South Plains Mathematics Fellows

德克萨斯理工大学、米德兰学院、敖德萨学院和梅萨兰社区学院（新墨西哥州图克姆卡里）的数学与统计系正在建立南平原数学研究员计划，为来自代表性不足的低收入家庭的有学术才华的学生提供本科学习奖学金，最终获得数学学位。在该计划的五年期间，52 名学生每人将获得每年高达 10,000 美元的奖学金。密集的指导、重点突出的课程和参与研究机会正在为学者们的成功职业生涯和/或顺利过渡到研究生院做好准备。该计划正在通过网站和地区高中进行宣传，重点关注代表性不足的学生群体。该计划的智力优点在于该计划的综合性，并得到有效的招聘网络的支持。保留策略包括精心指导和有凝聚力的群体，以及新课程和项目来丰富学生的学习体验。正在研究指导实践，可发布的结果应该有利于其他寻求成功保留代表性不足的农村学生的机构。参与者可以了解数学研究工作，而项目外的学生则可以从新课程中受益。与区域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西班牙裔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，更广泛的影响在区域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.