Creating a Culture of STEM Research at a Two-Year College

该项目旨在通过为在两年制大学开始学术途径的学生开发和实施一系列早期本科研究经验来服务于国家利益。在高度多样化的机构中，在STEM途径的早期获得这种高影响力的实践对于在全国范围内扩大STEM劳动力并使其多样化至关重要。为了解决这个问题，项目团队将创建一个独特的STEM途径，让学生在转入四年制大学之前从事本科研究。作为该模式的一部分，学生将直接与教师导师合作，共同研究解决学生参与者感兴趣的问题的项目。学生还将得到专门顾问的支持，该顾问将为学术成功提供指导和资源，以补充研究经验。这些活动将促进两年制大学STEM途径的保留，并最终有助于该地区STEM劳动力的多样化。巴尔的摩县社区学院的项目团队将实现以下项目目标：1）创建和/或最终确定四个研究课程的范围和顺序，包括教师领导的研究部分; 2）支持15-30名学生的研究津贴和参加每年的STEM会议项目; 3）为学生提供资源和专业知识，以成功转入四年制大学;和4）参与评估和评价活动，以更好地了解早期研究经验对学生成功的影响，无论是之前还是之后转移这项研究将通过在STEM入门课程的前两年提供多层次的跨学科方法，扩展目前在两年制大学实施早期本科研究经验的模式。 此外，这项工作将捕捉如何持续的研究参与影响学生的成功，保留，转让，以及对科学的态度使用定性和定量的方法相结合。 一名外部评价员将与项目小组合作，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 developing and implementing an array of early undergraduate research experiences for students that begin their academic pathway at a two-year college. Access to this type of high-impact practice early in the STEM pathway at highly diverse institutions is critical for expanding and diversifying the STEM workforce across the country. To address this, the project team will create a unique STEM pathway for engaging students in undergraduate research prior to transferring to a four-year university. As part of this model, students will work directly with faculty mentors on shared research projects that address issues of interest to student participants. Students will also be supported by a dedicated advisor that will provide both guidance and resources for academic success that complements the research experiences. These activities will promote retention in two-year college STEM pathways and will ultimately contribute to diversifying the STEM workforce in the region. The project team at the Community College of Baltimore County will carry out the following project objectives: 1) Create and/or finalize the scope and sequence for four research courses including the faculty-led research components; 2) Support 15-30 students with research stipends and participation in STEM conferences each year of the project; 3) Provide students with resources and expertise to successfully transfer to a four-year university; and 4) Engage in assessment and evaluation activities to gain a better understanding of the impact that early research experiences have on student success both before and after transfer. This study will extend current models for implementing early undergraduate research experiences at two-year colleges by providing a multi-level cross-disciplinary approach throughout the first two-years of STEM introductory coursework. Additionally, this work will capture how sustained research participation impacts student success, retention, transfer, and attitudes towards science using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. An external evaluator will partner with the project team to provide both formative and summative feedback at regular intervals. 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 college.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.