Teams Enhancing Access for Minorities in Science (TEAMS)

Kentucky State University, Frankfort KY

Investigators

Abstract

Nationwide statistics show marked under-representation of minority students attending graduate schools or pursuing careers in the areas of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM). HBCU's are in the most ideal situation to provide solutions to this problem. Universities like Kentucky State University must make every effort to recruit, retain, and graduate minoritySEM students and subsequently enable them to attend graduate school. Unfortunately, enrollmentin SEM disciplines is declining rather than growing. Therefore, Kentucky State University is submitting a proposal to the NSF HBCU-UP initiative designed to increase enrollment of minoritystudents in SEM areas and enhance their preparedness for graduate school success. Teams Enhancing Access for Minorities in Science (TEAMS) is a comprehensive program designed to prepare young minority students for entry into careers in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics (SEM) fields. The first phase of the program is a summer Undergraduate Bridge Program for rising high school seniors and graduates. Once students matriculate at Kentucky State University, they will proceed as TEAMS through several phases of their undergraduate academic program culminating with an intensive Graduate Bridge Program in preparation for graduate school. The overall goal of TEAMS is to increase the number of qualified minority students entering graduate schools in Science, Engineering, and Mathematics and to provide them with academic experiences and research opportunities which will increase their participation in graduate schools and their degree of successful completion of graduate endeavors. The benefits of the TEAMS Program will include: - Providing a conduit that will facilitate the entry of high potential minority high school students into Kentucky State University through an Undergraduate Bridge Program that will support andprepare high school students to reach above average achievement in undergraduate studies in SEM courses. -Providing students with a curriculum that will challenge them in a manner that is appropriate for developing the content and skills in subject areas pertinent to graduatestudies in SEM. -Establishing Excel Study/Research Teams that will prepare students in content, problem-solving skills, and cooperative and investigative approaches to learning. -Establishing a Graduate Bridge Program that will promote readiness for and an awareness of the expectations of graduate studies by providing students with first hand experiences in various aspects of research. -Providing faculty development activities, such as workshops, seminars, institutes, and conferences on innovative teaching strategies, including inquiry-based teaching and learning, collaborative learning, and interdisciplinary approaches.