LSAMP BD: The University of Texas at El Paso - The University of Texas System LSAMP

University Of Texas At El Paso, El Paso TX

Investigators

Abstract

The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program assists universities and colleges in diversifying the STEM workforce through their efforts at significantly increasing the numbers of students successfully completing high quality degree programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)disciplines. Particular emphasis is placed on transforming STEM education through innovative recruitment and retention strategies and experiences in support of groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines: Black/African-Americans, Alaskan Natives, American Indians, Hispanic/Latinx Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders. The Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Activity provides support for postbaccalaureate studies in STEM programs leading to the STEM doctoral degree. The University of Texas System Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (UT LSAMP) will host a Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) program at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), a Hispanic-serving institution and the lead institution of the Alliance. The proposed project builds on experiences gathered by the UT System LSAMP on the development of successful and replicable strategies to ensure that large numbers of students from underrepresented groups graduate with undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and complete STEM doctoral degrees. Twelve fellows from LSAMP populations in STEM disciplines and from the LSAMP alumni pool from across the nation will be selected to participate in the 2022-2024 program. The project at UTEP, in particular, emphasizes STEM mentoring for BD participants and faculty advisors. It leverages the activities of the Southwest Rockies Louis Stokes Inclusive Mentoring Center of Excellence and incorporates mental health and involvement of family in retention activities. It promotes the maturation of the students' research and professional skills, values, and attitudes. The project results will further diversify the nation's STEM workforce, enable the replication of promising practices in STEM graduate education at emerging research universities for students with profiles similar to those participating in this alliance of institutions. Evaluative efforts will determine which interventions are needed for qualified students from underrepresented groups to successfully transition from their undergraduate STEM disciplines to the completion of a Ph.D. program in their field of study, at rates comparable to or exceeding those of all similarly qualified students. Outcomes will be disseminated nationally and internationally through professional research conferences, scholarly journals, institutional websites, and social media. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.