Equitable, Accessible Short-Term Science Research for Two-Year College Students

该项目旨在通过在两年制大学中扩大对STEM感兴趣的不同学生群体获得本科生研究经验的机会，为国家利益服务。传统的为期八到十周的住宿研究体验要求学生一次离开家几周，这对参与研究构成了巨大的挑战。因此，对于两年制大学STEM学生的成功来说，在全国范围内广泛开发和实施替代研究途径是至关重要的。该项目旨在利用与附近四年制研究型大学的现有合作伙伴关系，为两年制大学生创造一到两周的有偿研究体验。参加短期研究经验的假设是为了增加STEM保留的全日制或非全日制两年制大学生的数量。最终，这个项目旨在建立一个可转移的模式，让两年制大学生参与STEM研究，从而增加归属感、成长心态，以及在转移和获得STEM学士学位方面的毅力。本项目的目标是增加STEM学生在转到学士学位课程之前经历真实科学研究的人数。具体来说，该项目旨在通过在当地大学为两年制大学生创造新的有偿研究机会，在现有项目的基础上再接再厉。该项目将以四个主要目标为指导：1)促进与四年制大学的伙伴关系，这些大学将举办为期较短的本科生研究体验；2)为每年15-30名学生设计和实施家庭机构赞助的研究体验计划；3)为与本科生研究人员一起工作的四年制大学研究生助理开发和实施领导力和指导培训；以及4)为学生研究人员举办研究研讨会，介绍他们的工作。该项目的成功将证明STEM专业的留校率增加，学生参与者的转化率也提高。评估方法将着眼于捕捉学生在科学界的归属感、对科学实验室的信心水平以及成长心态的发展。一名外部评估员将与项目团队合作，在整个项目期间定期提供形成性和总结性反馈。该项目的结果将通过出版物、演示文稿和专业网络向两年制大学STEM社区传播。NSF关于在两年制高等教育机构推进本科STEM教育的创新和影响的项目描述支持在两年制大学推进STEM教育倡议的项目。该项目描述促进了两年制大学本科STEM教育的创新和循证实践。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。

This project aims to serve the national interest by expanding access to undergraduate research experiences across diverse STEM-interested student populations at two-year colleges. Traditional, eight- to ten- week residential research experiences that require students to move away from home for weeks at a time can present a significant challenge to research participation. It is therefore essential for the success of two-year college STEM students that alternative research pathways are developed and implemented broadly across the Nation. This project intends to leverage existing partnerships with nearby four-year research universities to create paid one- to two-week research experiences for two-year college students. Participation in short-term research experiences is hypothesized to increase the number of full-time or part-time two-year college students that are retained in STEM. Ultimately, this project intends to build a transferrable model for engaging two-year college students in STEM research that results in increased sense of belonging, growth mindset, and perseverance towards transferring and obtaining a bachelor’s degree in STEM.The goal of this project is to increase the number of STEM students experiencing authentic science research before transferring to their bachelor’s degree program. Specifically, the project aims to build on an existing program by creating new paid research opportunities at local universities for two-year college students. Four primary objectives will guide this project: 1) Foster partnerships with four-year universities that will host shorter duration undergraduate research experiences; 2) Design and implement a home institution sponsored research experience program for 15-30 students annually; 3) Develop and implement leadership and mentoring training for four-year college graduate assistants working with the undergraduate researchers; and 4) Host a research symposium for student researchers to present their work. The project's success will demonstrate an increase in retention in STEM majors and increased transfer rates for student participants. Assessment methods will be geared towards capturing growth in students’ sense of belonging in the science community, confidence level in a science laboratory, and the development of a growth mindset. An external evaluator will partner with the project team to provide both formative and summative feedback at regular intervals throughout the project. The results of the project will be disseminated to the two-year college STEM community via publications, presentations, and professional networks. The NSF program description on Advancing Innovation and Impact in Undergraduate STEM Education at Two-year Institutions of Higher Education supports projects that advance STEM education initiatives at two-year colleges. The program description promotes innovative and evidence-based practices in undergraduate STEM education at two-year colleges.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.