UMB CURE Connections: an integral link in a Baltimore minority STEMeducation pipeline

项目概要/摘要。 来自代表性不足（UR）背景的个人构成了美国增长最快的部分 人口，但只占生物医学研究和医疗保健劳动力的一小部分。 劳动力多样化对于利用这一未充分利用的资源并满足美国日益增长的需求至关重要， 生物医学科学和更广泛的STEM领域。多元化的员工队伍提供的独特视角， 创新和提高研究质量、生产力和考虑差异问题。努力实现 以可持续方式增加多样性的这些好处必须从早期STEM教育开始开始。到 马里兰州巴尔的摩大学继续研究伞提供这种早期STEM干预， 经验（UMB CURE）学者计划旨在为UR提供STEM教育丰富 来自严重弱势的西巴尔的摩社区的中学生。解决 这些学生面临的成功的多因素障碍，采取了一种全面的方法，利用 UMB专业学校和合作伙伴的强大资源，以整合强大的学者指导，家庭 支持、伙伴学校课程和社区外联。前两批学者的数据 展示了该计划对所有利益相关者的积极影响，并表示早期STEM干预是 一种有效的方法，让来自弱势背景的学生参与进来，加强这种需要， 在西巴尔的摩做节目为了建立在MS计划的成功，并实现这一潜力 早期干预，通过高层次的科学研究， 学校（HS）过渡和升入大学。的确，课外结构尤为重要 在HS过渡期间-这些年对UR学生的学术和社会挑战， 弱势群体。然而，缺乏维持这种全面教育支持的方案， UMB CURE集水区。为了填补这一空白，UMB CURE Connections（C2）将提供强大的第9和第10 年级编程作为少数STEM教育管道的组成部分，连接UMB CURE MS学者拥有强大的HS STEM丰富和以少数民族为重点的大学课程网络， UMB及其合作机构通过三个具体目标：1。提供以STEM为中心的丰富课程 围绕文化相关的主题，包括动手研究，大学和职业道路探索， 社区外展和会议介绍。2.利用管道中的同行和专业导师 合作伙伴，激发学者对科学科目，并激励他们追求这些领域的职业生涯。3. 评估结果，以评估计划组成部分在实现其目标方面的有效性， 并传播这些信息。C2及其STEM教育管道合作伙伴共同提供 为UR学生提供通往大学和STEM职业的道路，这将增加生物医学劳动力的多样性。

Project Summary/Abstract. Individuals from underrepresented (UR) backgrounds comprise the fastest growing segments of the US population but make up only a small percentage of the biomedical research and healthcare workforce. Workforce diversification is essential to engage this underutilized resource and meet growing US demands in biomedical science and broader STEM fields. Distinct perspectives provided by a diverse workforce stimulate innovation and increase research quality, productivity and consideration of disparities issues. Efforts to realize these benefits of increased diversity in a sustainable manner must begin with early STEM education. To provide this early STEM intervention, the University of Maryland Baltimore Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences (UMB CURE) Scholars program was developed to provide STEM educational enrichment for UR middle school (MS) students from severely disadvantaged West Baltimore communities. To address the multifactorial barriers to success faced by these students, a holistic approach was taken that leveraged the strong resources of UMB professional schools and partners to integrate robust scholar mentoring, family support, partner school curricula and community outreach. Data from the first two cohorts of scholars demonstrated the program’s positive impact on all stakeholders and indicated that early STEM intervention is an effective approach to engage students from disadvantaged backgrounds, reinforcing the need for such programming in West Baltimore. To build upon the success of the MS program and realize the potential of this early intervention, it is essential to foster the scholars’ continued engagement in science through the high school (HS) transition and progression to college. Indeed, extracurricular structure is particularly important during the HS transition years- years that can be academically and socially challenging for UR students from disadvantaged communities. However, programs to sustain this holistic educational support are lacking in the UMB CURE catchment area. To fill this gap, UMB CURE Connections (C2) will provide robust 9th and 10th grade programming as an integral component of a minority STEM education pipeline that connects UMB CURE MS scholars with strong HS STEM enrichment and a network of minority-focused college programs at UMB and its partner institutions through three specific aims: 1. Provide STEM enrichment curricula centered around culturally relevant themes that incorporate hands-on research, college and career path exploration, community outreach and conference presentations. 2. Utilize near peer and professional mentors from pipeline partners to excite scholars about science subjects and inspire them to pursue careers in these fields. 3. Evaluate outcomes to assess the effectiveness of program components in achieving its goals, develop best practices and disseminate this information. Together, C2 and its STEM education pipeline partners provide a path to college and STEM careers for UR students that will increase diversity in the biomedical workforce.