HSI Pilot Project: STEM Undergraduate, Retention, Graduation, and Engagement (SURGE)

在改进的本科生STEM教育：拉美裔服务机构(HSI计划)的支持下，这一Track 1试点项目旨在改变Fairleigh Dickinson University(FDU)提供STEM的方式，并改变STEM文化。尽管关于拉美裔学生的STEM文献很多，但他们的坚持性低得令人担忧。Surge小组准备的内部自我评估确定了STEM的四个不足之处，以及四个机构优势。基于这一评估，该团队提出了三种利用机构优势的激增战略。该小组认识到有必要进行体制改革以改善结果。因此，Surge将实施变革和重组，包括1)有利于STEM学习的专门领域，2)学术支持计划，3)已修订的入门课程，包括循证教学和实践，4)教职员工和同行的顾问网络，5)付费研究机会，6)“STEM意识”研讨会，7)同行导师，8)虚拟学习计划。通过Surge，FDU的学生将体验到一个更有利于学习的STEM环境。这些数据将使学生人口统计、教师教学负荷和资源相似的城市机构受益。Surge将1)成立STEM学术中心，2)为教师提供循证、教学和文化意识研讨会，3)为STEM专业实施研究计划。这些目标将解决三个研究问题：1)STEM激增的每一个方面如何改善西班牙裔STEM学生的学习、保留、毕业、上研究生的愿望和对STEM职业的兴趣？2)哪些活动与STEM日益多样化以及FDU建立和维持机构能力所需的基础要素最相一致？3)非认知和文化障碍研讨会是否改善了拉美裔STEM学生与他们的教师顾问的关系和“STEM意识”？学生访谈、体验、调查和焦点小组将被用来构建一个不断发展的数据驱动模型，以确定激增中的限制和低效。该团队将确保对所有数据进行彻底分析，并将其用于提供关于哪些高影响活动的新知识：1)建设支持STEM专业的机构能力；2)提供证据以支持项目的成功和可复制性；3)通过将成功的项目组成部分制度化来改造FDU。Surge将通过STEM研讨会培养影响500名学生的能力，向46名STEM专业学生发放津贴，并为30名STEM教师提供循证和文化障碍研讨会。Surge将通过STEM参与提高STEM专业学生的毅力，这些受到Surge积极影响的学生将向他们的同龄人传播“STEM意识”。浪涌的这种“多米诺骨牌效应”设计是故意的，目的是对FDU的STEM文化产生持久的影响。这些数据将使学生人口统计、教师教学负荷和资源相似的城市机构受益。HSI计划旨在加强本科生STEM教育和HSI的能力建设。HSI计划支持的项目也将产生关于如何实现这些目标的新知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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 Pilot Project aims to transform how STEM is delivered at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) and change the STEM culture. Despite the abundance of STEM literature on Hispanic students, their persistence is alarmingly low. An internal self-assessment prepared by the SURGE team identified four STEM deficiencies, along with four institutional strengths. Based on this assessment, the team proposes three SURGE strategies that leverage institutional strengths. The team recognizes the need for institutional change to improve outcomes. As a result, SURGE will implement transformational and reorganizational changes that include 1) a dedicated area conducive to STEM learning, 2) academic support programs, 3) gateway courses that have been revised to include evidence-based pedagogies and practices, 4) an advisor network of faculty, staff, and peers, 5) paid research opportunities, 6) workshops on “STEM awareness”, 7) peer tutors, and 8) virtual learning programs. Through SURGE, students at FDU will experience a STEM environment more conducive to learning. The data will benefit urban institutions with similar student demographics, faculty teaching loads, and resources. SURGE will 1) launch a STEM Academic Center, 2) provide faculty with evidence-based, pedagogical, and cultural awareness workshops, and 3) implement research initiatives for STEM majors. These objectives will address three research questions: 1) How does each facet of SURGE improve Hispanic STEM students’ learning, retention, graduation, desire to attend graduate school, and interest in a STEM career? 2) Which activities are best aligned with increasing diversity in STEM and foundational elements required to build and sustain institutional capacity at FDU? And 3) Do non-cognitive and cultural barrier workshops improve Hispanic STEM students’ relationship with their faculty advisors and “STEM awareness”? Student interviews, experiences, surveys, and focus groups will be used to construct an evolving data-driven model which identifies limitations, and inefficiencies in SURGE. The team will ensure all data is thoroughly analyzed and used to contribute new knowledge on which high-impact activities 1) build institutional capacity to support STEM majors, 2) generate evidence to support program success and replicability, and 3) transform FDU through institutionalization of successful program components. SURGE will develop the capacity to impact 500 students through STEM workshops, award stipends to 46 STEM majors, and provide 30 STEM faculty with evidence-based and cultural barrier workshops. SURGE will improve the persistence of STEM majors through STEM engagement, and these students who are positively impacted by SURGE will disseminate “STEM awareness” to their peers. This “domino effect” design of SURGE is deliberate and is intended to have a lasting impact on the STEM culture at FDU. This data will benefit urban institutions with similar student demographics, faculty teaching loads, and resources. The HSI Program aims to enhance undergraduate STEM education and build capacity at HSIs. Projects supported by the HSI Program will also generate new knowledge on how to achieve these aims.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.