Using Early Introduction to Undergraduate Research to Recruit, Retain, and Graduate More STEM Majors

巴克内尔学者（Bucknell Scholars）计划为大约95名科学和数学专业的学生提供财政支持，让他们参加两个夏天的研究，从他们在宾夕法尼亚州巴克内尔大学入学前的夏天开始。bushcholars参加夏季过渡研究计划，一个新的STEM为主题的生活/学习社区，特殊的第一年课程（STEM基础研讨会），以及一个新的跨学科STEM讨论组，所有这些都有助于创造一个鼓励学生热情和成功的环境STEM学科。BUScholars计划的一个具体目标是增加来自代表性不足的群体获得STEM学位的学生人数。通过积极的指导和补充学术支持，提高了STEM专业学生的保留率。通过新的生活/学习社区建立强大的同伴支持系统，参与高质量的研究机会，以及专门的学术和项目后咨询，大大增加了学生在巴克内尔以及后来进入STEM职业生涯时成功的可能性。该计划打算在5年内将巴克内尔的自然科学和数学专业的人数增加30%。对BUScholars计划的评估，特别是参与者的看法和反应，正在与两个类似的STEP项目的结果相结合，这两个项目包括纽约的汉密尔顿学院和格鲁吉亚的阿姆斯特朗大西洋州立大学夏季本科研究的早期介绍。所有参与STEP的学生都受到长期跟踪，重点是最终的学术和职业选择，结果正在与科学界分享。

The Bucknell Scholars (BUScholars) program provides financial support for approximately 95 science and mathematics majors to participate in two summers of research, starting the summer before they matriculate at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. BUScholars participate in a summer transition research program, a new STEM-themed living/learning community, special first-year coursework (STEM foundation seminars), and a new interdisciplinary STEM discussion group, all of which help create an environment that encourages student enthusiasm and success in STEM disciplines. A specific goal of the BUScholars program is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups achieving STEM degrees. Retention of students in STEM majors is improved through proactive mentoring and supplemental academic support. Establishing a strong peer support system through the new living/learning community, participation in high quality research opportunities, and dedicated academic and post-program advising greatly increases the likelihood of success for students while at Bucknell and later as they enter STEM careers. The program intends to increase the number of natural science and mathematics majors at Bucknell by 30% over 5 years. An assessment of the BUScholars program, particularly the perceptions and reactions of the participants, is being combined with results from the two similar STEP projects that incorporate early introduction of summer undergraduate research at Hamilton College in New York and Armstrong Atlantic State University in Georgia. All participating STEP students are being tracked on a long-term basis, with an emphasis on final academic and career choices, and the results are being shared with the scientific community.