Evaluation of the AGEP Collaborative Research Training: North Carolina Alliance to Create OpportunityThrough Education

这项建议是为了评估目前由NSF资助的一个项目：AGEP合作研究培训：北卡罗来纳州通过教育创造机会的联盟(OPT-ED)。在评估该计划时，OPT-ED联盟管理部门和合作伙伴寻求实现两个目标：1.评估OPT-ED在多大程度上成功地实现了AGEP的目标及其具体目标；以及2.向OPT-ED联盟通报在前进过程中实现AGEP目标的有效战略。随着OPT-ED联盟实施旨在增加STEM专业URM学生的招生和保留率并进入专业的战略，评估每个项目组成部分的影响以及最有效地产生预期结果的战略是很重要的。评估结果旨在为OPT-ED联盟伙伴规划未来战略和活动提供信息。它还旨在告知联盟可能包括的其他合作伙伴(例如，社区大学、幼儿教育工作者等)；要利用的现有资源和新资源；以及可能要纳入的新概念。更广泛的影响OPT-ED联盟战略旨在扩大代表不足的群体的参与，即URM博士毕业生和STEM领域的教师。OPT-ED的评估旨在找出在以下方面最有效的策略：提高URM学生对STEM专业的兴趣；留住他们直到获得博士学位；以及影响他们选择STEM教师职位的决定。成功的战略有可能在全国范围内的其他大学推广。此外，评价将有助于评估该联盟在多大程度上成为可复制的典范。评估试图回答的问题之一是，每个合作伙伴在加强STEM专业URM学生的入学和留住方面所起的作用。评估结果将确定最关键的合作伙伴类型、合作伙伴之间网络和协作的类型和级别，以及实施成功联盟必须克服的障碍。国家对STEM领域存在的URM组织规模较小的担忧显然是有道理的。OPT-ED联盟的建立是为了实施战略和活动，提高URM学生对STEM学科的兴趣，并帮助他们克服在完成博士学位之前留住他们的障碍。这项评估将确定在加强STEM专业和职业领域的URM学生入学和留住方面的关键合作伙伴关系和成功战略。

Intellectual Merit This proposal is for the evaluation of a currently-funded NSF program: The AGEP Collaborative Research Training: North Carolina Alliance to Create Opportunity Through Education (OPT-ED). In evaluating the program, the OPT-ED alliance administration and partners seek to accomplish two objectives: 1. Assess the extent to which OPT-ED has been successful in meeting the goals of AGEP and its specific objectives; and 2. Inform the OPT-ED alliance about effective strategies in accomplishing AGEP goals as it moves forward. As the OPT-ED alliance implements strategies that are designed to increase the enrollment and retention of URM students in STEM disciplines and advance into the professoriate, it is important to assess the impact of each program component and the strategies that are most effective in producing the desired outcomes. Evaluation results are intended to inform OPT-ED alliance partners as they plan future strategies and activities. It is also intended to inform the alliance about additional partners that may be included (e.g., community colleges, early childhood educators, etc.); existing and new resources to tap into; and potentially new concepts to incorporate. Broader Impact The OPT-ED alliance strategies are designed to broaden the participation of underrepresented groups; namely, URM doctoral graduates and faculty in STEM fields. The evaluation of OPT-ED seeks to identify those strategies that have proved to be most effective in raising the interest of URM students in STEM majors; retaining them through their college years up to receiving the doctorate degree; and impacting their decision to pursue STEM faculty positions. Successful strategies have the potential for replication across other universities at a national level. Moreover, the evaluation will serve to assess the extent to which the alliance serves as a model for replication. One of the questions the evaluation seeks to answer is the role each partner plays in enhancing the enrollment and retention of URM students in STEM majors. Evaluation results will identify the most critical type of partners, the type and level of networking and collaboration across partners, and the barriers that must be overcome for implementing a successful alliance. The national concern over the small presence of URM groups in STEM fields is clearly warranted. The OPT-ED alliance is established to implement strategies and activities that raise URM student interest in STEM disciplines and help them overcome obstacles to their retention until completion of doctoral degrees. This evaluation will identify critical partnerships and successful strategies in enhancing URM student enrollment and retention in STEM majors and careers.