| Abstrakt: |
The National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored S-STEM scholarship project in the Louisiana State University College of Engineering (CoE) provided monetary, academic and community support to 59 academically talented and financially needy engineering undergraduate students while encouraging underrepresented and underserved populations to be part of the program. The ultimate project objectives were to provide support to the recipient scholars so they could complete a degree in engineering/construction management (E/CM) and increase the percentage of underrepresented and underserved students. The project encompassed three major components: recruitment, retention and placement. Recruitment consisted of communications with high school counselors, direct mailings to incoming freshmen candidates, and collaboration with high school math and science teachers and college faculty. The program was open to anyone with a demonstrated financial need. Retention efforts leveraged components implemented as part of an existing NSF STEP Project within the college. The suite of engineering STEP retention activities/programs included peer mentoring, summer engineering enhancement camp, faculty development and a freshmen introduction to engineering course. New retention activities developed specifically for the S-STEM scholars program included a seminar series focused on developing professional and academic skills, a winter reading program, and the development and implementation of a summer jobs program with emphasis on connecting students with Research Experiences for Undergraduates and employers through networking activities. Additionally, the CoE Diversity Office conducted regular individual meetings with the scholars to establish a relationship with the student and identify problem areas early. The S-STEM scholarship project was funded from August 2007 - July 2013. Initially, financial support was provided to 22 incoming freshmen, and four students with junior standing for the 2008 cohort. The fall 2009 cohort consisted of 8 incoming freshmen and five students with upper level standing. For the following three years, the scholarships were awarded to upper level students. The scholars' demographic information indicates that underrepresented students were represented at a level higher than the overall CoE demographics. Increased retention and graduation of students in engineering were primary goals of the project. Of the 59 students who were part of the S-STEM program, 36 (61%) maintained scholarship eligibility until graduation or the end of the grant, 10 changed majors (six into in a different STEM discipline), and only six students left the University with no indications of additional higher education plans. By the end of the program 44% of the scholarship participants graduated with an engineering/construction management degree and 51% graduated from the University within a five year time frame. This rate compares favorably with the 2007 CoE freshmen cohort rate of 37.2%, and another 22% of S-STEM participants are anticipated to graduate with engineering degrees over the next year. The number of underrepresented S-STEM scholars was proportionally higher than the overall CoE enrollment and the scholar graduation rate was higher. Overall, the five year combined retention and graduation (May 2013) in engineering/construction management for the program was 69%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
