Using Early Introduction to Undergraduate Research to Recruit, Retain, and Graduate More STEM Majors

巴克内尔学者计划为大约95名科学和数学专业的学生提供财政支持，让他们参加为期两个暑期的研究，从他们进入宾夕法尼亚州巴克内尔大学之前的暑期开始。北大学者参与了夏季过渡研究项目、以STEM为主题的新的生活/学习社区、特别的一年级课程(STEM基础研讨会)和新的跨学科STEM讨论小组，所有这些都有助于创造一个鼓励学生在STEM学科中热情和成功的环境。北卡罗来纳大学学者计划的一个具体目标是增加来自代表性不足群体的学生数量，以获得STEM学位。通过积极主动的指导和补充的学术支持，STEM专业的学生留校率得到了提高。通过新的生活/学习社区建立强大的同伴支持系统，参与高质量的研究机会，以及专门的学术和项目后建议，极大地增加了学生在巴克内尔期间和以后进入STEM职业生涯的成功可能性。该计划计划在5年内将巴克内尔大学自然科学和数学专业的学生数量增加30%。对波士顿大学学者项目的评估，特别是参与者的看法和反应，正在与两个类似的STEP项目的结果结合起来，这两个项目包括在纽约的汉密尔顿学院和佐治亚州的阿姆斯特朗大西洋州立大学提前引入夏季本科生研究。所有参与的STEP学生都被长期跟踪，重点是最终的学业和职业选择，结果正在与科学界分享。

The Bucknell Scholars (BUScholars) program provides financial support for approximately 95 science and mathematics majors to participate in two summers of research, starting the summer before they matriculate at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. BUScholars participate in a summer transition research program, a new STEM-themed living/learning community, special first-year coursework (STEM foundation seminars), and a new interdisciplinary STEM discussion group, all of which help create an environment that encourages student enthusiasm and success in STEM disciplines. A specific goal of the BUScholars program is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups achieving STEM degrees. Retention of students in STEM majors is improved through proactive mentoring and supplemental academic support. Establishing a strong peer support system through the new living/learning community, participation in high quality research opportunities, and dedicated academic and post-program advising greatly increases the likelihood of success for students while at Bucknell and later as they enter STEM careers. The program intends to increase the number of natural science and mathematics majors at Bucknell by 30% over 5 years. An assessment of the BUScholars program, particularly the perceptions and reactions of the participants, is being combined with results from the two similar STEP projects that incorporate early introduction of summer undergraduate research at Hamilton College in New York and Armstrong Atlantic State University in Georgia. All participating STEP students are being tracked on a long-term basis, with an emphasis on final academic and career choices, and the results are being shared with the scientific community.