CO-AMP Phase III

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators

Abstract

A-1 Louis Stokes Colorado Alliance for Minority Participation CO-AMP Phase III Project Summary Colorado State University (CSU) in collaboration with the University of Colorado at Boulder, Fort Lewis College, Colorado State University at Pueblo, Metropolitan State College of Denver, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado at Denver, Colorado School of Mines, Adams State College, Trinidad State Junior College, Pueblo Community College, Din College, AIMS Community College, four tribal nations, and industry constitute part of the CO-AMP consortium that was formed in 1995/96. The consortium is proposing COAMP Phase III that will undertake a comprehensive effort to address the following activities in connection with under-represented students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines: Recruitment, retention & leadership programs Longitudinal tracking Summer outreach programs Graduate school placement The primary goal of the LS CO-AMP Phase III Proposal is to continue increasing the number of underrepresented minority students successfully completing baccalaureates degrees in STEM disciplines in Colorado. Phase III of CO-AMP will build upon the momentum and the success of LS CO-AMP, which began in 1995. The underrepresented students (Hispanic, African American, Native American, and Pacific Islanders) who are enrolled in the undergraduate STEM degree programs at the participating institutions will benefit greatly from the proposed activities. The efforts of the Consortium will extend from the pre-freshmen level to enrollment in graduate school programs. The CO-AMP consortium has been the major driving force at the institutions involved since 1995 to encourage and motivate students to excel and graduate with a B.S. degree in the STEM fields. The enrollment and visibility of diverse students has increased at the participating institutions which is demonstrated by the 68% increase in the LS CO-AMP enrollment since its inception. Student performance in their respective disciplines has improved tremendously. A significant level of support, in addition to that from the NSF, has been provided by the central administrations, the Departments and Colleges of the Consortium institutions, Industry, and the Colorado Institute of Technology. Very importantly, the faculty and staff members of the Consortium institutions have provided essential support without which the activities of LS CO-AMP could not have been so successful. CO-AMP participating institutions, industry, tribal councils and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education are expected to continue their support of the project from 2006 to 2011. The success of this consortium will continue to be shared with the other LS AMPs in the nation. In addition, CO-AMP will work with the Alliance for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP) to place more underrepresented students in STEM graduate studies. By linking the resources of the Consortium institutions and partners and by continuing ongoing efforts to solicit funding from all available sources, LS CO-AMP will continue to promote institutionalizing the successful programs it has developed within the Consortium institutions. This is essential to assure that the benefits to students, which occur from these programs, continue after funding from the NSF is no longer available. Intellectual Merit Colorado LS CO AMP is looking to continue increasing the number of underrepresented undergraduate students graduating with a Bachelors Degree in STEM disciplines. In addition, LS CO-AMP Phase III is planning to matriculate underrepresented (UREP) students into graduate school to ensure a future balance of the representation of minority students in STEM graduate disciplines. During Phase III, the Consortium will work toward institutionalizing and sustaining its program activities after the NSF Funding expires. LS CO-AMP has had considerable success during Phase I and II, and the Consortiums success will be amplified during the proposed LS CO-AMP Phase III project. The anticipated successful collaboration with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the legislature, and congressional representatives, will strengthen the sustainability of LS CO-AMP in the State of Colorado. Broader Impact Through the assessment of the activities and the collaboration of LS CO-AMP with other alliances such as AGEP, McNair Scholarships Program, and Rocky Mountain Middle School Math Science Partnership, LS CO AMP plans to increase awareness of cultural differences and necessary institutional changes to positively sustain support of UREP STEM undergraduate and graduate students after NSF funding expires. Moreover, the results of the Phase III programs and activities will add substantially to the understanding of the issues and the challenges of UREP students in graduate and undergraduate STEM disciplines. The focus of LS CO-AMP Phase III is to continue the recruitment and the retention activities of Phase I and Phase II, as well as to matriculate the UREP undergraduate students into graduate school. This commitment to graduate education will produce more UREP STEM faculty members who, in turn, will help in bringing more diverse students to the classroom. It will also enable effective and sustainable institutional transformation to enhance diversity in STEM disciplines. In addition, this diversity commitment will improve the overall climate for UREP students in the State of Colorado and nationwide.