critical partnerships and successful strategies in enhancing URM student enrollment and retention in STEM majors and careers.