Liberal Arts Science Scholars Program

在美国，增加美国科学家在劳动力中的人数是一个既定的需求。圣劳伦斯大学（SLU）的NSF科学，技术，工程和数学奖学金（S-STEM）项目将满足这一需求，并通过为20名学生提供财务，学术，网络和个人支持，为国家努力培养更多的STEM毕业生做出贡献。（两批各10人）学业有才华和经济困难的学生，主修化学，计算机科学，地质学，数学，物理学，统计学，或者SLU的非临床生物学课程学生将在第一年被招募到该计划，并可以通过他们的高年级保持奖学金的资格。调查人员将通过培养他们在科学方面的兴趣和学术活动，建立教师和同行导师的密切和关怀网络，并创造增强的教育机会，来寻求一种有希望的方法来招募，保留和毕业STEM专业的学士学位。将特别关注代表性不足的群体，包括妇女和少数民族。SLU的文科科学（LAS）学者计划的目标包括：（i）增加SLU学生的人数和比例从谁获得STEM学位的代表性不足的群体，并加强SLU学术支持服务，为低收入和代表性不足的学生在STEM的过程中;（ii）帮助学者发现和发展自己的身份作为科学家;（iii）建立一个强大的教师和同侪导师网络，并提供支持服务，以帮助学者坚持在关键的头两年的本科学习;（iv）通过定期以小组为中心的活动，在学者之间建立强烈的社区意识;（v）促进和促进对STEM领域跨学科性质的认识和理解;（vi）介绍SLU的S-STEM学者进行研究，解决真实的世界问题，以及其他增强教育机会;以及（vi）让学生接触STEM领域的各种职业，并帮助他们从SLU过渡到STEM研究生课程或职业。为了实现该项目的目标，学者计划调查人员将实施几个有趣和创新的策略，其中包括但不限于：（a）一个独特的定向体验，“在阿迪朗达克STEM”，为即将到来的学者;（B）新的第一学期科学发现课程，补充队列课程，第二学期统计推理研讨会;（c）同行和教师指导;（d）技能建设、专业发展讲习班以及讲习班和研讨会，让学生接触各种职业;以及（e）群体建设活动和增加教育机会，让参与者参与。这些举措将与SLU现有和加强的支助服务协同工作。调查人员将研究和评估项目各个组成部分的有效性，单独考虑并相互结合。他们的研究结果将增加STEM教育的整体知识基础，并将创建一个国家模型，导致生产性的学生干预战略，特别是与理解和提高代表性不足和/或低收入学生的成功有关，从而通过扩大STEM领域的多样性来扩大参与，这些领域可以与其他机构共享，特别是在文科院校。 计划合作伙伴将帮助提高学生参与研究和其他努力。这些合作伙伴包括克拉克森大学、纽约州环境保护部和圣劳伦斯县康奈尔合作推广中心。

There is an established need in the United States to increase the number of American scientists in the workforce. The NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) project at St. Lawrence University (SLU) will address this need and contribute to the national effort to produce more STEM graduates by providing financial, academic, networking, and personal support to twenty (20) (two cohorts of ten each) academically-talented and financially needy students with majors in chemistry, computer science, geology, mathematics, physics, statistics, or a non-clinical track of biology at SLU. Students will be recruited into the program in their first-year, and can remain eligible for scholarships through their senior year. The investigators will pursue a promising approach towards recruiting, retaining, and graduating STEM majors with baccalaureate degrees by nurturing their interests and scholarly activities in the sciences, establishing a close and caring network of faculty and peer mentors, and creating enhanced educational opportunities. Special attention will be given to underrepresented groups, including women and minorities. The goals of SLU's Liberal Arts Science (LAS) Scholars Program include: (i) increasing the numbers and percentage of SLU students from underrepresented groups who attain STEM degrees, and strengthening SLU academic support services for low-income and underrepresented students in STEM in the process; (ii) helping the Scholars find and develop their identities as scientists; (iii) creating and correlating a strong network of faculty and peer mentors and support services to help Scholars persist in the critical first two years of undergraduate study; (iv) building a strong sense of community among the Scholars through regular cohort-centered activities; (v) promoting and facilitating an appreciation and understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of STEM fields; (vi) introducing SLU's S-STEM Scholars to research, real world problem solving, and other enhanced educational opportunities; and (vi) exposing the students to a variety of careers in STEM fields as well as assisting them in transitioning from SLU to a STEM graduate program or career. To meet the goals of the project, the Scholars Program investigators will implement several interesting and innovative strategies, which include but are not limited to: (a) a unique orientation experience, "STEM in the Adirondacks," for incoming Scholars; (b) a new first semester course on scientific discovery, complementary cohort courses, and a second semester seminar on statistical reasoning; (c) peer and faculty mentoring; (d) skill-building, professional development workshops, and workshops and seminars to expose students to a variety of careers; and (e) cohort-building activities and enhanced education opportunities to engage participants. These initiatives will work in concert with existing and strengthened support services at SLU. The investigators will research and assess the effectiveness of the various components of the project, considered individually and working in combination with each other. Their findings will add to the overall knowledge base of STEM education and will create a national model leading to productive student intervention strategies, especially related to understanding and improving successes of underrepresented and/or low income students, thereby broadening participation by expanding diversity in STEM fields that can be shared with other institutions, especially at liberal arts colleges. Program partners will help enhance student engagement in research and other endeavors. These partners include Clarkson University, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County.