Targeted Infusion Project: Creation of an environmental science minor program for STEM success

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本科学生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读科学、技术、工程或数学(STEM)研究生课程和/或职业。德克萨斯南方大学的这个项目旨在通过在现有学位课程中增加环境科学辅修课程来加强该大学招收、留住和毕业STEM专业代表人数不足的学生的能力。该项目的主要目标是为STEM本科生创建一个新的环境科学(ES)辅修课程，以获得环境问题的概述和应用知识。在完成21个学期的学分(5门核心课程和2门选修课程)后，学生将有资格获得ES辅修课程。通过多个STEM系(生物、化学和土木工程)的跨学科合作，新的ES辅修课程有可能提高非裔美国STEM本科生在获得专业工作和/或攻读ES及相关领域的研究生学位方面的准备。将通过调查和焦点小组讨论来评估ES辅修计划在提高职业准备自信心和职业决策自我效能方面的效果。该项目的知识、结果和成果将通过各种场所传播，如会议、研讨会、互联网、时事通讯、手册和期刊出版物，以在不同的利益相关者群体中分享研究结果。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力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) 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 science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) graduate programs and/or careers. The project at Texas Southern University seeks to strengthen the university's ability to recruit, retain, and graduate underrepresented students in STEM by adding an Environmental Science (ES) minor to the existing degree programs. The primary goal of the project is to create a new Environmental Science (ES) minor program for STEM undergraduate students to gain an overview and applied knowledge of environmental issues. Following the completion of 21 semester credit hours (5 core courses and 2 elective courses), students will be eligible to earn a minor in ES. With interdisciplinary collaboration of multiple STEM departments (biology, chemistry, and civil engineering), the new ES minor program has the potential to improve the readiness of African American STEM undergraduate students in securing professional employment and/or pursuing graduate degrees in ES and related fields. Effects of the ES Minor Program on improvement of self-confidence in career readiness and self-efficacy in career decision-making will be assessed using surveys and focus group discussion. Knowledge, results, and outcomes of this project will be disseminated through a variety of venues, such as conferences, workshops, Internet, newsletters, handbooks, and journal publications to share the findings across various stakeholder groups.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.