Promoting persistence of underprivileged college students in science and mathematics through engagement of their families

位于俄勒冈州森林格罗夫的太平洋大学的国家科学基金会科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金(S-STEM)项目将向36名低收入、有学术天赋的学生颁发奖学金，并为获奖者提供专业的校园规划。新生和转校生都有资格获得这些奖学金。奖学金将提供给符合条件的学生，包括生物、化学、计算机科学、环境科学、数学和物理。该计划的内容将包括有针对性的学术支持和通过共同课程活动进行分组发展。奖学金获得者将有机会获得STEM职业发展机会，包括教师个人指导、实习、参与教师研究和就业安置途径。预计许多奖学金获得者将是第一代大学生，该项目包括努力将奖学金获得者的家庭包括在内，使学生的家庭能够认识到高等教育的挑战和机会，并帮助提供学生完成STEM学位可能需要的支持。为可能无法获得STEM学位的低收入和有学业天赋的学生提供奖学金和支持，将有助于培养一支训练有素的劳动力队伍，为国家的经济增长和产业竞争力做出贡献。虽然目前的研究为家庭支持的重要性提供了证据，但很少有发表的研究调查来自低收入背景的大学生的父母和家庭成员有目的地了解情况并将其纳入以校园为中心的社会支持活动的大学完成结果。这个太平洋大学S-STEM项目将包括一项努力，专门向学生的父母或其他关键的家庭成员通报大学的情况，包括建议和注册等流程，大学里程碑(如申报专业)，以及机会，如实习和研究。主题将包括学生在大学取得成功所需的基本时间承诺，以及应该限制离开大学学习的时间，以确保学术成功和获得STEM职业的经济机会。材料将是多语种的，设计时要敏感于相关的文化价值观和交流的文化规范。该项目将研究如何帮助学生家庭了解大学教育的投资价值，从而更愿意也更有能力为完成大学学业提供情感支持和鼓励。这一结果将有助于向全国STEM教育界通报家庭成员在提高低收入和有学业天赋的学生的保留率和学位完成率方面所起的作用。

This National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) project at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon will award scholarships to 36 low-income, academically talented students, and provide the recipients specialized on-campus programing. Both freshmen and transfer students will be eligible for these scholarships. Scholarships will be offered to qualified students in biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, mathematics, and physics. Elements in the program will include targeted academic support and cohort development through co-curricular activities. Scholarship recipients will have access to STEM career development opportunities including individual mentoring by faculty, internships, participation in faculty research, and pathways for job placement. It is anticipated that many of the scholarship recipients will be first-generation college students and the project includes an effort to include the families of scholarship recipients in a way that enables the student's family to appreciate the challenges and opportunities of higher education and to assist in providing the support students may need to complete STEM degrees. Scholarships and support for low-income and academically talented students, who may not otherwise be able to obtain STEM degrees, will help to produce a well-trained workforce that will contribute to the nation's economic growth and industrial competitiveness.While current research provides evidence for the importance of family support, few published studies investigate college completion outcomes when the parents and family members of college students from low-income backgrounds are purposefully informed and included in campus-centered social support activities. This Pacific University S-STEM project will include an effort to specifically inform students' parents or other critical family members about college, including processes such as advising and registration, college milestones such as declaring a major, and opportunities such as internships and research. Topics will include the essential time commitment required for students to be successful in college, and that time spent away from college studies should be limited to ensure academic success and access to the economic opportunities of STEM careers. Materials will be multi-lingual and designed with sensitivity to relevant cultural values and cultural norms of communication. The project will study ways to help students' families to understand the investment value for a college education, and thus be more willing and better able to provide emotional support and encouragement for completing college. The results will help to inform the nation's STEM education community about the role of family members in improving retention and degree completion among low-income and academically talented students.