Science and Mathematics Attraction, Retention, and Training for Texas (SMART Texas)

斯蒂芬·F·奥斯汀州立大学的国家科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金(S-STEM)项目将为大约二十(20)名有经济实力、具有高学术潜力的数学和生物专业的学生提供学术、社会、职业准备和奖学金支持。德克萨斯州(SMART德州)科学和数学吸引、保留和培训计划的目标是：(1)增加进入和完成数学或生物专业的学生人数；(2)为劳动力或研究生学习准备数学和生物专业；(3)调查和确定STEM学生成功可复制模式的关键要素，特别关注第一代低收入和其他代表不足的本科生群体。这个SMART德州项目将结合创新和既定的最佳实践战略，以增加招生和留住学生，并提高学生的成功率和毕业率。奖学金学生将参与STEM生活学习社区，在那里他们将在学术和非学术环境中与STEM同行和STEM教职员工接触。S-STEM学生将有机会获得队列指导、教师在其所在学科的专门学术指导、实习和本科生研究机会(包括实验室研究)，以及各种网络机会，包括支持出席和参加学科会议。将实施和调查计划中的战略组合，以确定学生面临的障碍和帮助克服这些障碍的最佳做法，以提高学生的参与度、保留率、毕业率和学生的整体成功，特别是对于代表性不足的群体。将进行一项配对的纵向研究，以检验这些干预措施在一段时间内的效果，并与未参与STEM专业的学生进行比较。结果将在整个STEM社区中传播。

This NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) project at Stephen F. Austin State University (SFASU) will provide academic, social, career preparation, and scholarship support to approximately twenty (20) financially deserving mathematics and biology majors with high academic potential. The goals of the Science and Mathematics Attraction, Retention, and Training for Texas (SMART Texas) program are to: (1) increase the number of students entering and completing a mathematics or biology major; (2) prepare mathematics and biology majors for the workforce or graduate study; and (3) investigate and identify key elements of a replicable model for STEM student success with a special focus on first generation low-income and other underrepresented groups of undergraduate students.This SMART Texas project will incorporate a combination of innovative and established best practice strategies to increase recruitment and retention, as well as improve student success and graduation rates. The scholarship students will engage in a STEM living learning community where they will be involved with STEM peers and STEM faculty in both academic and non-academic settings. S-STEM students will have access to cohort mentoring, dedicated academic mentoring by faculty in their discipline, internships and undergraduate research opportunities (including laboratory research), and a variety of networking opportunities including support to attend and participate in discipline conferences. The planned combination of strategies will be implemented and investigated to determine obstacles students face and best practices to help overcome these obstacles to increase participation, retention, graduation, and overall student success, especially for underrepresented groups. A paired longitudinal study will be conducted to examine the effects of these interventions over time when compared to nonparticipating STEM majors. Results will be disseminated throughout the STEM community.