Scholars in Math and Science: A Program to Improve Recruitment and Retention of Students in the Biological Sciences

Muhlenberg学院获得了美国国家科学基金会科学、技术、工程和数学（S-STEM）奖学金，用于一个名为“数学和科学学者”（SIMS）计划的项目。SIMS将针对那些进入大学攻读生物科学专业的学术天赋和经济条件较差的学生。将招收两组学生，每组8人：第一组将获得每年9500美元的奖学金，为期4年，第二组将获得每年9500美元的奖学金，为期3年。该提案建立在先前STEM拨款的成功项目要素的基础上，包括加强招聘和学术支持。通过这个项目，穆伦伯格学院将培养一支强大而多样化的STEM人才队伍。该项目的新项目元素旨在培养学术和科学技能，创建一个从大一到大四的学习社区，并通过校园活动和公共宣传培养学生的领导能力。该项目将改善学生支持服务，包括组建学习社区，提供特殊课程和小组帮助学生通过障碍课程，建立同伴主导的学习，以及提供长期导师。SIMS将增加学者的领导作用，提高他们的科学过程技能，鼓励参与研究，并改善对低收入和其他代表性不足群体的招聘和财政支持。SIMS的评估和评价将是全面和持续的，包括文献中的定量和定性工具和措施。该项目的外部评估人员使用形成性和总结性评估来评估学生的数学准备情况、技能发展、理解和交流生物学关键原理的能力、学位进展和毕业率。特别的重点将放在调查，以评估和不断改进项目的要素，重点是学生的成功。这些数据将使我们了解有效的实践，这些实践支持STEM学科中代表性不足的学生坚持毕业。

Muhlenberg College has received an NSF Scholarships for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) award for a project entitled The Scholars in Math and Science (SIMS) program. SIMS will target academically talented and economically disadvantaged students who enter college seeking a major within the biological sciences. Two cohorts of 8 students each will be recruited: the first cohort will receive scholarships of $9,500/year for 4 years, and the second will receive scholarships of $9,500/year for 3 years. The proposal is building upon successful program elements of a previous STEM grant that included enhanced recruitment and academic support. Through this program, Muhlenberg College will promote a robust and diverse STEM workforce.Program elements new to this project are being designed to develop academic and science skills, create a learning community that lasts from freshman to senior year, and develop student leadership through activities on campus and in public outreach. The project will improve student support services including forming learning communities, providing special classes and sections to get students past hurdle classes, instituting peer-led learning, and providing long-term mentors. SIMS will increase the leadership roles of scholars, improving their science process skills, encouraging participation in research, and improving recruitment and financial support for low income and otherwise underrepresented groups. SIMS assessment and evaluation will be comprehensive and ongoing and include both quantitative and qualitative instruments and measures from the literature. The project external evaluator is using both formative and summative evaluations to assess student mathematics readiness, skills development, ability to understand and communicate key principles in biology, progress to degree, and graduation rates. Particular emphasis will be placed on the surveys to assess and continually improve the elements of the program that are focused on student success. The data will inform our understanding of effective practices that support the persistence to graduation of students underrepresented in STEM disciplines.