The Inclusive Mathematical and Physical Sciences Student Success Program

该项目将通过支持德克萨斯农工大学科珀斯克里斯蒂分校（位于德克萨斯州南部的一所服务于西班牙裔的大学）中表现出经济需求的优秀低收入家庭学生的保留和毕业，为全国对受过良好教育的科学家、数学家、工程师和技术人员的需求做出贡献。在为期6年的时间里，该项目将为30名攻读数学、物理、化学、大气科学和环境科学学士学位的全日制一年级学生提供奖学金，为期五年。为了进一步支持学者，该项目将实施四项重要干预措施。首先是夏季桥梁项目，为一年级学生提供密集的沉浸式数学和科学活动，帮助他们顺利过渡到大学。第二是分层指导计划，利用基于证据的、以学生为中心的学术和学习社区支持策略，在奖学金期间增强学生的学习体验。第三是与行业伙伴合作，发展劳动力所需的市场技能，包括技术和基本专业技能。第四，也是最后一个，是一个研究/行业影子项目，为学生提供机会，通过与导师密切合作，参与真实的研究/行业经验。最终，学生的经济支持与这种广泛的高影响力机会相结合，将使来自南德克萨斯州的有才华的低收入学生自信地进入劳动力市场，成为准备充分的科学家和工程师。该项目的总体目标是提高低收入、成绩优异、有经济需求的本科学生的STEM学位的参与率和完成率。虽然有明确的证据表明，大多数STEM劳动力缺乏多样性，但研究各种努力对提高STEM领域参与度的影响是一项持续的努力。该项目的范围是研究各种干预措施对学生STEM身份形成、学业成就、毕业率和毕业后安置的影响。学者和其他STEM学生在这些指标上的差异将在多管齐下的评估工作中进行比较。这项工作的结果将促进对资源充足的奖学金计划对少数民族大学学生保留和成功的影响的理解。通过促进学者、同行、教师和行业导师之间的合作活动，该计划旨在在南德克萨斯州创建一个繁荣和包容的STEM社区。最终，该项目旨在提高STEM专业人员的质量和数量，解决该地区内外对STEM领域技术工人的需求。项目成果将通过项目网站、学术出版物和会议报告广泛分享。该项目由美国国家科学基金会的科学、技术、工程和数学奖学金项目资助，旨在增加有经济需求的低收入学术天才学生在STEM领域获得学位的人数。它还旨在改善未来STEM工作者的教育，并为低收入学生提供有关学业成功、留校、转学、毕业和学术/职业道路的知识。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

This project will contribute to the national need for well-educated scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and technicians by supporting the retention and graduation of high-achieving, low-income students with demonstrated financial need at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, a Hispanic-serving institution in south Texas. Over its 6-year duration, this project will fund scholarships to 30 full-time first-year students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in mathematics, physics, chemistry, atmospheric science, and environmental science for up to five years. To further support scholars, the project will implement four important interventions. First is a summer bridge program that provides intensive immersion activities in mathematics and science for first-year students to help them transition smoothly into college. Second is a hierarchical mentoring program that utilizes evidence-based, student-centered academic and learning community support strategies to enhance students’ learning experiences throughout the duration of the scholarship. Third is the development of workforce-ready marketable skills that include both technical and essential professional skills in collaboration with industry partners. Fourth, and finally, is a research/industry shadowing program that provides opportunities for students to engage in authentic research/industry experiences by working closely with mentors. Ultimately, student financial support combined with this wide range of high impact opportunities will prepare talented low-income students from South Texas to confidently enter the workforce as well-prepared scientists and engineers. The overall goal of this project is to increase the participation and completion rates of STEM degrees among low-income, high-achieving undergraduate students with demonstrated financial need. While there is clear evidence for the lack of diversity in much of the STEM workforce, examining the impact of various efforts at increasing participation in STEM fields is an ongoing effort. The scope of this project is to examine the impact of various interventions on students’ STEM identity formation, academic achievement, graduation rates, and post-graduation placement. Differences in these measures between scholars and other STEM students will be compared in a multi-pronged assessment effort. The results of this work will advance understanding of the impact of a well-resourced scholarship program on student retention and success at a minority university. By fostering collaborative activities among scholars, peers, faculty, and industry mentors, the program seeks to create a thriving and inclusive STEM community in South Texas. Ultimately, the project aims to improve the quality and quantity of STEM professionals, addressing the demand for skilled workers in STEM fields within the region and beyond. Project outcomes will be shared broadly through the program website, academic publications, and conference presentations. This project is funded by NSF’s Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income academically talented students with demonstrated financial need who earn degrees in STEM fields. It also aims to improve the education of future STEM workers, and to generate knowledge about academic success, retention, transfer, graduation, and academic/career pathways of low-income students.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.