Page 23 - T-I JOURNAL19-3

LA-STEM PROGRAM: STEM SUCCESS MODEL 583

in individualized mentoring, and participated in aca- (through inspiration of the UMBC Meyerhoff Schol-
demic and professional development workshops. The ars Program) to increase student access and success in
LS-LAMP and S-STEM program worked in conjunc- STEM undergraduate degree programs with the goals
tion in terms of implementation of program activities. of developing leaders and researchers, promoting
diversity in STEM, and supporting student achieve-
Smart Polymer Composite Materials and ment. LA-STEM provided multi-faceted training and
Structures Research Experience for employed a holistic developmental learning approach
Undergraduates (SMART REU) to create high-quality students who greatly contrib-
The SMART REU is an interdisciplinary project ute to the STEM community. The model entailed
across science and engineering. The research focuses recruitment of high ability students (GPAs = 3.5 or
on a theme of smart polymer composite materials greater, ACT composite minimum= 24) and selection
and structures. The goals for the SMART project of the top candidates through a rigorous selection
are to provide exceptional research experiences for process. It is important to convey that the LA-STEM
diverse undergraduates at the interface of materi- selection committee does not necessarily recruit
als and structures and to prepare those participants only “the best and the brightest”; rather, emphasis
for advanced study and research careers. Eight is focused on recruiting talented students with tre-
REU participants, as rising juniors and seniors, are mendous potential. Many of these students might not
meaningfully engaged in research and professional otherwise have had the motivation, confidence, or
development. guidance, to pursue a rigorous STEM undergraduate
degree. Ultimately, the selection of students for the
Bridge to the Doctorate LA-STEM program is in line with OSI’s mission to
Since 2005, LSU OSI has been home to eight recruit highly promising students who exemplify
cohorts of Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Fellows. academic prowess, willingness to engage with others,
Funded through an activity of the NSF’s Louis Stokes motivation for research, commitment to diversity,
Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) pro- and passion for outreach, rather than targeting only
gram, the overarching goal of BD is to provide the academically exceptional students. In fact, in some
necessary academic and research skills to enable instances, students with superior credentials were
Fellows to successfully earn STEM doctoral degrees denied admission to the program because they were
and transition into the professoriate and/or STEM deemed not to fit well with the collaborative model
workforce. The overall effort at LSU, Louisiana Broad- of the program.
ening Resources for Increasing Diversity in Graduate Scholars selected for the program participate as
Education (LA-BRIDGE), represents a strategic insti- cohorts and are integrated into research and commu-
tutional approach as a model for the production of nity outreach early. They engaged in comprehensive
underrepresented scientists and engineers with doc- training and mentoring designed to prepare them
toral degrees in STEM. To be eligible for the two-year for STEM doctoral programs as well as their future
full fellowship, students must have earned a bache- careers. The LA-STEM Program served a total of 249
lor’s degree from an LSAMP institution, have prior students from 2003 to 2014. Fifty-three percent of all
LSAMP involvement, have not received a master’s LA-STEM participants served were women, and 44%
degree, and be from an NSF-designated underrep- were underrepresented by race (Figure 4).
resented group. Hereafter, with the exception of the six-year STEM
graduation rate and post-baccalaureate placement,
LA-STEM RESEARCH SCHOLARS PROGRAM: all outcomes reported in this study are of “LA-STEM
NATIONAL MODEL FOR IMPACTING Graduates,” those who persisted in the LA-STEM pro-
PERSISTENCE gram by fulfilling the program requirements through
In 2003, supported by NSF, the Louisiana Board graduation (160 students to date). The general term
of Regents, LSU, and Research Corporation, the “LA-STEM Scholar(s)” refers to those students who
LA-STEM Research Scholars Program was designed are currently still pursuing undergraduate degrees or