Undergraduate Models for Creating and Sustaining Diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and

Mathematics

Professor Isiah M. Warner Department of Chemistry

Office of Strategic InitiativesLouisiana State University

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803AAAS/NACME, January 15, 2008

2006 Summer Bridge StudentsHHMI and LA-STEM

In HHMI and LA-STEM,we provide a supportive,

motivating, diverse, learning community for students which promotes academic success through a three-pronged approach:

Mentoring

Education

Research

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

Mentors function in four primary roles:

1. Teacher

imparting knowledge or skill to the mentee by example or experience

2. Counselor

exchanging opinions and ideas with the mentee to reach a decision or deliberate plan of action

3. Intervener

influencing the mentee’s attitudes and behaviors

4. Sponsor

assuming responsibility for assisting the mentee in gaining greater academic success

Mentoring

What all students need to be successful:•Refined problem-solving skills

•Time management and organization

•Enhanced interdisciplinary learning

•Ability to make connections between coursework and real-world experiences

•Metacognitive abilities (learning how you learn best and monitoring your own learning)

•Writing skills (yes, even for STEM majors)

Education

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

17Week 1AUGUST

18Orientation

19Orientation

20Orientation

21Orientation

22 23

24Week 2

25Classes Begin

26Getting On Course to your Success

27 28Accepting Responsibility & Time Mgmt:Schedules

29 30

31Week 3

1SEPTEMBERLabor Day Holiday

2Goal Setting&Self Motivation

3 4Self Motivation

5 6

7Week 4

8 9Notetaking &Mentoring

10 11Study Strategies I

12 13

14Week 5

15 16Preferred Learning Styles

17 18Self Discipline & InterdependenceCareer Fair

19 20

21Week 6

22 23Grad Student Research Presentation &Grad School Application Overview

24 25Self Awareness: Are You Off Course?

26 27

28Week 7

29 30 Mentor & Review of Midterm Study Schedule

1OCTOBER

2Fall Holiday

3Fall Holiday GAELA

4Conference

5Week 8@ Tulane

6Classes resume

7Study Strategies II

8 9Is 24 Hours Enough?

10 11

12Week 9

13MIDTERMS

14MIDTERMS

15MIDTERMS

16MIDTERMS

17MIDTERMS

18MIDTERMS

Our Research students (mentors)

•receive extensive preparation for research during their first semester in program or before (summer bridge)

•work in a research lab by their second semester in program

•have a research mentor to offer guidance and support

•have the opportunity to participate in summer research programs all over the country

Research

Success through collaboration

LA-STEM Research Scholars Program

HHMI Professors Program

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LA-STEM students who lose eligibility for the program because of the GPA requirement can transfer to HHMI

HHMI students whose GPAs qualify them for LA-STEM can transfer from one program to the other

2.5 to 3.0

> 3.5

2002 HHMI Cohort Academic Outcomes2002 HHMI Cohort Academic Outcomes

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

Cum

ulat

ive

GP

A

Spring 2003 Spring 2004 Spring 2005 Spring 2006

Semester Enrolled

HHMI

Others

•Cumulative GPA is consistently higher

2002 HHMI Cohort Academic Outcomes2002 HHMI Cohort Academic Outcomes - Retention in STEM - Retention in STEM

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

70.00%

80.00%

90.00%

100.00%

Spring 2003 Spring 2004 Spring 2005 Spring 2006

HHMI

Others

Student Reactions…

HHMI Professors Program“When I first came into the program I was not sure what I was getting myself into. When I applied for the scholarship I thought it would be just another … scholarship. However, after the summer passed I expected that this program would help me excel in college and be prepared for graduate school. I believe that the HHMI program is well on its way to helping me achieve these goals.”

“I feel the most important thing I have learned from this program is the dedication required to succeed in college. I believe the HHMI program has helped me succeed at LSU when I was not feeling my most motivated.”

“The work in the course for the program is very different from any course here at LSU. Everything YOU do is to help YOU (even if you do not realize it at the moment).”

In a letter to new students, an Undergraduate Mentor wrote: “You will learn the importance of study groups, collaboration and helping others help themselves, i.e. you will learn how to become an effective mentor.”

LA-STEM COHORTS Vs. LA-STEMLA-STEM Cohorts

LA-STEM

number 658 25

HS GPA 3.79 3.70

ACT 27.2 27.8

1st Year GPA 3.29 3.72

Senior College

50.9% 88.0%

OVERALL LA-STEM Vs. LA-STEM URM

LA-STEM LA-STEM

number 25 8

HS GPA 3.70 3.66

ACT 27.8 25.2

1st Year GPA 3.72 3.77

Senior College

88.0% 75.0%

2006 HIGHLIGHTSSTUDENTS AWARDS

LA-STEM Student(MD/PhD)

University Medalist

HHMI Student (PhD) Most Outstanding Mathematics Major

HHMI/LA-STEM Student(PhD)

Most Outstanding Chemistry Researcher

HHMI/LA-STEM Student Gilliam Fellow (PhD)

Four LA-STEM Students 4/5 Goldwater nominees1 Goldwater/1HonMen/1 Udall

Twelve Students(Summer REU)

MIT (4); Wisconsin (7); Rice (1);

2006 Summer Research StudentsHHMI and LA-STEM

LA-STEM/ HHMI

Scholars/Mentors Programs

The LA-STEM Research Scholars Program is funded by the National Science Foundation, Research Corporation, and Louisiana State University.

Howard Hughes Professors Program

Supported by

Howard Hughes Medical Institute

LA-STEMResearch Scholars

Program

1.Richard Evans, PhD, 1965-19712.Mildred Smalley, PhD, 1968-

19723.Don Prier, PhD, 1975-1981

The Beginning Years - 1965 to 1985The Beginning Years - 1965 to 19853 PhD Degrees:

The Recent Years

CHEMSuccess FactorsSuccess Factors

• Mentoring and Support

• Proximity of HBCU's

• Critical Mass

• Self-Sustained Recruiting

• Employability

CHEM