Creating Scientific Leaders among Students Underrepresented in STEM Disciplines via a Holistic Model at a Research-Active, Liberal Arts College

在研究活跃的文理学院通过整体模型在 STEM 学科中代表性不足的学生中培养科学领导者

• 批准号: 1154413
• 负责人: John Wheeler
• 金额: $ 60万
• 依托单位: Furman University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-03-15 至 2018-02-28
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1154413&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Creating; Scientific; Leaders; among; Students

Furman University is directing a science-based scholarship program through the NSF S-STEM funding mechanism providing 15-21 financial aid awards of up to $40,000/student over a period of five years. The need for such a science-focused initiative targeting South Carolina students from underrepresented minority (URM) groups is acute, as enrollment of African-American students in public K-12 schools approaches 40%, but the annual number of Ph.D. awards in STEM fields within this group is historically less than 5%. In this context, Furman has an outstanding record of matriculating undergraduates from all backgrounds into STEM-based graduate programs, and the SOAR (Science Opportunities, Activities and Resources) Scholars initiative provides critical support for students for whom the cost of attendance would be a hardship. A primary goal of this award is thus establishing Furman as a financially accessible option to a larger fraction of talented students, particularly those from regional underserved and/or URM populations. Furman's S-STEM SOAR Scholars are students expressing intent to major in Chemistry or Biology, recruited and selected based on financial need, demonstrated academic merit, and outcomes from on-campus interviews. SOAR Scholars are benefitting from a host of program activities including a mandatory pre-college bridge experience offered immediately prior to the freshman year, weekly interdisciplinary seminars, opportunities for science-based community outreach through established programs directed at disadvantaged populations, and guaranteed placement into (optional) on-campus paid summer research experiences. Additional supporting mechanisms aimed at sustaining high rates of retention and graduation among SOAR Scholars include peer mentoring programs, regular meetings with permanently assigned secondary advisors, free on-campus tutoring and the active participation of Furman's Office of Multicultural Affairs.

福尔曼大学正在通过NSF S-STEM资助机制指导一项基于科学的奖学金计划，在五年内为每名学生提供15-21项最高40,000美元的经济援助。由于公立K-12学校的非裔美国学生入学率接近40%，因此迫切需要针对南卡罗来纳州代表性不足的少数族裔（URM）群体的学生开展这样一项以科学为重点的倡议，但该群体每年获得STEM领域博士学位的人数历史上不到5%。在这种背景下，弗曼大学在招收各种背景的本科生进入基于stem的研究生课程方面有着出色的记录，而SOAR（科学机会、活动和资源）学者计划为那些难以支付出勤费用的学生提供了关键的支持。该奖项的主要目标是使弗曼大学成为更多有才华的学生的经济实惠的选择，特别是那些来自地区服务不足和/或URM人口的学生。福尔曼的S-STEM SOAR学者是表示有意主修化学或生物的学生，根据经济需求，学术成绩和校园面试结果进行招募和选择。SOAR奖学金的学生受益于一系列的项目活动，包括在大一之前提供的强制性的大学预科桥梁体验，每周的跨学科研讨会，通过针对弱势群体的既定项目进行以科学为基础的社区拓展的机会，以及保证进入（可选的）校园有偿暑期研究经历。其他旨在保持高留校率和毕业率的支持机制包括同伴指导计划，与永久指定的二级顾问定期会面，免费的校园辅导以及福尔曼多元文化事务办公室的积极参与。