Targeted Infusion Proposal: Virginia Union University Undergraduate Research Training Program in the Biological Sciences

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读STEM研究生课程和/或职业。弗吉尼亚联合大学(VUU)的这个项目旨在开发和实施生物教育课程中基于课程的本科生研究经验(CURE)，为本科生提供获得科学研究经验的途径，并提高教师在生物科学方面的研究能力。拟议的计划是一项战略，旨在提高VUU的能力，以培养更多在研究生院和STEM职业生涯中具有竞争力的STEM毕业生。预计该项目将提高VUU的STEM教育质量，形成新的研究密集型学术课程。该项目的目标是增加VUU生物学毕业生进入STEM研究生课程和/或劳动力的数量，以及在小型文科HBCU进行STEM研究的教师能力。这些目标将通过以下具体目标来实现：(1)增加生物学学生在与研究生培训和/或科学工作人员最相关的实验室技术进步方面的接触和能力；(2)提高学生对正规基础科学培训和独立研究经验的参与度；以及(3)提高教师专业知识和进行科学研究的能力。为了实现这些目标，我们将采取三管齐下的方法：1)在生物教育课程中开发和实施基于课程的本科生研究经验(CURE)；2)实施一套针对教师和学生研究发展需求的关键方面的课外活动；以及3)实施生物科学本科生研究证书计划。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. The project at Virginia Union University (VUU) seeks to develop and implement course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in the biology education curriculum, provide access to scientific research experiences for undergraduate students and increase the research capacity of faculty in the biological sciences. The proposed program is a strategy for increasing the capacity of VUU to produce more STEM graduates who are competitive for graduate school and STEM careers. It is anticipated that this program will enhance the quality of STEM education at VUU, leading to the formation of a new research-intensive academic curriculum.The goals of the project are to increase the number of competitive VUU biology graduates entering STEM graduate programs and/or workforce, as well as the faculty capacity for conducting STEM research at a small, liberal arts HBCU. These goals will be accomplished through the following specific objectives: (1) increase biology student exposure and competency in laboratory-based technological advances that are most relevant to graduate training and/or the scientific workforce; (2) increase student engagement in formal basic science training and independent research experiences; and (3) enhance faculty discipline-specific expertise and increase the capacity to conduct scientific research. A 3-pronged approach will be used to fulfill these objectives: 1) develop and implement course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) in the biology education curriculum; 2) implement a set of extracurricular activities targeting key aspects of faculty and student research development needs; and 3) implement an Undergraduate Research Certificate Program in the biological sciences.