Science and Technology Enhancement Program (STEP)

Texas Southern University, Houston TX

Investigators

Abstract

Texas Southern University Science and Technology Enhancement Program (STEP) will implement various strategies in order to increase the number of African Americans and female graduates in chemistry, mathematics and physics. The activities will include 1)student recruitment and retention, 2) faculty development in teaching and scholarly achievement and 3) curricular reform and enrichment through the use of information technology. The TSU STEP recruitment efforts has as its goal an increase in the graduation rate. The efforts will focus on aggressively recruiting high achieving students, addressing and removing academic barriers through supplemental curriculum programming in gatekeeper courses and creating a student-centered culture of excellence and high expectations. Faculty development will ensure appropriate integration of technology. The project will treain faculty in the use of Blackboard, ensure full integration of technology and on-line instruction and increase the number of STEM faculty members who engage in research opportunities and in the supervision of undergraduate research. TSU will partner with other institutions in this effort. Curriculum reform will include the incorporation of web-based technology and computational methods as n integral part of the curricula for STEM majors. The project will involve faculty from Biology, Chemistry, Computer Scinece, Engineering Technologies, Mathematics and Physics.