MARC U-STAR Training Program at St. Augustine's College

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的培训计划的目标是增加圣奥古斯丁学院的学生毕业，准备，申请，被录取，进入研究生学习并成功获得生物医学学科的研究博士学位的人数。该计划将补充其他具有类似目标的活动，但与其他活动不同的是，它将主要关注高年级学生。MARC U-STAR计划将实施经过研究验证的活动，旨在：在5年内将SMC学生人数增加一倍；在五年内将2002年度SMC各学科荣誉学生人数增加一倍；修订SMC课程，使学生更好地为研究生学习做好准备；向所有SMC学生提供有关生物医学职业及其教育要求的信息，不迟于三年级开始；为所有大三和大四的荣誉学生提供涵盖研究技能和负责任的研究行为的课程；并且，以研究生研讨会的形式，让学生接触到杰出的科学家和他们的工作；为所有目前没有参与研究的SMC全职教师提供培训，使他们能够(a)将研究纳入其高级SMC课程，(b)制定和实施研究计划，这也将扩大学生研究的机会；每年为MARC U-STAR初级和高级培训生提供本科研究经历、学费和津贴；使MARC U-STAR学员适应研究生院的社会、学术和专业需求和环境。每项活动都与可衡量的目标和基线数据相关联，并将聘请一名独立的评估人员进行形成性和总结性评估。由于学院本科生研究的机会和设备有限，学院成立了一个“外部导师”网络，在学院发展自己的研究能力的同时，监督学生的研究工作。为此目的，已要求提供少量的实验室设备，并为课程修订和一些限定的较低司发展活动提供资金。首席研究员将是Mark A. Melton博士，生物系主任。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed training program is to increase the number of St. Augustine's College students who graduate, are prepared for, apply to, and are accepted, matriculate and succeed in graduate studies leading to research doctorates in the biomedical disciplines. The program will complement other activities with similar goals, however it, unlike the others, will primarily focus on upper division students. The MARC U-STAR program will implement activities validated by research that are designed to: double the number of SMC students within 5 years; double the number of AY 2002 Honors students in each SMC discipline within five years; revise SMC curricula so as to better prepare students for graduate studies; provide all SMC students with information about biomedical careers and their educational requirements beginning no later than the beginning of the junior year; provide all junior and senior Honors students with courses that cover research skills and the responsible conduct of research; and, in a graduate seminar format, provide exposure to eminent scientists and their work; provide all full-time SMC faculty members who are not currently involved in research with training that will allow them to (a) incorporate research in their upper division SMC courses and (b) develop and implement research programs that also will expand opportunities for student research; provide undergraduate research experiences, tuitions and stipends for junior and senior level MARC U-STAR trainees yearly; and acclimatize MARC U-STAR trainees to the social, academic and professional demands and environments of graduate institutions. Each activity is associated with measurable goals and baseline data and an independent evaluator will be employed to conduct formative and summative assessments. Because the College has limited opportunities and equipment for undergraduate research, a network of 'External Preceptors' has been formed, to oversee students' research work as the College develops its own research capabilities. To that end, a small amount of laboratory equipment has been requested as well as funds for curriculum revision and some circumscribed lower division development activities. The Principal Investigator will be Dr. Mark A. Melton, Head of the Biology Department.