South Plains Mathematics Fellows

德克萨斯理工大学数学和统计系、米德兰学院、敖德萨学院和梅萨兰兹社区学院(新墨西哥州图库姆卡里)正在建立南平原数学研究员计划，在该计划中，来自代表性不足、低收入家庭的有学业天赋的学生可以获得获得数学学位的本科学习奖学金。在该计划的五年期间，52名学生每人每年将获得高达1万美元的奖学金。紧张的指导，专注的课程学习，以及参与研究的机会，正在为学者们成功的职业生涯和/或顺利过渡到研究生院做准备。该项目正通过网站和地区性高中进行广告宣传，重点是接触到代表性不足的学生群体。该计划的智力价值在于该计划的综合性，并得到有效的再创作网络的支持。留住策略包括精心指导和有凝聚力的队列，通过新的课程和项目来丰富学生的学习经验。目前正在研究辅导做法，可公布的结果应有利于寻求成功留住人数不足的农村学生的其他机构。参与者对研究数学的工作有一种感觉，而计划外的学生则受益于新课程。与地区合作伙伴的整合正在为数学学生开发一条新的渠道。在向经济弱势群体以及拉美裔人口和第一代大学生人口较多的地理偏远地区提供STEM教育方面，更广泛的影响在地区范围内具有重大意义。

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Texas Tech University, Midland College, Odessa College, and Mesalands Community College (Tucumcari, NM) are establishing the South Plains Mathematics Fellows program, in which academically talented students from underrepresented, low-income families receive scholarships for undergraduate study leading to a degree in mathematics. Over the five-year life of the program, 52 students will each receive scholarships of up to $10,000 per year. Intense mentoring, focused coursework, and participation in research opportunities are preparing the scholars for successful careers and/or smooth transitions to graduate school. The program is being advertised through websites and in regional high schools, with focused efforts to reach underrepresented student populations. Intellectual merits of the program lie in the comprehensive nature of the program that is supported with an effective recruitement network. Retention strategies include a carefully mentored and cohesive cohort, with new courses and projects to enrich the learning experiences of the students. Mentoring practices are being studied and publishable results should be beneficial to other institutions seeking successful retention of underrepresented rural students. Participants get a sense of the work of research mathematics, while students outside the program benefit from new courses. Integration with regional partners is developing a new pipeline for math students. The broader impacts are significant regionally in providing exposure to STEM education to economically disadvantaged groups and in geographically isolated regions with higher populations of Hispanics and first generation college students.