Scholarships Reinforcing Computational Physical Science

知识价值。该项目增加了计算物理、化学和数学/统计学专业本科生的数量，根据经济需要资助18至25名学生进行四年的学习。三个专业必修课程的共同核心，学者参与高性能计算和研究小组，以及学者活动，定义了一个有凝聚力的群体，提高了社会融合水平，研究发现，这对于学生，特别是非洲裔美国人和西班牙裔美国人，在STEM专业的坚持很重要。该项目为毕业生提供GRE准备和就业安置服务。注重培养传统科学专业学生的计算技能以及大学并行计算中心的参与使这个项目与众不同。数据显示，STEM专业毕业生的失业率一直很低，学生在计算科学专业获得的额外技能为他们走上多条职业道路做好了准备。然而，目标专业吸引的学生太少，这个项目的目的之一就是解决这种差异。更广泛的影响。奖学金项目的影响不仅仅是资助学生，也不仅仅是增加理科专业的入学人数。教授入门课程（微积分、普通物理和普通化学）的教师注意到，学生在代数、图形函数和解题等领域的准备水平有所下降。类似地，虽然对预包装PC软件的熟练程度有所提高，但编程技能却有所下降。该项目的一个重要部分是制定安置考试、技能课程和支持计划，以确保学生在本科专业取得成功。一旦他们的成功被证明，这些项目将提供给整个学生群体。

Intellectual Merit. The project is increasing the number of undergraduate students in computational physics, chemistry, and math/statistics by supporting between 18 and 25 students, depending on financial need, for four years of study. The common core of required courses for the three majors, the involvement of the scholars in high-performance computation and research groups, and events for scholars define a cohesive cohort and increase the level of social integration, which studies have identified as important for persistence of students, especially African-Americans and Hispanics, in STEM majors. The program offers both GRE preparation and career-placement services for graduating students. The focus on developing computational skills within traditional science majors and the participation of the university's parallel-computation center distinguish this project. Data show consistently low unemployment rates among graduates with STEM majors, and the additional skills students acquire in computational science prepare them for multiple career paths. Nonetheless, the targeted majors attract too few students, and one purpose of the project is to address the discrepancy. Broader Impact. The scholarship project has an impact beyond the students funded and beyond increasing enrollment in science majors. Faculty teaching the introductory courses (calculus, general physics, and general chemistry) have noted a deterioration in the level of students' preparation in areas such as algebra, graphing functions, and solving word problems. Similarly, while adeptness with prepackaged PC software has increased, programming skills have declined. An important part of the project is the development of placement examinations, skills courses, and support programs to ensure that students succeed in their undergraduate majors. Once their success has been demonstrated, these programs will be made available to the entire student population.