Mentoring and Engaging Computer Science, Cybersecurity, and Bioinformatics Students to Increase Their Recruitment, Retention, and Preparation for the Workforce

为了应对计算机科学、网络安全和生物信息学领域对劳动力的高需求，芳邦大学“国家科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金项目(S-STEM)能力建设”项目团队将与行业联系人密切合作，以确保(1)芳邦的学位课程满足圣路易斯地区的当地需求，并满足全国劳动力需求，(2)通过为S-STEM奖学金学生提供奖学金、学术和职业支持，低收入、有学术天赋的学生将具备进入这些职业的能力。该项目将集中在这些重点领域增加招生、留住、毕业和安置不同类型的低收入学生。为了促进这一点，该项目将提供11个奖学金、指导、过渡到大学水平数学的技能、本科生研究和实习机会、基于现实世界的项目学习、暑期迎新计划以及信息技术(IT)项目管理系列研讨会。与此相一致，强大的行业联系将与该机构在研讨会系列、实习机会、在咨询委员会任职和学生指导方面合作，以帮助促进和促进计算机科学、网络安全和生物信息学的职业和/或进入这些领域的研究生院。该项目的一个基本目标是调查学生成功模式在体验式学习中的影响和挑战，其中包括：(A)让行业参与提供实习机会并开发基于项目的学习的现实应用；(B)夏季迎新计划，教新生如何在后续课程中学习数学；(C)与行业参与的项目管理研讨会；以及(D)实施教师指导和队列支持。目标包括：招收11名计算机科学、网络安全或生物信息学专业的低收入、有学术天赋的S-STEM学者；在4年内至少有9名学者毕业；在毕业后6个月内使所有应届毕业生在各自领域就业或就读研究生。为了单独和累积地研究和评估各种战略的影响，项目团队将使用定性和定量混合方法研究和评估方法，同时调查各种变量，包括财务支持、定向计划和项目管理研讨会、专业指导和指导，以及行业影响和参与的整体影响。研究方法将使研究人员能够衡量他们的战略的成功，特别是关于与行业的广泛和有节制的互动。研究和评价将产生可用于指导和通报持续方案拟订和可向其他机构转让的证据，特别是在城市地区。

In response to high workforce demands in the areas of computer science, cybersecurity, and bioinformatics, the project team for this "NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Program (S-STEM) Capacity Building" project at Fontbonne University will work closely with industry contacts to ensure that (1) Fontbonne's degree programs meet local needs in the St. Louis area as well as address national workforce needs and (2) low-income, academically talented students will be equipped to enter these careers by providing scholarships, academic, and career supports for its S-STEM Scholars. The project will concentrate on increasing enrollment, retention, graduation, and placement of diverse, low-income students in these focal areas. To foster this, the project will provide eleven scholarships, mentoring, skills for transitioning to college-level mathematics, undergraduate research and internship opportunities, real-world project-based learning, a summer orientation program, and a seminar series on information technology (IT) project management. In concert with this, strong industry connections will partner with the institution on the seminar series, internship opportunities, serving on advisory boards, and student mentoring to help promote and facilitate computer science, cybersecurity, and bioinformatics careers and/or entry into graduate school in these arenas.A fundamental goal of the project is to investigate the effects and challenges of a model for student success in experiential learning that includes: (a) engagement of industry in providing internships and developing real-world applications for project-based learning; (b) a summer orientation program to teach incoming students how to learn mathematics in subsequent courses; (c) seminars with industry input in project management; and (d) the implementation of faculty mentoring and cohort supports. Objectives include: enrolling eleven new S-STEM Scholars who are low-income, academically talented, and majoring in computer science, cybersecurity, or bioinformatics; graduating at least nine of the scholars in four years; and having all graduating scholars either employed in their field or attending graduate school within six months of graduation. To research and assess the impact of the various strategies, individually and cumulatively, the project team will use a qualitative and quantitative mixed-methods research and evaluation approach in connection with investigating a variety of variables including financial support, the orientation program and project management seminar, professional guidance and mentoring, and overall impact of industry influence and involvement. The research approach will allow the investigators to measure the success of their strategies, particularly concerning extensive and gauged interactions with industry. The research and evaluation will generate evidence that can be used to guide and inform sustained programming and transferability to other institutions, especially in urban areas.