RISE Option I at Savannah State University

描述（由申请人提供）：萨凡纳州立大学（SSU），一个HBCU与94%的非洲裔美国人入学，提交这一拟议的MBRS-RISE选项I程序应用程序，以增加在博士招生人数不足的少数民族学生的数量。生物医学和行为科学学位。在过去的8年里，我们目前资助的项目已经吸引了200多名STEM学生参与指导研究，并提高了STEM的入学率，保留率和毕业率。然而，缺少的是SSU STEM学生完成博士学位的相应增加。程序.在过去的13年里，只有29个SSU BS毕业生（27个URM）进入了生物医学/行为科学博士学位。方案（约2/年）。此外，与许多类似的机构一样，我们在生物学和化学等关键守门课程方面面临重大挑战，导致STEM专业的保留率和入学率低于预期。该MBRS-RISE提案的目标是建立在这些以前的计划所创造的机构势头的基础上，通过重点突出，相互关联的举措来增强它们，这些举措将提高学生在课程中的成绩，为在SSU进一步学习生物学，化学，海洋科学和行为分析奠定基础，并在研究生院取得未来的成功;激发少数民族学生的科学想象力和他们对研究事业的兴趣;并发展SSU教师的指导，研究和教学技能。该五年计划将通过课程改进和研讨会产生广泛的机构影响;它将对来自生物学，化学，海洋科学和行为分析本科课程的27名研究实习生产生有针对性的影响，他们将被招募，指导和培养进入博士学位。课程毕业后，并在他们的研究事业的追求成功。提出了三个具体目标和相关的可衡量目标：具体目标#1（广泛影响）：到第5年，在65个BS毕业生（过去4年的平均人数）的基线水平上，实现RISE相关本科课程毕业生人数增加35%，以增加为研究生生物医学/行为科学课程做好准备的SSU专业人才库。活动包括课程增强新生一年的经验类和生物学，化学和行为分析基础课程（受益于400多名学生/年）;和正在进行的K-12招聘与其他程序的杠杆作用。具体目标#2（有针对性的影响）：产生10个申请并进入生物医学/行为科学博士学位的SSU毕业生。计划，通过高质量和富有成效的本科研究培训计划。这10位新博士将在5年内支助27名实习生（每年15名，每年3名因毕业而替换的实习生），以产生候选人。活动将包括一个全面的，逐步具有挑战性和严格的指导研究培训计划;持续的辅导，指导，学术交流和专业发展，以培养学生的动机，坚持和连接到学术界的感觉;并通过研究生院申请过程中每个实习生的指导。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Savannah State University (SSU), an HBCU with 94% African-American enrollment, submits this proposed MBRS-RISE Option I program application to increase the number of underrepresented minority students enrolling in Ph.D. degrees in biomedical and behavioral science. Our current funded programs over the past 8 years have engaged more than 200 STEM students in mentored research and increased the STEM enrollment, retention, and graduation rates. Lacking, however, has been corresponding increases in SSU STEM students completing Ph.D. programs. Over the past 13 years, only 29 SSU BS graduates (27 URMs) have entered biomedical/behavioral science Ph.D. programs (~2/year). In addition, as with many similar institutions, we have significant challenges with key gatekeeper courses including biology and chemistry, resulting in lower than desired rates of retention and matriculation within STEM majors. The goal of this MBRS-RISE proposal is to build on the institutional momentum created by these previous programs, enhancing them with focused, interrelated initiatives that will improve student outcomes in courses that lay the foundation for further study in biology, chemistry, marine science and behavioral analysis at SSU and future success in graduate school; stimulate the scientific imagination of minority students and their interest in research careers; and develop the mentoring, research, and teaching skills of SSU faculty. The five-year program will have broad institutional impact, through curriculum enhancements and workshops; it will have targeted impact on 27 research interns from the biology, chemistry, marine science, and behavioral analysis undergraduate programs who will be recruited, mentored and groomed to enter Ph.D. programs after graduation and succeed in their pursuit of research careers. Three specific aims and associated measurable objectives are proposed: Specific Aim #1 (Broad Impact): By year 5, achieve an increase in the number of graduates in RISE relevant undergraduate programs by 35% over the baseline level of 65 BS graduates (average number for the last 4 years), in order to increase the pool of SSU majors who are prepared for graduate biomedical/behavioral science programs. Activities include curriculum enhancements to Freshman Year Experience Classes and to Biology, Chemistry, and Behavior Analysis Fundamental Courses (benefiting over 400 students/year); and ongoing K-12 recruitment leveraged with other programs. Specific Aim #2 (Targeted Impact): Produce 10 SSU graduates who apply for and enter biomedical/behavioral science Ph.D. programs, through a high-quality and productive undergraduate research training program. These 10 new Ph.D. candidates will be produced by supporting 27 interns over 5 years (15 each year with 3 replacements each year due to graduation). Activities will include a comprehensive, progressively challenging and rigorous mentored research training program; ongoing tutoring, mentoring, academic advisement, and professional development to nurture the students' motivation to persist and feeling of connectedness to the academic community; and guidance of each intern through the graduate school application process.