Strengthening Outcomes for Students in Computer Science and Engineering through Leadership, Engagement, Academic Mentoring, and Preparation (LEAP)

LEAP(领导力、参与度、学术指导和准备)奖学金计划旨在提高犹他州山谷大学(UVU)计算机科学和工程专业学生的毕业率，以便更好地为他们在STEM劳动力市场的继续教育和成功做好准备。该计划旨在满足一所综合性开放招生大学中有经济需求的有才华的学生的需求。学生群体包括开始接受大学教育的高中生、刚刚宣布专业的大学生、第一代大学生，以及可能在缺课后重返校园的非传统学生。每年将颁发21个奖学金给学业上有天赋但经济上有困难的学生，包括妇女和少数民族。LEAP将通过多学科项目和点对点辅导，为IEEE学生分会的学生提供领导力培训和机会。该计划将通过新生水平的课程项目和必修的顶峰项目提供更多参与学习的机会。教师导师将接受有效的学生指导培训，并将被分配给两到三名奖学金获得者。通过LEAP每月会议、点对点指导和团队项目，学生们将获得一种社区意识，这在通勤学校尤为重要。该计划将提高参加计算机科学和工程专业的学生的毕业率(或两年制工程预科课程学生到经认可的四年制课程的转化率)。LEAP有可能增加代表人数不足的人群的入学率和完成率，特别是在紫禁城大学的计算机科学和工程专业中任职人数严重不足的女性。

The LEAP (Leadership, Engagement, Academic Mentoring and Preparation) scholarship program aims to increase the graduation rate of students in Computer Science and Engineering at Utah Valley University (UVU) in order to better prepare them for continued education and success in the STEM workforce. The program is designed to meet the needs of talented students with financial need in a comprehensive, open-enrollment university. The student population pool includes high school students who starting their college education, college students who are just declaring majors, first-generation college students, and nontraditional students who may be returning after an absence from education. Twenty-one scholarships per year will be awarded to academically talented but financially needy students, including women and minorities.LEAP will be providing leadership training and opportunities for students within a student chapter of IEEE through multidisciplinary projects and peer-to-peer mentoring. The program will provide additional engaged learning opportunities through course projects at the freshman level and a required capstone project. Faculty mentors will receive training in effective student mentoring, and will be assigned to two or three scholarship recipients. Students will gain a sense of community, especially important in a commuter school, through LEAP monthly meetings, peer-to-peer mentoring, and team projects. The program will increase the graduation rates of participating students in Computer Science and Engineering (or the transfer rate of students in the 2-year Pre-Engineering program to accredited 4-year programs). LEAP has potential to increase the enrollment and completion of underrepresented populations, especially women who are greatly underrepresented in UVU's Computer Science and Engineering programs.