HBCU-UP TIP: Integrating Innovative Polymer Chemistry Research into the Introductory General Chemistry Two Course Sequence- Fostering STEM Interest and Retention

历史黑人学院和大学本科项目(HBCU-UP)通过有针对性的灌输项目，支持基于证据的创新模式和方法的开发、实施和研究，以改善HBCU本科生的准备和成功，使他们能够攻读STEM研究生课程和/或职业。菲斯克大学的这个项目旨在开发和实施为期两学期的聚合物化学综合课程-实验室体验，作为本科学生传统的普通化学两学期课程的替代方案。讲座/讨论和嵌入研究的实验室将相互关联，作为激起人们对科学发现对社会影响的兴奋的基础，并建立与学生作为本科生STEM专业及以后继续参与研究相关的研究技能。FISK学生是不成比例的代表不足的少数群体；因此，提高学生对STEM的兴趣和效率将直接影响到扩大对STEM职业的参与。拟议项目的目标是进一步提高学生在化学方面的学习和学术成果，并增加学生在STEM中的留存率。具体地说，目标是：1)通过两个学期的聚合物化学导论课程序列与真实研究相结合，深化学生对普通化学核心概念的学习，作为满足普通化学要求的一种选择；2)开发经久耐用的材料，允许在全国范围内复制这门课程(课堂、实验室和补充教学)；以及3)利用对学生成绩的评估，广义地定义为嵌入教育研究。实现该项目目标的好处包括增加学生对普通化学基本概念的深入学习，激发学生作为专业和职业对STEM领域的兴趣。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program (HBCU-UP) through Targeted Infusion Projects supports the development, implementation, and study of evidence-based innovative models and approaches for improving the preparation and success of HBCU undergraduate students so that they may pursue STEM graduate programs and/or careers. The project at Fisk University seeks to develop and implement a two-semester integrated course-laboratory experience in polymer chemistry as an alternative to the traditional General Chemistry two-semester course for undergraduate students. The lecture/discussion and research-embedded laboratories will be interdependently linked to serve as a basis for engendering excitement about the impact that scientific discovery has on society and to build research skills that would be relevant for students' continued engagement in research as an undergraduate STEM major and beyond. Fisk students are disproportionately under-represented minorities; thus increasing student interest and efficacy in STEM will have the direct effect of broadening participation in STEM careers.The goal of the proposed project is to further enhance student learning and academic outcomes in Chemistry, and to increase student retention in STEM. Specifically, the goals are to: 1) deepen student learning of core concepts in General Chemistry via an Introduction to Polymer Chemistry two semester course sequence integrated with authentic research as an option for meeting the requirements for General Chemistry; 2) develop enduring materials to permit replication of this course (classroom, laboratory and Supplementary Instruction) nationally; and 3) utilize assessment of student outcomes, broadly defined, as embedded educational research. The benefits of achieving the goals of this project include increased student deeper learning of fundamental concepts in General Chemistry, whetting students' interest in STEM fields as a major and as a career.