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

在“改善本科STEM教育：西班牙裔服务机构”（HSI计划）的支持下，该计划旨在提高学生在计算机、电气、机械工程和计算机科学（CS）专业的保留/坚持和准备，从而提高他们在布里奇波特大学的学位成就。此外，随着师资队伍的发展，该资助旨在加强本科计算机科学和工程教学策略，从而提高学生的学位完成率。对于低收入、第一代和少数族裔学生来说，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，文化和学术障碍会降低科学家和工程师在参与研究经历时的自我效能感和自我认同感。项目实现将实施亲和研究小组模型从计算联盟为西班牙裔服务机构（CAHSI）通过一个引人入胜的本科研究课程，介绍科研挑战。本课程将为教师和研究生提供参与计算机科学、计算机、电气和机械工程专业的研究经验的机会。这一轨道1 PPP项目的总体目标是实施、评估和产生基于证据的方法的初步知识，以克服工程和计算机科学本科学位课程的学生进入和坚持的重大障碍。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实践，旨在支持创建和维护充满活力和包容性的研究小组。它将试点一项干预措施，以减轻维持参与和完成STEM专业的已知障碍，重点是学生获得职业相关技能，与专业人士建立联系，并建立他们完成智力要求高的学习课程的信心。它将解决以下研究问题。(1)亲和性研究小组模式如何在提高学生在前两年学习工程和计算机科学专业的坚持度方面发挥作用？(2)该模型对学生前两年工程自我效能感的提升有何作用？(3)教师在实施导致学生研究技能发展（实验室研究技能随后出版）的模式时使用的方法是什么-实践社区，课堂外与学生的互动等？该项目将为下一阶段的实施提供信息，该阶段将生成有助于复制、调整的数据，并增加有关工程和计算机科学专业及相关STEM职业中学生比例增加的知识。它还将为教师开发一个实践社区，将该模式应用于其他代表性不足的STEM本科生。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。

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.