Bridges to the Baccalaureate at UPR-Rio Piedras

描述（由申请人提供）：波多黎各大学系统的四个区域机构和同一系统的里约热内卢Piedras校区将继续改进目前的转学计划，以增加未被充分代表的少数民族继续攻读生物医学科学研究生的人数。四个参与的地区机构，阿雷西博，巴亚蒙，卡罗莱纳和庞塞校区不提供生物学或化学学士学位。这些学校转校生的录取率很低，必须提高。改善区域机构科学课程的成果：TRC项目将提供旨在提高学生在入门科学课程中的表现的活动。虽然这些将是相似的，但这些将响应具体的机构需要，并将包括由个别方案协调员计划和执行的各种各样的活动。这些活动包括解决问题的讲习班、学生指导和同行科学家的研讨会。里约热内卢Piedras的教师或受邀参加里约热内卢Piedras项目的演讲者将为区域校区的教师提供科学教育方法研讨会。为方便转到四年制课程：为24名即将升入大二的学生提供暑期工作坊，旨在为第二年的课程做准备，教授学生基本的实验室技能，并使未来的转学生熟悉科学研究作为职业选择。选择16名二年级学生作为TRC实习生，将他们安置在里约热内卢Piedras研究实验室，在那里他们将参加为期两个月的暑期研究体验。随后将有一个研讨会，为学生准备分析化学。在这个夏天，这些学生还将接受有关课程的咨询，并帮助他们完成转到里约热内卢Piedras的学习。为了使他们更好地过渡到研究职业：16名TRC学员将在大三和大四期间参加本科研究项目。在大三之间的暑假期间，所有学员都将被鼓励参加校外研究经历。将努力将受训者安置在现有的本科研究项目中，但那些没有找到职位的受训者将获得作为实验室助理的资助。

DESCRIPTION (provided by the applicant): Four regional institutions of the University of Puerto Rico System and the Rio Piedras Campus of the same system will continue to improve the current transfer program in a manner which will augment the number of underrepresented minorities who continue graduate studies in the biomedical sciences. The four participating regional institutions, Arecibo, Bayamon, Carolina, and Ponce Campuses do not offer baccalaureate degrees in either Biology or Chemistry. The admission rate for transfer students from these campuses is low and must be improved. To improve outcomes in science courses at the regional institutions: The TRC project will provide activities directed at improving student performance in introductory science courses. Although these will be similar, these will respond to specific institutional needs and will include a wide variety activities planned and executed by the individual program coordinators. These activities include problem solving workshops, student mentoring, and seminars by peer scientists. Workshops on science education methodologies will be offered to faculty of the regional campuses by Rio Piedras faculty or invited speakers participating at Rio Piedras-based programs. To ease their transfer to the four-year program: Provide a summer workshop for 24 rising sophomores designed to provide preparation for second year courses, teach students basic laboratory skills, and to familiarize future transfer students with scientific research as a career option. Select 16 sophomores as TRC trainees and place them into Rio Piedras research laboratories where they will participate in a two-month summer research experience. This will be followed by a workshop which will prepare students for Analytical Chemistry. During this summer these students will also receive counseling as to courses and assistance in completing their transfer to Rio Piedras. To improve their transition to research careers: The 16 TRC trainees will participate in undergraduate research projects during their Junior and Senior years During the summers between their junior years all trainees will be encouraged to participate in extramural research experiences. Efforts will be made to place trainees in the existing undergraduate research programs, however those trainees who do not find positions will be provided with funding as laboratory assistants.