Developing a Technology, Cyber Security, and Culturally Inclusive Pathway to Increase Student Participation and Persistence in STEM

在改进的本科生STEM教育：西班牙裔服务机构(HSI)计划的支持下，这个Track 1项目旨在利用技术和网络安全作为催化剂来提高STEM毕业率，特别是西班牙裔和其他代表性不足的学生群体。该项目寻求开发一条从高中到两年制院校，然后再到四年制院校的无缝通道。这条道路包括调整STEM课程，以加强从STEM副学士学位到学士学位的过渡，重点是网络安全。该项目旨在增加两年制院校STEM课程的入学率和参与度，改善从低级到高级课程的过渡，并发展有助于学生成功的基于文化的教育和支持实践。通过开发技术和网络安全方面的过渡途径，该项目旨在提高STEM学生的入学率、保留率和毕业率，特别是西班牙裔学生和STEM领域代表性不足的其他群体的学生。为了加强他们对STEM的参与，学生们将参加国家网络联盟新兵训练营培训和网络安全比赛。该项目将促进参与的高中、社区学院和大学的教师、顾问、教练和管理人员在文化责任和敏感性方面的专业发展。该项目将使用定量和定性指标来调查项目活动如何影响STEM的学生入学率和毕业率，重点是技术和网络安全项目。这项研究项目的数据将使用结构方程建模方法进行分析，以揭示社区学院和大学研究模型的显著路径系数和拟合度模型指数。该项目旨在开发一种模式，可以在其他寻求发展副学士学位途径的机构中实施。结果和发现将通过会议报告和学术期刊出版物分享。HSI计划旨在加强本科生STEM教育和HSI的能力建设。HSI计划支持的项目也将产生关于如何实现这些目标的新知识。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With support from the Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program, this Track 1 project aims to use technology and cybersecurity as catalysts to increase the STEM graduation rate, particularly of Hispanic and other underrepresented student groups. The project seeks to develop a seamless pathway from high school to two-year institutions, and then to a four-year institution. This pathway includes alignment of STEM curricula to enhance the transition from an associate degree to bachelor's degrees in STEM, with a focus on cybersecurity. The project aims to increase student enrollment and engagement in STEM coursework at two-year institutions, improve the transition from lower- to upper-division coursework, and develop culturally based educational and support practices that contribute to student success.By developing a transition pathway in technology and cybersecurity, the project seeks to increase the enrollment, retention, and graduation rates of STEM students, particularly of Hispanic students and students from other groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields. To enhance their engagement in STEM, students will participate in the National Cyber League boot camp training and cybersecurity competitions. The project will facilitate professional development in cultural responsibility and sensitivity for teachers, advisors, coaches, and administrators at participating high schools, community colleges, and universities. The project will use quantitative and qualitative metrics to investigate how the project activities impact student enrollment and graduation rates in STEM, with emphasis on technology and cybersecurity programs. Data from this research project will be analyzed using structured equation modeling methodology to reveal significant path coefficients and goodness-of-fit model indices for both the community college and university research models. The project aims to develop a model that may be implemented at other institutions seeking to develop associate-to-bachelor degree pathways. Results and findings will be shared via conference presentations and academic journal publications. The HSI Program aims to enhance undergraduate STEM education and build capacity at HSIs. Projects supported by the HSI Program will also generate new knowledge on how to achieve these aims.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.