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不同STEM感兴趣的学生群体的本科研究经验来服务于国家利益。传统的，八到十周的住宅研究经验，要求学生搬离家几个星期的时间可以提出一个重大的挑战，研究参与。因此，对于两年制大学STEM学生的成功至关重要，替代研究途径在全国范围内广泛开发和实施。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，为两年制大学生提供一到两周的有偿研究经验。参与短期研究经验的假设是增加全职或兼职两年制大学生留在STEM的数量。最终，该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，成长心态和对转移和获得STEM学士学位的毅力。该项目的目标是增加STEM学生在转移到学士学位课程之前体验真实科学研究的数量。具体而言，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，建立现有的计划。四个主要目标将指导这个项目：1）促进与四年制大学，将主办短期本科研究经验的伙伴关系; 2）设计和实施一个家庭机构赞助的研究经验计划，每年为15-30名学生; 3）开发和实施领导和指导培训四年制大学研究生助理与本科研究人员一起工作;（4）举办研究座谈会，让学生研究员介绍他们的工作。该项目的成功将证明STEM专业的保留率增加，学生参与者的转移率增加。评估方法将着眼于学生对科学界归属感的增长、对科学实验室的信心水平，以及成长心态的发展。一名外部评价员将与项目小组合作，在整个项目期间定期提供形成性和总结性反馈。该项目的成果将通过出版物，演示文稿和专业网络传播到两年制大学STEM社区。NSF关于在两年制高等教育机构中推进本科STEM教育的创新和影响的项目描述支持在两年制大学中推进STEM教育计划的项目。该项目旨在促进两年制大学本科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。

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.