Quantitative Excellence in Science and Technology (QuEST) Scholarship Program to Improve Transfer Success

QUEST优秀科学与技术(QUEST)学者计划旨在帮助那些进入学院学习科学、技术、工程或数学(STEM)专业的转校生取得学业成功。它的目的是(1)通过专门设计和仔细监测的学术和社会支持活动，创建和培养STEM转学学生队列；以及(2)创建大学生导师和科学资源(C-STAR)同行辅导计划，以帮助在STEM课程中遇到量化科目困难的学生。提供高达8000美元的奖学金，帮助学生从二年级或三年级的最初预科到毕业，转到学院STEM专业的一个专业：生物学、生物化学、化学、计算机科学、地球科学、海洋科学、数学或物理。STEM教师根据财务需求、学术潜力和对STEM学科的奉献精神来帮助选择Quest学者。在连续三个学年中，将选出七名新的QUEST奖学金获得者；对每一名入选奖学金获得者的持续资助是基于持续的经济需求、积极的学术表现以及完成STEM专业的进展。智力优势：四名STEM教员与机构有效性副院长合作，实施QUEST和C-STAR计划，以改善STEM学生在学院的学习和留存。在第一年，STEM转学学生参加了一门新的QUEST研讨会课程，该课程重点关注定量材料在所有STEM专业中所起的作用，从而在不同学科之间建立真正的队列。此外，研讨会还探讨了STEM的学习策略、科学伦理、跨学科研究和职业发展。为了提高STEM课程的学术成就，该项目还创建了C-STAR计划，在该计划中，经过仔细筛选和持续培训的高级STEM专业学生将帮助那些在STEM课程的数量元素方面遇到困难的学生。C-Star同行导师每周都会参加关于成功的教学方法的教学会议。教师团队正在开发研讨会课程，通过包括学习小组、同伴导师和干预网络在内的新支持服务来增加Quest学者的学习，以响应转学学生的需求，并通过创建C-STAR同伴辅导计划来改变所有学生的STEM学习环境。更广泛的影响：由经验丰富、见多识广的教员指导的以研究为基础的举措，正在帮助留住打算在学院攻读STEM专业的转学学生。该项目正在广泛传播Quest学者、研讨会和C-STAR项目的调查结果，以帮助其他机构提高STEM学生在本科生水平的保留率。

The Quantitative Excellence in Science and Technology (QuEST) Scholars program is facilitating the academic success of transfer students who enter the college intending to major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). It is designed to (1) create and nurture cohorts of STEM transfer students through specifically designed and carefully monitored academic and social-support activities; and (2) create the College Student Tutors and Resources for Science (C-STARS) peer tutoring program to help students struggling with quantitative subjects presented in STEM courses. Scholarships of up to $8,000 are being offered to transfer students from their initial matriculation as sophomores or juniors through graduation in one of the STEM majors at the college: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Marine Science, Mathematics, or Physics. STEM faculty help select QuEST Scholars based on financial need, academic potential, and demonstrated dedication to a STEM subject. Seven new QuEST Scholars are being chosen in three consecutive academic years; continued funding for each selected Scholar is based on continued financial need, positive academic performance, and progress towards completing a STEM major. Intellectual Merit: Four STEM faculty members are teamed with the Associate Dean for Institutional Effectiveness to implement the QuEST and C-STARS programs to improve STEM student learning and retention at the college. In their first year, STEM transfer students participate in a new QuEST Seminar course, which focuses on the roll that quantitative materials play in all STEM majors, thereby creating a true cohort over diverse disciplines. In addition, the seminar explores STEM learning strategies, science ethics, interdisciplinary research, and career development. To improve academic success in STEM courses, the project is also creating the C-STARS program, in which carefully screened and continually trained upper level STEM majors assist students who are experiencing difficulty with quantitative elements of STEM courses. C-STARS peer tutors participate in weekly instructional sessions on successful pedagogical approaches. The faculty team is developing the seminar course, increasing QuEST Scholar learning through new support services including study groups, peer mentors, and an intervention network to respond to transfer student needs, and transforming the STEM learning environment for all students by creating the C-STARS peer tutoring program. Broader Impacts: The research-based initiatives, directed by experienced and informed faculty, are helping to improve the retention of transfer students intending to major in STEM areas at the college. The project is broadly disseminating findings from the QuEST Scholars, Seminar, and C-STARS programs to help other institutions enhance STEM student retention at the undergraduate level.