RISE Option I at Savannah State University

描述（由申请人提供）：萨凡纳州立大学（SSU）是一所拥有94%非裔美国人的HBCU，提交了这份拟议的MBRS-RISE选项I项目申请，以增加未被充分代表的少数民族学生攻读生物医学和行为科学博士学位的人数。在过去的8年里，我们目前资助的项目已经吸引了200多名STEM学生参与指导研究，并提高了STEM的入学率、保留率和毕业率。然而，在完成博士课程的SSU STEM学生中，缺乏相应的增长。在过去的13年中，只有29名SSU BS毕业生（27名urm）进入生物医学/行为科学博士课程（每年约2名）。此外，与许多类似的机构一样，我们在生物和化学等关键门户课程方面面临重大挑战，导致STEM专业的保留率和入学率低于预期。这项MBRS-RISE计划的目标是建立在这些先前项目所创造的制度动力的基础上，通过有针对性的、相互关联的举措来加强这些项目，从而提高学生在课程中的成绩，为在SSU进一步学习生物、化学、海洋科学和行为分析奠定基础，并在研究生院取得成功；激发少数民族学生的科学想象力和他们对研究事业的兴趣；发展南苏大学教师的指导、研究和教学技能。这个为期五年的方案将通过改进课程和举办讲习班，对机构产生广泛的影响；它将对27名来自生物学、化学、海洋科学和行为分析本科专业的研究实习生产生有针对性的影响，他们将被招募、指导和培养，在毕业后进入博士学位课程，并在他们的研究事业中取得成功。具体目标1（广泛影响）：到第5年，实现RISE相关本科课程的毕业生人数在65名学士学位毕业生（过去4年的平均人数）的基线水平上增加35%，以增加SSU准备研究生生物医学/行为科学课程的专业人数。活动包括加强大一体验课程以及生物、化学和行为分析基础课程（每年惠及400多名学生）；以及正在进行的K-12招聘与其他项目相结合。具体目标#2（目标影响）：通过高质量和富有成效的本科研究培训计划，培养10名申请并进入生物医学/行为科学博士课程的SSU毕业生。这10名博士研究生将在5年内通过支持27名实习生（每年15名，每年因毕业而更换3名）培养出来。活动将包括一个全面的，逐步具有挑战性和严格指导的研究培训计划；持续的辅导、指导、学术建议和专业发展，以培养学生坚持的动力和与学术团体的联系感；并指导每位实习生完成研究生院申请流程。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Savannah State University (SSU), an HBCU with 94% African-American enrollment, submits this proposed MBRS-RISE Option I program application to increase the number of underrepresented minority students enrolling in Ph.D. degrees in biomedical and behavioral science. Our current funded programs over the past 8 years have engaged more than 200 STEM students in mentored research and increased the STEM enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. Lacking, however, has been corresponding increases in SSU STEM students completing Ph.D. programs. Over the past 13 years, only 29 SSU BS graduates (27 URMs) have entered biomedical/behavioral science Ph.D. programs (~2/year). In addition, as with many similar institutions, we have significant challenges with key gatekeeper courses including biology and chemistry, resulting in lower than desired rates of retention and matriculation within STEM majors. The goal of this MBRS-RISE proposal is to build on the institutional momentum created by these previous programs, enhancing them with focused, interrelated initiatives that will improve student outcomes in courses that lay the foundation for further study in biology, chemistry, marine science and behavioral analysis at SSU and future success in graduate school; stimulate the scientific imagination of minority students and their interest in research careers; and develop the mentoring, research, and teaching skills of SSU faculty. The five-year program will have broad institutional impact, through curriculum enhancements and workshops; it will have targeted impact on 27 research interns from the biology, chemistry, marine science, and behavioral analysis undergraduate programs who will be recruited, mentored and groomed to enter Ph.D. programs after graduation and succeed in their pursuit of research careers. Three specific aims and associated measurable objectives are proposed: Specific Aim #1 (Broad Impact): By year 5, achieve an increase in the number of graduates in RISE relevant undergraduate programs by 35% over the baseline level of 65 BS graduates (average number for the last 4 years), in order to increase the pool of SSU majors who are prepared for graduate biomedical/behavioral science programs. Activities include curriculum enhancements to Freshman Year Experience Classes and to Biology, Chemistry, and Behavior Analysis Fundamental Courses (benefiting over 400 students/year); and ongoing K-12 recruitment leveraged with other programs. Specific Aim #2 (Targeted Impact): Produce 10 SSU graduates who apply for and enter biomedical/behavioral science Ph.D. programs, through a high-quality and productive undergraduate research training program. These 10 new Ph.D. candidates will be produced by supporting 27 interns over 5 years (15 each year with 3 replacements each year due to graduation). Activities will include a comprehensive, progressively challenging and rigorous mentored research training program; ongoing tutoring, mentoring, academic advisement, and professional development to nurture the students' motivation to persist and feeling of connectedness to the academic community; and guidance of each intern through the graduate school application process.