HSI Pilot Project: Developing an Inquiry-Based Research Module to Promote Academic Success in a Diverse Undergraduate STEM Student Population

该项目的重要性在于，旨在提高大二STEM学生的学业成功率，并通过让学生沉浸在真实的研究体验中，缩小代表性不足的少数民族（URM）或第一代（FG）与其他队列成员之间的成绩差距。STEM学生在第二年的入学率很高，特别是URM和FG学生。该项目支持学生在这一关键时期，他们将坚持在干专业，并最终增加他们在劳动力中的代表性。休斯顿浸会大学（HBU）是一所四年制本科西班牙裔服务机构，位于德克萨斯州休斯顿，这是全国最多元化的城市。HBU的科学与工程学院的学生人口是18%的非洲裔美国人，47%的西班牙裔，和19%的FG。教师和同行导师将指导学生通过一个研究项目，促进他们的研究和人际交往能力的发展，这两个在干劳动力必不可少。这项工作的预期成果是促进学生作为科学家的自我认同，最终导致学术坚持性的提高。该项目将应用学生在预科水平的细胞和分子生物学课程中学习的知识，从而提高成功率。学生还将接受有目的的研究技术和人际交往技能指导，为未来的STEM职业做好准备。该项目的短期和长期目标包括提高STEM课程的成功率，缩小URM/FG学生与其他同龄人之间的成绩差距，提高毕业率，以及增加STEM社区内的归属感。该项目的重点是学生驱动的研究是一个行之有效的方法，以增加少数民族，西班牙裔和妇女的科学参与，并将提高学生在STEM项目的整体保留，并准备年轻人进入STEM劳动力。HSI计划旨在加强本科STEM教育，并建立HSI的能力。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知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The importance of this project is that aims to increase the academic success rates of sophomore STEM students and narrow the achievement gap between under-represented minority (URM) or first-generation (FG) and other cohort members by immersing students in an authentic research experience. Attrition rates for STEM students in their second year are significant, especially for URM and FG students. The project supports students during this critical period, they will persist in STEM majors and ultimately increase their representation in the workforce. Houston Baptist University (HBU) is a four-year undergraduate Hispanic-Serving Institution in Houston, Texas, the most diverse city in the nation. HBU’s College of Science and Engineering student population is 18% African Americans, 47% Hispanic, and 19% FG. Instructors and peer-mentors will guide students through a research project which promotes the development of their research and interpersonal skills, both essential in the STEM workforce. The expected outcome of this work is to promote students’ self-identification as scientists, which will ultimately lead to increased academic persistence.This project will apply the knowledge students are learning in their sophomore-level Cellular and Molecular Biology course, which in turn is expected to increase success rates. Students will also receive purposeful instruction in research techniques and interpersonal skills, to prepare them for a future STEM career. Both short and long-term goals of this project include increased success rates in STEM courses, narrowing achievement gaps between URM/FG students and other members of their cohort, increased graduation rates, and an increase in sense of belonging within the STEM community. The project’s focus on student driven research is a proven approach for increasing science engagement of minorities, Hispanics, and women and will increase overall student retention in STEM programs and prepare young people for entry into the STEM workforce. 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.