Louis Stokes STEM Pathways and Research Alliance: Iowa-Illinois-Nebraska LSAMP: IINSPIRE – A STEM Partnership for Innovation in Research and Education

Louis Stokes少数族裔参与联盟(LSAMP)计划帮助大学和学院努力大幅增加科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学科的高质量学位课程录取并成功完成的学生数量，以使STEM劳动力多样化。特别强调通过创新的、基于证据的招聘和保留战略以及相关的教育经验来转变本科STEM教育，以支持在STEM学科中代表性不足的人群：非洲裔美国人、西班牙裔美国人、美国印第安人、阿拉斯加原住民、夏威夷原住民和太平洋原住民。这些战略有助于培养准备充分的学生，这些学生非常合格，并有动力在STEM继续研究生教育或职业生涯。为了保持全球竞争力，至关重要的是要挖掘所有公民的才华，并在支撑知识经济的STEM领域提供出色的教育准备。爱荷华州-伊利诺伊州-内布拉斯加州STEM科研和教育创新伙伴关系(IINSPIRE)计划于2011年成立，旨在满足对更多样化和更熟练的技术劳动力的需求。组成联盟的16所两年制和四年制学院和大学种类繁多，包括10所四年制院校、5所社区学院和1所部落学院。这些机构是奥古斯塔纳学院、得梅因地区社区学院、多恩大学、东爱荷华州社区学院区、格林内尔学院、鹰眼社区学院、爱荷华州立大学、爱荷华谷社区学院区、柯克伍德社区学院、小牧师部落学院、路德学院、内布拉斯加州卫斯理大学、爱荷华大学、北爱荷华州大学、上爱荷华州大学和沃特堡学院。该联盟的目标是增加每年授予的STEM学士学位的数量，增加社区大学的转学入学人数，并在STEM研究生课程中招收一批联盟学生。这些目标将通过继续前几年成功的方案编制和扩大校园特有的学生体验模式来实现，在这种模式中，每个校园根据自己的需要和背景定制一个通用模式。这些模式包括各种高影响力的实践，包括本科生的研究经验。这种方法使校园领导能够分享有效的实践并相互学习。它是支持不同学术环境下的制度化和可持续性的核心。这些目标支持了美国国家科学基金会的战略目标，即“培养一支世界级的、广泛包容的科学和工程劳动力队伍，并扩大所有公民的科学素养”。该联盟不断扩大的参与研究是由两个问题指导的：(1)参与IINSPIRE LSAMP如何随着时间的推移调节学生的目标？(2)IINSPIRE LSAMP联盟如何创建一个有目的的网络，以扩大跨STEM领域种族和民族划分的学生的参与？以社区文化财富、交叉性和社会认知职业理论为基础的混合理论框架有助于研究学生个体经历和语境因素。这项研究还在调查联盟机构如何让学生参与STEM领域，包括较新的新兴领域，如人工智能、数据科学、网络安全和量子科学与技术。在这些领域的准备和伙伴关系是该项目的更广泛的影响。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。

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program assists universities and colleges in their efforts to significantly increase the numbers of students matriculating into and successfully completing high quality degree programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to diversify the STEM workforce. Particular emphasis is placed on transforming undergraduate STEM education through innovative, evidence-based recruitment and retention strategies, and relevant educational experiences in support of populations underrepresented in STEM disciplines: African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders. These strategies facilitate the production of well-prepared students highly qualified and motivated to pursue graduate education or careers in STEM.For the United States (U.S.) to remain globally competitive, it is vital that it taps into the talent of all its citizens and provides exceptional educational preparedness in STEM areas that underpin the knowledge-based economy. The Iowa-Illinois-Nebraska STEM Partnership for Innovation in Research and Education LSAMP (IINSPIRE) program was established in 2011 in response to the need for a more diverse and skilled technical workforce. The 16 two-year and four-year colleges and universities that make up the Alliance are diverse and include 10 four-year institutions, five community colleges, and one tribal college. The institutions are Augustana College, Des Moines Area Community College, Doane University, Eastern Iowa Community College District, Grinnell College, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa State University, Iowa Valley Community College District, Kirkwood Community College, Little Priest Tribal College, Luther College, Nebraska Wesleyan University, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, Upper Iowa University, and Wartburg College. The goal of the Alliance is to increase the number of STEM baccalaureate degrees awarded annually, and increase the community college transfer enrollment, and to enroll a cohort of Alliance students in STEM graduate programs. These goals will be accomplished by continuing successful programming from previous years and by expanding the campus-specific student experience model, in which each campus customizes a general model based on their own needs and contexts. The models include various high-impact practices, including undergraduate research experiences. This approach enables campus leaders to share effective practices and learn from one another. It is central to supporting institutionalization and sustainability in different academic environments. These goals support the National Science Foundation's strategic goal to "cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce, and expand the scientific literacy of all citizens."The Alliance's broadening participation research is guided by two questions: (1) How does participation in IINSPIRE LSAMP mediate students’ goals over time? (2) How does the IINSPIRE LSAMP alliance create an intentional network to broaden the participation of racially and ethnically minoritized students across STEM fields? A blended theoretical framework drawing on community cultural wealth, intersectionality, and social cognitive career theory facilitates studying both individual student experiences and contextual factors. This research is also investigating how alliance institutions engage students in STEM fields, including newer, emergent fields, such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and quantum science and technology. Preparation and partnerships in these fields is a broader impact of the project.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.