Texas A&M University System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TAMUS LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) Cohort VIII (2012-2014) Program

拟议的第八队列德克萨斯a&m大学系统路易斯斯托克斯少数民族参与联盟（TAMUS LSAMP）通往博士学位的桥梁（BTD）计划的主要目标是在TAMU代表性不足的少数民族群体中增加科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）博士的数量，并在大学内创建一个跨不同学科的研究生凝聚力社区。总体目标是通过培养他们的准备和鼓励他们完成STEM博士学位的渴望，并为他们在跨学科研究和学术界的领导者做好准备，从而促进第一批URM STEM研究生的学术成功。因此，实施该计划的目标包括(1)在完成NSF BTD项目后，在获得资助的情况下保留博士项目的研究员；(2)准备迎接完成博士项目的挑战，并为可能的高等教育学术生涯做好准备；(3)在完成博士项目后，作为URM年轻专业人员取得成功所必需的领导技能发展。这将通过德克萨斯农工大学（TAMU）的理学院（COS）、工程学院（COE）和农业与生命科学学院（coal）之间的合作来实现。12名来自未被充分代表的少数族裔（URM）群体的首次研究生将被选为BTD研究员，他们分别来自COS的5个系、COE的12个系和coal的14个系。这些研究员将在两年的时间里作为一个群体受到培养，从学术和个人发展活动以及社会支持项目中受益，以维持他们对学位课程的承诺和成功，并在第二年结束时进入博士课程。BTD的研究员，有着不同的学科和共同的目标，将共享协调的资源和智力丰富的小组活动。除了BTD的智力影响之外，该计划还将通过推进对STEM研究生和博士学位的追求来加强研究和教育的基础设施。

The primary aim of the proposed Cohort VIII Texas A&M University System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (TAMUS LSAMP) Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) program is to increase the pool of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) PhDs among underrepresented minorities groups at TAMU and create a cohesive community of graduate students across different disciplines within the university. The overall goal is to foster academic success in a cohort of first-time URM STEM graduate students, by developing their readiness and encouraging eagerness to complete STEM doctoral degrees and by preparing them to take their places as leaders in interdisciplinary research and in academia. As such, objectives to carry out the program's goals include (1) retention of fellows into doctoral programs with funding after completion of the NSF BTD program, (2) preparation to meet the challenges of completing doctoral programs of study and for possible academic careers in higher education, and (3) leadership skill development necessary to succeed as young URM professionals upon completion of doctoral programs of study.This will be achieved through collaborations among the College of Science (COS), College of Engineering (COE) and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS) at Texas A&M University (TAMU). Twelve first-time graduate students from underrepresented minority (URM) groups, in five departments in the COS, 12 in COE, and 14 in COALS, will be selected as BTD fellows. The Fellows will be nurtured for two years as a cohorted community benefiting from a program of academic and personal development activities and social support, to sustain their commitment and success to their degree programs and advancement toward doctoral programs by the end of their second year. The BTD fellows, with differing disciplines and a common purpose, will share coordinated resources and intellectually enriching group activities. Beyond the intellectual impact of BTD, the program will enhance the infrastructure of research and education by advancing pursuit of graduate and doctoral STEM degrees.