Virginia Bridges to the Baccalaureate

描述（由申请人提供）：满足公共卫生部门的国家需求，特别是在生物医学和行为科学的研究领域，将取决于进入该部门的劳动力的增长和多样化。社区大学教育大量的学生，特别是代表性不足的少数民族（种族，民族，第一代大学，经济上处于不利地位）。特别关注他们的独特需求，这一人口中有更大比例的人有可能完成四年制学位和研究生课程，并成为健康科学的研究人员。弗吉尼亚州桥梁计划旨在增加代表性不足（UR）的弗吉尼亚州居民在生物医学和行为科学追求学位和研究职业道路的数量。新河（NR）和北方弗吉尼亚州（NOVA）社区学院和弗吉尼亚理工大学（VT）之间的桥梁将在UR学生中产生生物医学/行为科学的兴趣和技能，通过参与研究经验开始他们在NR和NOVA的第一年。额外的研究机会与学术支持计划和指导相结合，将通过他们的学位促进持久性，成就和及时的进步。通过跨越所有四个本科年的反思和网络实践，Bridges学生将定义自己的学术道路，并与各机构的同行科学家建立联系。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Meeting national needs in the public health sector and particularly in research areas within the biomedical and behavioral science will depend on the growth and diversification of the workforce entering this sector. Community colleges educate large numbers of students, especially underrepresented minorities (racial, ethnic, first-generation college, and economically disadvantaged). With specific attention to their unique needs, a greater percentage of this population has the potential to complete four-year degrees and graduate programs and become researchers in the health sciences. The Virginia Bridges Program aims to increase the number of underrepresented (UR) Virginia residents pursuing degrees and research career paths in the biomedical and behavioral sciences. A bridge between New River (NR) and Northern Virginia (NOVA) Community Colleges and Virginia Tech (VT) will generate interest and skills in the biomedical/behavioral sciences among UR students, beginning their first year at NR and NOVA through engaging research experiences. Additional research opportunities combined with academic support programs and mentoring will promote persistence, achievement, and timely progress through their degrees. Through reflective and networked practices that span all four undergraduate years, Bridges students will define their own academic path and connect with peer scientists across institutions.