HSI Pilot Project: Fostering Hispanic Achievement in Computer Science and Engineering with Affinity Research Group Model (Project Achieve)

从改善本科STEM教育的支持：西班牙裔服务机构（HSI计划），这条轨道1：规划和试点计划补助金旨在提高学生保留/持久性和准备在计算机，电气，机械工程和计算机科学（CS）专业，从而提高他们在布里奇波特大学的学位获得。此外，随着教师的发展，沿着，赠款的目的是加强本科CS和工程教学策略，这将导致学生的更高的学位完成率。低收入、第一代和少数族裔学生面临的经济困难和缺乏研究指导等障碍，使他们无法完成STEM学科的学士学位。此外，文化和学术障碍可以降低自我效能和自我认同作为一个科学家和工程师，当他们参与研究的经验。ACHIEVE项目将通过一个引人入胜的本科研究课程，介绍科学研究挑战，实施来自西班牙裔服务机构计算联盟（CAHSI）的亲和力研究小组模型。本课程将提供一个机会，与教师和研究生在计算机科学，计算机，电气和机械工程课程的研究经验参与。这个轨道1 PPP项目的总体目标是实施，评估，并产生基于证据的方法，以克服重大障碍，进入和坚持在本科工程和计算机科学学位课程的学生初步知识。该项目将采用亲和研究小组模式，这是一套建立在合作团队框架上的做法，以支持创建和维护充满活力和包容性的研究小组。它将试行一项干预措施，以减轻保持参与和完成STEM专业的已知障碍，重点关注学生获得职业相关技能，与专业人士的联系，并建立他们完成智力要求很高的学习课程的信心。它将解决以下研究问题。(1)亲和研究小组模式在提高学生在工程和计算机科学专业的前两年学习中的坚持性方面发挥了怎样的作用？(2)该模型如何在学生的前两年学习中提高学生的工程自我效能感？(3)教师在实施导致学生研究技能发展的模式（实验室研究技能，然后发表）时使用的方法是什么-实践社区，与课堂外的学生互动等？该项目将为下一阶段的实施提供信息，这将产生对复制，适应有用的数据，并增加有关增加工程和计算机科学专业学生代表性以及相关STEM职业的知识。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。

With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program), this Track 1: Planning and Pilot Program grant aims to increase student retention/persistence and preparedness in Computer, Electrical, Mechanical Engineering, and Computer Science (CS) majors, thereby increasing their degree attainment at the University of Bridgeport. Additionally, along with faculty development, the grant aims to enhance undergraduate CS and engineering teaching strategies that will lead to students’ higher degree completion rates. Barriers, like financial hardships and lack of research mentorship, for low-income, first-generation, and minority students prevent them from completing baccalaureate degrees in STEM disciplines. Further, cultural and academic barriers can lower self-efficacy and self-identity as a scientist and engineer when they participate in research experiences. Project ACHIEVE will implement the Affinity Research Group Model from the Computing Alliance for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (CAHSI) through an engaging undergraduate research course, Introduction to Scientific Research Challenges. This course will offer an opportunity to participate in research experiences with faculty and graduate students in Computer Science, Computer, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering programs.The overarching goal of this Track 1 PPP project is to implement, evaluate, and produce preliminary knowledge on evidence-based methods to overcome significant barriers to entry and persistence among students in undergraduate engineering and computer science degree programs. The project will adapt the Affinity Research Group Model, a set of practices built on a cooperative team framework to support the creation and maintenance of dynamic and inclusive research groups. It will pilot an intervention to mitigate known barriers to maintaining engagement in and completing STEM majors, focusing on students’ acquisition of career-related skills, connectedness to professionals, and building their confidence to complete an intellectually demanding course of study. It will address the research questions as follows. (1) How does the Affinity Research Group Model play a role in increasing students’ persistence in engineering and computer science majors during their first two years of study? (2) How does the model play a role in increasing students’ engineering self-efficacy during their first two years of study? (3) What are the approaches used by the faculty when implementing the model that leads to the development of students’ research skills (laboratory research skills followed by publication) – a community of practice, engagement with students outside the classroom, etc.? This project will inform the next phase of implementation, which will generate data useful for replication, adaptation, and increased knowledge about increasing student representation in engineering and computer science majors and associated STEM careers. It will also develop a community of practice for faculty to apply the model for other underrepresented undergraduates in STEM.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.