Expanding a Model Program Which Has Increased the Number of Underrepresented Students in Biomedical-RelevantGraduate Programs

摘要： 目前拟议的更新和扩大UWF MARC学者计划寻求大幅增加 留校率、学业成绩、学位获得率和研究生院预科率 西佛罗里达大学(UWF)生物医学少数族裔学生的代表性不足。该计划是 仿照UWF的化学学者计划和当前的MARC学者计划，包容计划模拟 在UMBC.17-18迈耶霍夫学者计划之后，这些计划旨在支持高潜力 对STEM感兴趣而进入大学的学生人数不足(UR)。成立化学公司五年后 学者们，UR化学专业的少数民族毕业生从2009-2012年间的平均6%上升到了 2012-2017年间平均为30%。UR种族学生攻读生物医学的百分比 相关的博士或医学博士学位从2010-2012年间的0%上升到2010年的平均60% 2012-2017年。也许更令人印象深刻的是过去5年来UR专业学生的平均百分比 攻读博士学位或医学博士/博士学位课程的学生比非UR学生的比例高11%。美国国立卫生研究院资助MARC 2014年，学者们将该模型扩展到生物和物理领域，仅面向俄勒冈大学的少数民族学生。到目前为止，有15个 种族方面，UR MARC学者已被接受，89%的MARC学者(9名MARC学者中的8名)毕业 拥有理学学士学位(生物、化学和/或物理)，75%(8人中有6人)的MARC学者毕业生拥有 注册了博士或医学博士项目，1名MARC毕业生注册了NIH资助的预科课程。 拟议的扩大MARC学者计划寻求进一步扩大目前的MARC学者计划，以也 支持经济困难的UR学生从事生物医学研究事业。拟议的扩展 该计划将继续涵盖示范计划的四个主要组成部分，并增加几项内容 专为UWF Marc学者队量身定做。MARC学者将提供以下内容：1)学术和社会 通过两年的研究经验(校内外)和STEM生活学习社区进行整合；2) 通过写作、批判性思维和专业发展研讨会和 专门为STEM和生物医学主题量身定做的研讨会系列，STEM写作课程，RCR课程， 以及UWF和R-1机构的研究经验；3)通过MARC实施的支助系统 学者，“侵入性建议，”和规范的指导和建议，既学术课程，研究， 和MARC奖学金；以及4)为MARC奖学金做准备，考上研究生，并最终 通过个人发展计划、申请材料准备和简历建设实现研究生涯 研讨会。这些资源目前只能通过国立卫生研究院--MARC学者基金--专门用于 在密歇根州立大学攻读生物医学学位和长期研究的优秀UR初三和高年级学生 事业。

SUMMARY: The proposed renewal and expansion of the current UWF MARC Scholars Program seeks to dramatically increase retention, academic performance, degree attainment, and graduate school matriculation rates among underrepresented biomedical minority students at the University of West Florida (UWF). The program is modeled after UWF’s Chemistry Scholars and current MARC Scholars Programs, inclusion programs modeled after the Meyerhoff Scholars Program at UMBC.17-18 These programs are designed to support high-potential underrepresented (UR) students who start college with an interest in STEM. Five years after establishing Chem Scholars, the ethnically UR Chemistry graduates have increased from an average 6% during 2009-2012 to an average 30% during 2012-2017. The percentage of ethnically UR students pursuing biomedically relevant PhD or MD-PhD degrees has increased from 0% during 2010-2012 to an average 60% in 2012-2017. Perhaps more impressive is the average past 5-year percentage of ethnically UR majors matriculating to PhD or MD/PhD programs exceeds the percentage of non-UR by 11%. NIH-funded MARC Scholars expanded the model into Biology and Physics in 2014 solely for ethnically UR students. To date, 15 ethnically UR MARC Scholars have been accepted, 89% of MARC Scholars (8 of the 9 MARC Scholars) graduated with a BS degree (Biology, Chemistry, and/or Physics), and 75% (6 of the 8) of MARC Scholar graduates have matriculated to PhD or MD-PhD programs and 1 MARC graduate is enrolled in a NIH-funded PREP. The proposed expanded MARC Scholars seeks to further expand the current MARC Scholars Program to also support financially disadvantaged UR students pursuing biomedical research careers. The proposed expanded program will continue to encompass the four major components of the model programs with several additions tailored specifically to UWF MARC Scholars. MARC Scholars will provide the following: 1) academic and social integration via the a 2-year research experience (on and off campus) and STEM Living Learning Community; 2) rigorous academic preparation via Writing, Critical Thinking and Professional Development workshops and seminar series tailored specifically for STEM and biomedical topics, a STEM Writing course, an RCR Course, and research experience both at UWF and R-1 institutions; 3) a support system implemented through MARC Scholars, “intrusive advising,” and regulated mentoring and advising for both academic coursework, research, and MARC Scholars; and 4) preparation for MARC Scholars, matriculation to graduate school, and ultimately to a research career through individual development plans, application materials preparation, and resume building workshops. These resources are currently available only through NIH-funding of MARC Scholars specifically for high-achieving UR junior and senior students pursuing biomedical degrees at UWF and long-term research careers.