The New Scientist Training (NeST) Program

亚基马谷社区学院（YVCC）的新科学家培训（NeST）计划将提高有兴趣获得STEM学位的低收入和第一代大学生的表现。 该计划将为至少32名参与者提供财政支持，这些参与者分为四组。 该项目的最终目标是加强西班牙裔和其他来自亚基马山谷贫困背景的第一代科学家在技术领域的优秀人才。 该计划将利用五个关键要素：奖励奖学金将被授予学习成绩;本科生研究机会;成立一个STEM俱乐部;扩大辅导;和积极主动的建议。 将采用一种两级办法来收集关键数据，并提供资料，以证实项目在多大程度上实现了所述成果目标。 数据收集和分析的第一层将是定量的，主要利用YVCC的学生管理信息系统来收集有关学生人口统计和持久性目标的信息。 第二层将依赖于从参与项目各个方面的教师，员工和学生系统收集的定性数据。 其结果将是可用于其他机构的证据，以改善代表性不足的学生的表现和科学的持久性。

The New Scientist Training (NeST) program at Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) will improve the performance of low-income and first-generation college students interested in earning a degree in a STEM. The program will provide financial support to a minimum of 32 participants organized in four cohorts. The ultimate objective of the project is to bolster the pipeline of Hispanic and other first-generation scientists from poorer backgrounds in the Yakima Valley who excel in technical fields. The program will utilize five key elements: incentivized scholarships to be awarded for academic performance; undergraduate research opportunities; formation of a STEM club; expanded tutoring; and proactive advising. A two-tiered approach will be utilized to capture critical data and provide information to substantiate the degree to which the project is meeting stated outcome objectives. The first tier of data collection and analysis will be quantitative, utilizing primarily YVCC's Student Management Information System to collect information about student demographics and persistence objectives. The second tier will rely on qualitative data systematically gathered from faculty, staff, and students participating in various aspects of the project. The result will be evidence that can be used at other institutions to improve underrepresented student performance and persistence in the sciences.