Scholars in Math and Science: A Program to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Students in the Biological Sciences

数学和科学学者：改善生物科学学生招募和保留的计划

• 批准号: 1457997
• 负责人: Paul Meier
• 金额: $ 60.78万
• 依托单位: Muhlenberg College
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-04-01 至 2020-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1457997&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Scholars; Math; Science; Program; Improve

Muhlenberg College has received an NSF Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) award for a project entitled The Scholars in Math and Science (SIMS) program. SIMS will target academically talented and economically disadvantaged students who enter college seeking a major within the biological sciences. Two cohorts of 8 students each will be recruited: the first cohort will receive scholarships of $9,500/year for 4 years, and the second will receive scholarships of $9,500/year for 3 years. The proposal is building upon successful program elements of a previous STEM grant that included enhanced recruitment and academic support. Through this program, Muhlenberg College will promote a robust and diverse STEM workforce.Program elements new to this project are being designed to develop academic and science skills, create a learning community that lasts from freshman to senior year, and develop student leadership through activities on campus and in public outreach. The project will improve student support services including forming learning communities, providing special classes and sections to get students past hurdle classes, instituting peer-led learning, and providing long-term mentors. SIMS will increase the leadership roles of scholars, improving their science process skills, encouraging participation in research, and improving recruitment and financial support for low income and otherwise underrepresented groups. SIMS assessment and evaluation will be comprehensive and ongoing and include both quantitative and qualitative instruments and measures from the literature. The project external evaluator is using both formative and summative evaluations to assess student mathematics readiness, skills development, ability to understand and communicate key principles in biology, progress to degree, and graduation rates. Particular emphasis will be placed on the surveys to assess and continually improve the elements of the program that are focused on student success. The data will inform our understanding of effective practices that support the persistence to graduation of students underrepresented in STEM disciplines.

穆伦伯格学院因名为“数学与科学学者”(SIMS) 计划的项目获得了美国国家科学基金会科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金 (S-STEM)。 SIMS 将针对那些进入大学寻求生物科学专业的学术才华和经济困难的学生。将招募两批学生，每批 8 名学生：第一批将获得为期 4 年的每年 9,500 美元的奖学金，第二批将获得为期 3 年的每年 9,500 美元的奖学金。该提案建立在之前 STEM 资助的成功计划要素的基础上，其中包括加强招聘和学术支持。通过这个项目，穆伦伯格学院将培养一支强大而多元化的 STEM 劳动力队伍。该项目的新项目元素旨在培养学术和科学技能，创建一个从大一到大四的学习社区，并通过校园活动和公共宣传来培养学生的领导力。 该项目将改善学生支持服务，包括组建学习社区、提供特殊课程和部分以帮助学生通过跨栏课程、建立同伴主导的学习以及提供长期导师。 SIMS 将增强学者的领导作用，提高他们的科学过程技能，鼓励参与研究，并改善对低收入和其他代表性不足群体的招聘和财政支持。 SIMS 评估和评估将是全面且持续的，包括定量和定性工具以及文献中的测量方法。 项目外部评估员使用形成性评估和总结性评估来评估学生的数学准备情况、技能发展、理解和交流生物学关键原理的能力、学位进展和毕业率。 将特别重视评估和持续改进以学生成功为重点的计划要素的调查。 这些数据将帮助我们了解有效的做法，以支持 STEM 学科中代表性不足的学生坚持毕业。