Bridges to the Baccalaureate at UPR-Rio Piedras

描述(由申请人提供)：波多黎各大学系统的四个区域机构和同一系统的里约皮德拉斯校区将继续改进目前的转移方案，以增加继续生物医学研究生学习的人数不足的少数族裔的人数。四个参与的地区性机构，阿雷西博，巴亚蒙，卡罗莱纳和庞塞校区都不提供生物学或化学学士学位。这些校区的转校生录取率较低，必须提高。为了改善区域机构科学课程的成果：真相与和解项目将提供旨在提高学生在科学入门课程中的表现的活动。尽管这些将是相似的，但它们将对具体的机构需求作出反应，并将包括由个别方案协调员计划和执行的各种活动。这些活动包括问题解决研讨会、学生辅导和同行科学家的研讨会。里约热内卢·皮德拉斯的教职员工或参加里约热内卢皮德拉斯方案的特邀演讲者将为各区域校园的教职员工举办关于科学教育方法的讲习班。为了方便他们转到四年制项目：为24名大二学生提供暑期工作坊，旨在为二年级课程做准备，教学生基本的实验室技能，并让未来转学的学生熟悉科学研究作为职业选择。挑选16名大二学生作为TRC的实习生，将他们安排到里约皮德拉斯的研究实验室，在那里他们将参加为期两个月的夏季研究体验。随后将举办一个工作坊，为学生学习分析化学做准备。在今年夏天，这些学生还将接受有关课程的咨询，并帮助他们完成转学到里约热内卢皮德拉斯的工作。为了更好地过渡到研究职业：16名真相与和解委员会受训人员将在他们的初中和高中期间参加本科生研究项目，在他们三年级之间的暑假期间，将鼓励所有受训人员参加校外研究经验。将努力将学员安排在现有的本科生研究计划中，但将为那些找不到职位的学员提供实验室助理的资助。

DESCRIPTION (provided by the applicant): Four regional institutions of the University of Puerto Rico System and the Rio Piedras Campus of the same system will continue to improve the current transfer program in a manner which will augment the number of underrepresented minorities who continue graduate studies in the biomedical sciences. The four participating regional institutions, Arecibo, Bayamon, Carolina, and Ponce Campuses do not offer baccalaureate degrees in either Biology or Chemistry. The admission rate for transfer students from these campuses is low and must be improved. To improve outcomes in science courses at the regional institutions: The TRC project will provide activities directed at improving student performance in introductory science courses. Although these will be similar, these will respond to specific institutional needs and will include a wide variety activities planned and executed by the individual program coordinators. These activities include problem solving workshops, student mentoring, and seminars by peer scientists. Workshops on science education methodologies will be offered to faculty of the regional campuses by Rio Piedras faculty or invited speakers participating at Rio Piedras-based programs. To ease their transfer to the four-year program: Provide a summer workshop for 24 rising sophomores designed to provide preparation for second year courses, teach students basic laboratory skills, and to familiarize future transfer students with scientific research as a career option. Select 16 sophomores as TRC trainees and place them into Rio Piedras research laboratories where they will participate in a two-month summer research experience. This will be followed by a workshop which will prepare students for Analytical Chemistry. During this summer these students will also receive counseling as to courses and assistance in completing their transfer to Rio Piedras. To improve their transition to research careers: The 16 TRC trainees will participate in undergraduate research projects during their Junior and Senior years During the summers between their junior years all trainees will be encouraged to participate in extramural research experiences. Efforts will be made to place trainees in the existing undergraduate research programs, however those trainees who do not find positions will be provided with funding as laboratory assistants.