WSU Students ASK: A Success & Scholarship Program for Students Applying Scientific Knowledge

在美国国家科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金(S-STEM)项目的资助下，“威斯康星州立大学学生提问：为应用科学知识的学生提供成功和奖学金计划”将支持有经济需求的高成就、低收入学生。该计划的重点是支持莱特州立大学数学和科学专业的成功。S-STEM Track 2项目预计将持续五年，将为42名经济困难的理科和数学专业学生提供奖学金。奖学金将从学生大学二年级开始。该项目包括一个全面的指导和体验式学习途径，以支持学生的学术和职业发展。所有奖学金学生将参加至少一年的本科生研究。在大学的第二年(该项目的第一年)，奖学金获得者将注册一个基于课堂的本科生研究体验，然后加入一个为期一学期的教师研究团队。该计划将支持那些想要在整个夏天继续他们的研究的学生。在第三年，学生可以继续从事研究，或参加外部实习和相关机会。第四年的重点是帮助学生就业和/或申请毕业或专业课程。项目团队将进行研究，以提供关于体验式学习和经济援助对科学技能集发展、STEM社区成员资格和学术成功的影响的新知识。项目评估将包括将定性方法、网络分析和统计建模相结合的混合方法。由于与许多其他本科研究机构相比，莱特州立大学的学生群体在学术上是不同的，因此项目团队将专注于一项因素的研究，这些因素有助于将该项目的许多积极影响扩大到更多样化的学生群体。该项目有可能产生与低收入、有学术天赋的学生成功相关的四个方面的新知识(体验式STEM学习、STEM社区成员资格、技能发展和学术成功)。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With funding from the NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, the "WSU Students ASK: A Success and Scholarship Program for Students Applying Scientific Knowledge" will support high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need. The program focuses on supporting the success of mathematics and science majors at Wright State University. This S-STEM Track 2 project is expected to last five years and will provide scholarships to 42 financially at-risk students majoring in science and mathematics. The scholarships will begin in the students' second year of college. The project includes a comprehensive mentoring and experiential learning pathway to support students' academic and career development.All scholarship students will participate in at least one year of undergraduate research. During their second year in college (first year in the program), scholarship recipients will enroll in a classroom-based undergraduate research experience, then join a faculty research team for one semester. The program will support students who want to continue their research through the summer. In their third year, students can continue to pursue research, or participate in external internships and related opportunities. The fourth year focuses on assisting students with career placement and/or application to graduate or professional programs. The project team will conduct research that can contribute new knowledge about the impact of experiential learning coupled with financial aid on scientific skill set development, STEM community membership, and academic success. Program assessment will include a mixed-methods approach that combines qualitative methods, network analysis, and statistical modeling. Since Wright State has an academically heterogeneous student body compared to many other undergraduate research institutions, the project team will focus on a study of factors that help to scale the many positive effects of this program to a more diverse population of students. The project has the potential to generate new knowledge about four dimensions (experiential STEM learning, membership in the STEM community, skill development, and academic success) relevant to the success of low-income, academically talented students.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.