MBRS-RISE at UVI Option II: A New Vision

描述(由申请者提供)：维尔京群岛大学的MBRS-RISE计划建议通过为进入高度选择性的生物医学和行为科学博士课程而培养一批独特的本科生，为国家的健康做出贡献。这将通过一个项目来实现，该项目将研究培训与培养学生的动机和对科学职业的承诺相结合。弗吉尼亚大学MBR-Rise的新愿景建立在成功的坚实基础上：在过去的10年里，26名未被充分代表的少数族裔UVI校友获得了博士学位。自RISE计划开始以来，弗吉尼亚大学经历了巨大的变化；例如，自2001年以来，科学和数学专业的毕业生人数翻了一番。弗吉尼亚大学RISE计划的长期目标是进一步改变校园文化，并通过与加勒比遗产和社区研究需求的联系，发展学生作为生物医学研究人员的身份。这项申请提出了一个计划，让学生参与创新课程和共同课程活动，包括研究培训和与研究密集型机构的密切合作伙伴关系。弗吉尼亚大学需要一个影响深远的创新计划，为不同的学生群体提供机会，发展他们成为领先生物医学研究人员的潜力。外部评估者将使用混合方法设计，提供严格的形成性和终结性评估，旨在将学生的发展与对照组进行比较。总体愿景是在整个大学范围内促进对研究的日益增长的承诺。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The MBRS-RISE Program at the University of the Virgin Islands proposes to contribute to the health of the Nation by preparing a unique population of undergraduate students for admission to highly selective doctoral programs in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. This will be accomplished by a program that combines training in research with developing students' motivation and commitment to scientific careers. The new vision for MBRS-RISE at UVI builds on a solid foundation of success: in the last 10 years 26 underrepresented minority UVI alumni have earned Ph.D. degrees. Since the RISE Program began, UVI has experienced dramatic changes; for example, since 2001 the number of Science and Mathematics graduates has doubled. The long term goals of the RISE Program at UVI are both to further transform the campus culture and to develop students' identities as biomedical researchers through connections to Caribbean heritage and the research needs of the community. This application proposes a program that engages students with innovative curriculum and co-curricular activities including research training and close partnerships with research- intensive institutions. A far-reaching, innovative program is needed at UVI to provide opportunities for the diverse student population to develop their potential to become leading biomedical researchers. UVI has an educational environment that will contribute to success, because there is a highly supportive administration including a new president with a new vision emphasizing student research, new partnerships with highly competitive research institutions, a large and growing pool of talented students, a number of new research programs that can work in synergy with RISE, and a small, supportive, collegial community. The specific aims are: (1) 100% of the RISE students graduate; 90% apply to pipeline programs in their senior year (PhD, masters, or post-baccalaureate programs); 65% enroll in doctoral programs within 4 years of UVI graduation; with 45% enrolling in PhD programs directly; (2) generate positive institutional change that impacts all students in RISE-relevant departments such that the percentage of students enrolling in doctoral programs increases in all departments. These objectives will be accomplished by an integrated program including: (1) development of a new RISE curriculum and faculty training in pedagogy, (2) activities designed to increase students' understanding of the biomedical research needs of the US Virgin Islands and minority communities nationally, (3) research training both on campus and at partner institutions and presentation of results at conferences, (4) visiting scientists to provide role models and networking, (5) special workshops designed to provide clear continuity to the next educational steps, and (6) a network of support including UVI faculty, RISE staff, and summer research mentors. The external evaluators will use a mixed methods design to provide rigorous formative and summative evaluation designed to compare students' development with a control group. The overarching vision is to catalyze an increasing commitment to research across the University.