UC Merced Mathematics and Physical Science Scholars (MAPS)

加州-默塞德大学的数学和物理科学（MAPS）学者计划为学术上有才华但经济上有困难的应用数学，物理或化学专业的新生提供了52个为期两年的奖学金（每年5，000美元）。该计划的主要目标是增加应用数学，物理和化学学生的多样性，并提高学生的留存率，特别是那些来自代表性不足的背景。反映这一目标的具体项目目标是：1）提高学生在STEM领域的整体留存率，同时完成具有挑战性的低年级课程，2）为MAPS学者提供广泛的机会，同时他们正在接受高质量的大学教育，3）帮助所有奖学金获得者获得领导技能和对他们的学术能力更大的信心，和4）提高毕业生的技术技能，以更好地准备MAPS学者在STEM领域的职业生涯。该计划通过提供持续和全面的计划具体的学术和个人支持，以教师指导，学术咨询和辅导，研讨会，领导力发展，实习机会，学习技能课程和仅可访问的学习区域的形式，增加了STEM领域代表性不足的群体的参与和保留。这些增强活动使一个持续的社区的MAPS学者，他们鼓励发展“同伙”，以支持和加强学习经验。该计划还创造了机会，以建立在加州大学默塞德和圣华金河谷的高中教师之间的联系，以提高高中学生在干领域的许多教育机会的兴趣。

The Mathematics and Physical Science (MAPS) Scholars Program at the University of California - Merced is providing a total of 52 two-year scholarships ($5,000 each per year) for academically talented, but financially needy, freshmen majoring in applied mathematics, physics, or chemistry over the duration of the award. The primary goals of this program are to increase the diversity of incoming applied mathematics, physics, and chemistry students and to increase the retention rate of students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. The specific project objectives that reflect this goal are to: 1) increase the overall retention rate of students in STEM fields while they are completing challenging lower division courses, 2) provide broad opportunities for MAPS Scholars while they are receiving a high quality university education, 3) help all scholarship recipients gain leadership skills and greater confidence in their academic abilities, and 4) increase the technical skills of graduating students to better prepare MAPS Scholars for careers in STEM fields. This program increases the participation and retention of underrepresented groups in STEM fields by providing on-going and comprehensive program specific academic and personal support in the form of faculty mentoring, academic advising and tutoring, seminars, leadership development, internship opportunities, a study skills course, and a study area accessible only to MAPS Scholars. These enhancement activities enable an ongoing community of MAPS Scholars, and they encourage the development of "cohorts" to support and reinforce learning experiences. The program also creates opportunities to build links between faculty at UC Merced and high schools of the San Joaquin Valley in order to increase interest among high schools students in the many educational opportunities of STEM fields.