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

科学技术数量卓越（QuEST）学者计划旨在促进那些进入学院打算主修科学，技术，工程或数学（STEM）的转学生的学业成功。它旨在(1)通过专门设计和精心监控的学术和社会支持活动，创造和培养STEM转学生群体；(2)创建大学生科学导师和资源（C-STARS）同伴辅导计划，以帮助在STEM课程中出现的定量科目上挣扎的学生。从最初入学的大二或大三学生到毕业的STEM专业之一的学生，最高可获得8,000美元的奖学金：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教师根据经济需求、学术潜力和对STEM学科的奉献精神帮助选择QuEST学者。连续三个学年选出七名新的QuEST学者；每位入选学者的持续资助是基于持续的经济需求、积极的学习成绩以及在完成STEM专业方面的进展。智力优势：四名STEM教师与负责机构效率的副院长合作，实施QuEST和C-STARS计划，以提高学院STEM学生的学习和保留。在第一年，STEM转学生参加新的QuEST研讨会课程，该课程侧重于定量材料在所有STEM专业中的作用，从而创建一个真正的跨学科队列。此外，研讨会还探讨了STEM学习策略、科学伦理、跨学科研究和职业发展。为了提高STEM课程的学业成绩，该项目还创建了C-STARS计划，在该计划中，经过仔细筛选和持续培训的高级STEM专业学生可以帮助那些在STEM课程的定量要素方面遇到困难的学生。C-STARS的同伴导师每周都会参加关于成功教学方法的指导会议。教师团队正在开发研讨会课程，通过新的支持服务增加QuEST Scholar的学习，包括学习小组、同伴导师和干预网络，以响应转学生的需求，并通过创建C-STARS同伴辅导计划，为所有学生改变STEM学习环境。更广泛的影响：由经验丰富、见多识广的教师指导的基于研究的举措，有助于提高有意在学院主修STEM领域的转学生的保留率。该项目广泛传播QuEST学者、研讨会和C-STARS项目的研究结果，以帮助其他机构提高STEM学生在本科阶段的保留率。

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.