Resilience and Adaptation in Environmental and Natural Sciences: RA'ENS and S-STEM

通过这个S-STEM项目，阿拉斯加费尔班克斯大学的PI团队正在增加有经济需求的学术天才学生的数量，这些学生获得了环境和自然科学学士学位。这批学生包括28名已经在该大学就读的高级本科生，以及来自五所附属社区学院和Ilisagvik部落学院的转校生。该项目的目标是通过将奖学金学生融入阿拉斯加可持续发展研究和教育社区来留住他们。项目要素包括(a)全面的招聘策略，(b)强有力的指导计划，(c)职业和沟通研讨会，以及(d)补充课程和早期研究参与。认识到该地区需要培养具有环境科学背景的学生，并且参与与解决公民问题相关的研究对美洲原住民和阿拉斯加原住民学生具有强烈的吸引力，项目团队设计了一个严格的30学分课程，用于跨学科的恢复和适应（可持续性）证书，鼓励参与者完成。为了扩大参与，积极招募美国原住民和阿拉斯加原住民学生。该项目将在两个重要方面产生广泛影响。首先，通过评估和评估产生的数据预计将支持这样一种理论，即通过与社区研究和公民参与相关的综合学术计划，可以实现STEM领域学生的高留存率。进行形成性评估，以检查是否招收了不同的学生群体，并具备以下条件：(a)保持目标GPA（3.0或更高），(b)在适当水平上表现技能，(c)获得STEM学位毕业。总结性评估是根据学生学习成果评估、学生论文和毕业后的数据，确定是否完成了增加在所选领域准备充分的学生数量的项目目标。其次，项目成果的传播有望为在招收和留住STEM学生方面实施基于社区的实践提供一个模式。该项目团队计划在STEM教与学的全国会议上以及通过国家科学与公民参与中心展示他们的工作。项目可交付成果包括总结性评估结果和为韧性和适应性证书开发的课程材料。

Through this S-STEM project the PI team at the University of Alaska Fairbanks is increasing the number of academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn baccalaureate degrees in environmental and natural sciences. The student cohort is comprised of 28 upper level undergraduates who are already at the university and transfer students from the five feeder community colleges as well as from Ilisagvik Tribal College. The goal of the project is to retain the scholarship students by integrating them into the Alaskan community of sustainability research and education. Project elements include (a) a comprehensive recruitment strategy, (b) a strong mentoring program, (c) career and communication workshops, and (d) supplementary courses and early research involvement. Acknowledging the regional need to prepare students who have backgrounds in environmental science and that participation in research related to solving civic problems has a strong appeal for Native American and Native Alaskan students, the project team has designed a rigorous, 30- credit hour curriculum for an interdisciplinary Certificate in Resilience and Adaptation (sustainability) which participants are encouraged to complete. In order to broaden participation, Native American and Native Alaskan students are recruited actively.There are two important ways in which this project will have broad impact. First, data generated through assessment and evaluation is expected to support the rationale that high retention of students in STEM fields can be achieved through a comprehensive academic program linked to community-based research and civic engagement. Formative evaluation is carried out to examine whether or not a diverse group of students is recruited and equipped to (a) maintain the target GPA (3.0 or higher), (b) perform skills at the appropriate level, (c) graduate with a STEM degree. Summative evaluation is to ascertain whether or not the project goal to increase the number of well-prepared students in the selected fields is accomplished based on the Student Assessment of Learning Gains, student essays, and post-graduation data. Secondly, dissemination of the project results is expected to provide a model for implementation of community-based practices in recruitment and retention of STEM students. The project team plans to present their work at the national meetings on STEM teaching and learning as well as through the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement. Project deliverables include results of summative evaluation and the course materials developed for the Certificate in Resilience and Adaptation.