Science Learning Community Scholarship (SLC) Project

匹兹堡大学格林斯堡分校的科学学习社区（SLC）奖学金项目将为来自宾夕法尼亚州农村地区的24名有学术天赋但经济困难的学生提供奖学金和学术支持。SLC学者将接受以科学和数学为基础的文科教育。奖学金支持将消除获得大学学位的经济和社会障碍。主要目标是使SLC学者顺利毕业，获得生物科学或化学学士学位，并通过课程和课外活动加强支持服务，促进他们进入STEM职业或研究生课程。其中一些活动包括夏季桥梁项目，新生学者科学研讨会，建立学习小组，与教师建立师徒关系的机会，这可能导致本科研究，以及作为同伴导师，实验室助教或课程导师的培训，以提高学者的领导能力和学习经验。就业服务也将提供，如职业研讨会课程，研究生院预科课程，发展与教职员工的关系。此外，SLC学者将通过在大学的初中和高中暑期科学和数学体验和探索职业夏令营期间提供协助，帮助培养下一代理科学生。项目成果、经验教训和最佳实践将广泛传播，为支持本科生留校和教育成功的示范方法研究做出贡献。评估这些不同活动的效力将有助于扩大关于这类奖学金项目成功的情况的知识库。

The Science Learning Community (SLC) Scholarship Project at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg will provide scholarships and academic support to 24 academically talented and financially disadvantaged students from rural areas in Pennsylvania. The SLC Scholars will receive a liberal arts education solidly rooted in science and mathematics. The scholarship support will remove the financial and societal barriers to earning a college degree.The primary objective is to graduate the SLC Scholars successfully with baccalaureate degrees in Biological Science or Chemistry, and to facilitate their entry into STEM careers or graduate programs through enhancement of support services via curricular and co-curricular activities. Some of these activities include a summer bridge program, a science seminar for freshman scholars, the establishment of study groups, opportunities to develop a mentee/mentor relationship with a faculty member which could lead to undergraduate research, and training as peer mentors, teaching assistants for labs, or tutors for courses to enhance scholars' leadership skills and learning experiences. Career services will also be available, such as a career seminar course, graduate school prep course, and development of relationships with faculty and staff. Additionally, SLC Scholars will help build the next generation of science students by assisting during the university's middle and high school Summer Science and Math Experience and Quest Career camps. The project outcomes, lessons learned, and best practices will be broadly disseminated, contributing to the body of research on model approaches to supporting undergraduate student retention and educational success. Assessment of the efficacy of these different activities will help contribute to expanding the knowledge base regarding the circumstances under which scholarship projects of this type are successful.