Catalyst Project-Life STEM: Enhancing the Undergraduate Biology Curriculum to Increase Student Engagement

历史上的黑人学院和大学本科项目（HBCU- up）支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以提高HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们可以攻读STEM研究生课程和/或职业。通过这个为期一年的项目，Tougaloo学院旨在通过教师和学生的参与来提高学生对生物科学的参与度和保留率。本计画将加强第一年普通生物学实验课的课程设置，增加更多以研究为基础的活动。生物学教师将与学生一起创建一个生物科学学习社区，以加强对核心课程的保留。总体结果将是通过为本科生提供坚实的生物学基础来加强STEM管道。图加卢学院生物系将进行密集的课程审查，以加强课程和课外活动。这个过程的一个重要组成部分将是开发一个新的介绍性生物学实验室，使用基于研究的活动。该计划的评估将包括感知调查和学术地位，以确保计划的有效性。随着对科学理解的增加，普通生物学实验室的教师将采取策略来提高学生的保留率。教师将获得发展机会，加强教学和研究。学生将获得指导和支持，以提高在关键课程中的学业成功。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) 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. Through this one-year project, Tougaloo College seeks to increase student engagement and retention in the Biology sciences by engaging both faculty and students. The proposed project will strengthen curriculum in the first year General Biology laboratory course with more research based activities. Biology faculty members will work with students to create a learning community in the biological sciences to strengthen retention in core classes. The overall outcome will be to strengthen the STEM pipeline by providing undergraduates with a strong foundation in Biology. The Tougaloo College Biology department will undergo an intensive review of programs to strengthen curricular and co-curricular activities. An important component of this process will be to develop a new introductory Biology laboratory, using research based activities. Assessments of this program will include perception surveys and academic standing to ensure program effectiveness. With a focus on increasing scientific understanding, instructors of the General Biology laboratories will adopt strategies to increase retention rates. Faculty will be supported with developmental opportunities that enhance teaching and research. Students will be provided mentoring and support to increase academic success in critical classes.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.