The Experiential Learning Fellowship (ELF) Program

ELF(经验式学习奖学金)计划正在提供财政资源，以增加成功完成STEM学科本科生和研究生学位的学生数量，同时还让他们在社区内参与相关的科学服务。奖学金支持为他们完成学术生涯提供了经济手段，同时也提供了时间和途径，获得了无与伦比的学习经历和及时的研究导师。该计划鼓励学生和教师在最初的几年里进行跨学科的互动，并大力促进学术领域的同行学习和指导。参与研究的学者首先通过研讨会、到社区研究和发展地点的实地考察以及大学内的实验室访问来介绍研究。随后，许多学者选择加入社区服务研究团队，参与调查过程。在研究目标上取得进展后，各团队通力合作，就他们的发现进行深入的报告，并向所有感兴趣的各方进行口头和书面陈述。在适当情况下，研究结果将在各次会议上提出，并提交同行评议的出版物分发。除了增加学生的学习和留存，ELF计划还具有在当地社区和大学之间架起桥梁的广泛影响。这促进了两个实体之间更好的关系，并促进了大学和STEM学科招收少数族裔和第一代学生。这些资助学者的互动研究经验受到了未来潜在雇主的高度追捧。

The ELF (Experiential Learning Fellowship) program is providing financial resources to increase the number of students successfully completing undergraduate and graduate degrees in STEM disciplines while also civically engaging them in relevant science service within their community. The scholarship support provides the financial means to finish their academic career while also providing time and access to an unparalleled learning experience and timely mentors for research. The program encourages cross-disciplinary interaction between students and faculty during the earliest academic years and strongly promotes peer learning and mentorship across the academic spectrum. Participating scholars are first introduced to research by means of seminars, field trips to community research and development sites, and laboratory visits within the university. Subsequently many scholars choose to join a community service research team and participate in the investigative process. After making progress on research goals, the teams cooperatively work toward an in-depth report of their findings and make oral and written presentations to all interested parties. When appropriate, the findings are presented at conferences and submitted to peer-reviewed publications for dissemination. In addition to increasing student learning and retention, the ELF Program has the broadening impact of building bridges between the local community and university. This fosters better relationships between the two entities and facilitates the recruitment of minority and first generation students to the university and STEM disciplines. The interactive research experience of these funded scholars is highly sought by potential future employers.