CSU-LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at California State University, Northridge (Cohort 9)

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

California State University (CSU) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation(CSU-LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Program (cohort 9) is a collaborative effort betweenthe National Science Foundation and California State University institutions to increasethe quality and quantity of underrepresented minorities matriculating to completion ofthe doctoral degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields (STEM)fields. The program at California State University, Northridge prepares students to meetthe challenges of completing doctoral programs of study and for academic careers inhigher education. In addition, the program develops leadership skills necessary forsuccess in the STEM workforce nationally and internationally.Integrating research and education, the BD fellows are nurtured over two years as acohort community that benefits from a program of academic and personaldevelopment activities as well as social support to sustain their commitment andsuccess to the terminal Ph.D. STEM degree. Program activities include linkages withGraduate Education in the Professoriate (AGEP) institutions and other graduateeducation programs to advance students in Ph.D. programs.Twelve students from underrepresented minority populations in STEM fields willparticipate in the program at California State University, Northridge during the2011-2013 academic years. Results from this support broadens the participation ofAfrican-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and Pacific-Islanders in the STEMpipeline globally. Results from rigorous evaluation of the project adds to the body ofliterature in the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minority students inSTEM fields.The project anticipates that at least 95% of the new participants will complete Master'sdegrees, and that at least 90% of these students will earn STEM doctorate degrees.This project not only targets a student population that might not otherwise pursuedoctoral level training, but also makes a special effort to target STEM disciplines thathave relatively low overall doctorate degree production and the lowest shares of URMstudents. In these disciplines (specifically, geological sciences, physics and astronomy,mathematics, engineering, and computer science), small increases in the number ofdoctorates awarded to URM students will have a significant impact on disciplinedemographics.BD project activities include a variety of valued "best practices" for supporting andadvancing LSAMP students. Specifically, the project provides the following:- rigorous Master?s-level course-work- a two-year research experience with the guidance of a faculty mentor;- professional development workshops and activities, including participation in scientificconferences;- monthly meetings to monitor student progress,- networking with other BD Fellows in doctoral programs, and- provide assistance with graduate school and fellowship applications.