HSI Planning Project: Examining Inclusion and Other Variables of STEM Retention at a Faith-Based, Residential University

在改进的本科生STEM教育：拉美裔服务机构(HSI计划)的支持下，这一轨道1：规划项目旨在对南方基督复临安息日会大学的STEM学生群体的需求进行机构研究，确定并了解改善与留住相关的具体问题的战略，并培训教师在课堂上适当地实施这些战略。南方基督复临安息日大学的拉美裔学生在STEM的流失率高于其他种族/民族，但该大学目前缺乏对流失点和原因的了解，以及规划基于证据的解决方案所需的知识和技能。为了获得这方面的了解和知识，该项目将(1)记录STEM学生的自然减员情况，包括校园氛围；学术、社会和经济支持；课程和教学战略；以及职业意识；(2)确定基于证据的做法，以提高STEM学生的留存率；以及(3)培训教职员工，以便在未来的Track 2实施和评估项目中实施已确定的战略。这些活动将有助于改善留住和成功的结果，并为所有学生带来更好的结果。由于STEM职业报酬丰厚，需求旺盛，留住和毕业更多的STEM专业有助于有需要的社区和行业，并支持渴望增加社会流动性的年轻专业人员。其结果将与其他机构相关，并将有助于知识体系，特别是与以宗教为基础的机构和东南小型大学有关。教师培训将为大学带来持久的好处，因为教师将所学知识应用于未来的课堂，并为更具包容性的校园氛围和强大的STEM文化做出贡献。规划项目将导致全面的需求评估，并确定基于证据的战略，以提高田纳西州唯一一所HSI的STEM项目的学生留存率。该项目的具体目标是(1)收集和分析机构和学生的数据，以确定与归属感、自我效能感、文化包容性、校园氛围、经济或心理健康支持、社会支持和职业道路知识有关的自然减员和感知需求的原因；(2)从文献综述中确定解决已确定需求的策略的排序列表，并从文献和同行机构了解这些策略；以及(3)基于文献回顾、与其他机构的讨论和收集的数据，确定教师培训需求，并为至少75%的STEM教师实施教师培训。内部研究和评估将对阻碍或促进学生取得成功的因素进行分析，并将确定STEM学生流失或成功的原因、感知的学生需求、与STEM学生合作的机构战略、其他机构对战略的使用以及STEM教师的培训需求。结果将产生制定未来第二轨道提案所需的知识，并有助于形成与学生在STEM取得成功有关的知识体系。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: Planning Project aims to conduct an institutional study of the needs of Southern Adventist University’s STEM student population, identify and learn about strategies to improve specific issues related to retention, and train faculty to implement these strategies as appropriate in the classroom. Hispanic students at Southern Adventist University have higher attrition in STEM than other racial/ethnic groups, but the university currently lacks an understanding of the attrition points and causes and the knowledge and skills needed to plan evidence-based solutions. To gain this understanding and knowledge, this project will (1) document STEM student attrition related to campus climate; academic, social, and financial supports; curriculum and pedagogical strategies; and career awareness; (2) identify evidence-based practices to improve retention of students in STEM; and (3) train faculty and staff to implement identified strategies in a future Track 2 Implementation and Evaluation Project. These activities will contribute to improved outcomes for retention and success and lead to better outcomes for all students. As STEM careers pay well and are in high demand, retaining and graduating more STEM majors helps the communities and industries in need and supports young professionals aspiring to increase their social mobility. The results will be relevant to other institutions and will contribute to the body of knowledge, with special relevance to religious-based institutions and small southeastern universities. Faculty training will have lasting benefits at the university as faculty apply their learnings in future classrooms and contribute to a more inclusive campus climate and strong STEM culture.The Planning Project will result in a comprehensive needs assessment and identification of evidence-based strategies to improve student retention in STEM programs at a small university that is the only HSI in Tennessee. The specific aims of the project are to (1) collect and analyze institutional and student data to identify causes of attrition and perceived needs related to sense of belonging, self-efficacy, cultural inclusion, campus climate, financial or mental health support, social support, and knowledge of career pathways; (2) identify a ranked list of strategies from a literature review to address the identified needs and learn about these strategies from the literature and peer institutions; and (3) identify faculty training needs based on literature review, discussions with other institutions, and collected data and implement faculty training for at least 75% of the STEM faculty. The internal study and evaluation will generate an analysis of factors that impede or promote success in students and will identify causes of attrition or success for students in STEM, perceived student needs, institutional strategies for working with students in STEM, other institutions’ use of strategies, and the training needs of STEM faculty. Results will generate the knowledge needed to develop a future Track 2 proposal and contribute to the body of knowledge related to student success in STEM. 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.