Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of STEM Professionals

该项目正在增加中央华盛顿大学(CWU)获得科学、技术、工程和数学(STEM)学位的学生总数，并增加STEM本科专业传统上代表性不足的学生数量。它是以马里兰大学巴尔的摩县的迈耶霍夫计划为蓝本的，该计划在招收、留住和安置非裔美国学生方面取得了显著改善。该计划的特点包括：(1)从传统上代表不足的少数族裔(URM)--服务于高中和社区大学--招收一批优秀学生；(2)提供基于功绩的经济支持；(3)建立一个跨学科的新生计划，为学生提供充分的学术和社会融合机会；(4)通过让学生参与指导、教学和研究的计划，促进知识和技能的发展；以及(5)通过强调突出成绩、让家长参与并资助学生参加会议来支持和激励学生。该计划还建立在STEP试点计划的基础上，整合了现有的成功努力，如跨学科和以探究为基础的一年级科学研讨会系列、大二学生独立研究经验和自然科学生活学习社区，并具有以下新功能：(1)签约外展顾问，为URM制定有效的招聘计划；(2)建立综合奖学金；(3)支付信誉良好的连续STEP学生，以招募、指导和提供学术支持；(4)为转学学生开发一个衔接计划，帮助他们从社区大学过渡到CWU；以及(6)创建STEP战略规划委员会，该委员会将把CWU STEP教职员工与学生、他们的家人以及社区大学和高中教职员工联系起来。智力优势：拟议的项目将探索迈耶霍夫模式在不同机构和明显不同的目标学生群体中的可转移性。更广泛的影响：通过特别努力招收美洲原住民和西班牙裔学生，该计划正在使目前STEM学科中代表性不足的群体的学生数量翻一番。该计划还将STEM专业的留校率提高了两倍。

This project is increasing the total number of students obtaining science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) degrees at Central Washington University (CWU) and the number of traditionally underrepresented students in STEM undergraduate majors. It is modeled after the Meyerhoff Program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, a program that has generated significant improvements in recruitment, retention, and career placement for African-American students. Program features include: (1) recruiting a pool of high-achieving students from traditionally underrepresented minority (URM)-serving high schools and community colleges; (2) providing merit-based financial support; (3) establishing an interdisciplinary freshman program with ample opportunities for academic and social integration;(4) enhancing knowledge and skill development through programs that involve students in mentoring, teaching and research; and (5) supporting and motivating students by emphasizing outstanding achievement, involving parents, and funding student travel to conferences. The program is also building on a STEP Pilot Program, integrating existing successful efforts such as interdisciplinary and inquiry-based Freshman Year Science Seminar Series, Sophomore Independent Research Experiences and Natural Sciences Living-Learning Community with new features such as: (1) contracting an outreach consultant to develop an effective recruiting plan for URMs; (2) establishing comprehensive scholarships; (3) paying continuing STEP students in good standing to recruit, mentor, and provide academic support for STEP participants in gateway classes such as Math and Chemistry; (4) developing a Bridging Program for transfer students to help them make the transition from community college to CWU; and (6) creating a STEP Strategic Planning Committee, which will link CWU STEP faculty and staff to students, their families, and community college and high school faculty. Intellectual merit: The proposed project will explore the transferability of the Meyerhoff Model to a different institution and a notably different target group of students. Broader impacts: Through special efforts to recruit Native American and Hispanic students the program is doubling the number of students from groups currently underrepresented in STEM disciplines. The program is also increasing STEM majors retention by a factor of two.