Quantitative Excellence in Science and Technology (QuEST) Scholarship Program to Improve Transfer Success

在科学和技术（QuEST）学者计划的量化卓越促进谁进入大学打算在科学，技术，工程或数学（STEM）专业的转学生的学术成功。它的目的是（1）通过专门设计和精心监测的学术和社会支持活动，创建和培养STEM转学学生的群体;（2）创建大学生导师和科学资源（C-STARS）同伴辅导计划，以帮助学生在STEM课程中遇到定量问题。高达8,000美元的奖学金被提供给学生从他们最初的预科生或大三学生通过在学院的STEM专业之一毕业：生物学，生物化学，化学，计算机科学，地球科学，海洋科学，数学或物理。STEM教师帮助选择QuEST学者根据财政需要，学术潜力，并表现出奉献精神的STEM主题。七个新的QuEST学者正在选择在连续三个学年;继续资助每个选定的学者是基于持续的财政需求，积极的学术表现，并朝着完成STEM专业的进展。智力优势：四名STEM教师与机构效率副院长合作，实施QuEST和C-STARS计划，以改善STEM学生的学习和保留。在他们的第一年，STEM转学生参加一个新的QuEST研讨会课程，该课程侧重于量化材料在所有STEM专业中发挥的作用，从而在不同学科中创建一个真正的队列。此外，研讨会还探讨了STEM学习策略，科学伦理，跨学科研究和职业发展。为了提高STEM课程的学术成功率，该项目还创建了C-STARS计划，在该计划中，经过仔细筛选和不断培训的高级STEM专业人员可以帮助那些在STEM课程的定量元素方面遇到困难的学生。C-STARS同侪导师每周参加关于成功教学方法的教学会议。教师团队正在开发研讨会课程，通过新的支持服务增加QuEST学者学习，包括学习小组，同伴导师和干预网络，以应对转学学生的需求，并通过创建C-STARS同伴辅导计划为所有学生改造STEM学习环境。更广泛的影响：这些以研究为基础的举措，由经验丰富、消息灵通的教师指导，有助于提高打算在学院主修STEM领域的转学生的保留率。该项目正在广泛传播QuEST学者、研讨会和C-STARS项目的调查结果，以帮助其他机构提高本科阶段STEM学生的保留率。

The Quantitative Excellence in Science and Technology (QuEST) Scholars program is facilitating the academic success of transfer students who enter the college intending to major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM). It is designed to (1) create and nurture cohorts of STEM transfer students through specifically designed and carefully monitored academic and social-support activities; and (2) create the College Student Tutors and Resources for Science (C-STARS) peer tutoring program to help students struggling with quantitative subjects presented in STEM courses. Scholarships of up to $8,000 are being offered to transfer students from their initial matriculation as sophomores or juniors through graduation in one of the STEM majors at the college: Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Marine Science, Mathematics, or Physics. STEM faculty help select QuEST Scholars based on financial need, academic potential, and demonstrated dedication to a STEM subject. Seven new QuEST Scholars are being chosen in three consecutive academic years; continued funding for each selected Scholar is based on continued financial need, positive academic performance, and progress towards completing a STEM major. Intellectual Merit: Four STEM faculty members are teamed with the Associate Dean for Institutional Effectiveness to implement the QuEST and C-STARS programs to improve STEM student learning and retention at the college. In their first year, STEM transfer students participate in a new QuEST Seminar course, which focuses on the roll that quantitative materials play in all STEM majors, thereby creating a true cohort over diverse disciplines. In addition, the seminar explores STEM learning strategies, science ethics, interdisciplinary research, and career development. To improve academic success in STEM courses, the project is also creating the C-STARS program, in which carefully screened and continually trained upper level STEM majors assist students who are experiencing difficulty with quantitative elements of STEM courses. C-STARS peer tutors participate in weekly instructional sessions on successful pedagogical approaches. The faculty team is developing the seminar course, increasing QuEST Scholar learning through new support services including study groups, peer mentors, and an intervention network to respond to transfer student needs, and transforming the STEM learning environment for all students by creating the C-STARS peer tutoring program. Broader Impacts: The research-based initiatives, directed by experienced and informed faculty, are helping to improve the retention of transfer students intending to major in STEM areas at the college. The project is broadly disseminating findings from the QuEST Scholars, Seminar, and C-STARS programs to help other institutions enhance STEM student retention at the undergraduate level.