RISE Option I at Savannah State University

描述(由申请人提供)：萨凡纳州立大学(SSU)是一所拥有94%非裔美国人入学人数的HBCU，它提交了这份拟议的MBRS-Rise Option I计划申请，以增加未被充分代表的少数族裔学生注册生物医学和行为科学博士学位的数量。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，SSU STEM学生完成博士课程的人数一直缺乏相应的增长。在过去的13年里，只有29名SSU学士毕业生(27名URM)进入了生物医学/行为科学博士项目(~2/年)。此外，与许多类似的机构一样，我们在生物和化学等关键看门人课程上面临着巨大的挑战，导致STEM专业的保留率和预录率低于预期。MBRS-RISE计划的目标是在之前这些计划创造的机构动力的基础上，通过有重点的、相互关联的计划来加强这些计划，这些计划将改善学生在课程中的结果，为在SSU进一步学习生物、化学、海洋科学和行为分析以及未来在研究生院取得成功奠定基础；激发少数族裔学生的科学想象力和他们对研究职业的兴趣；并发展SSU教师的指导、研究和教学技能。这项为期五年的计划将通过课程改进和研讨会产生广泛的制度影响；它将对生物、化学、海洋科学和行为分析本科项目的27名研究实习生产生目标影响，这些实习生将被招募、指导和培训，毕业后进入博士项目并成功追求研究职业生涯。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)：到第五年，实现RISE相关本科课程的毕业生人数在65名BS毕业生的基线水平(过去4年的平均人数)的基础上增加35%，以增加准备攻读生物医学/行为科学研究生课程的SSU专业的人数。活动包括加强一年级体验课程和生物、化学和行为分析基础课程的课程(每年惠及400多名学生)；以及结合其他计划正在进行的K-12招聘。具体目标#2(有针对性的影响)：通过高质量和富有成效的本科生研究培训计划，培养10名申请并进入生物医学/行为科学博士课程的SSU毕业生。这10名新的博士候选人将在5年内支持27名实习生(每年15名，每年因毕业而更换3名)。活动将包括一个全面的、逐步具有挑战性的和严格的导师研究培训计划；持续的辅导、指导、学术咨询和专业发展，以培养学生坚持的动机和与学术界的联系；以及指导每个实习生通过研究生院的申请过程。

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.