Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/08
Outputs
Improved academic achievement and retention and graduation rates are a direct result of project initiatives to strengthen science and math preparation and to ease the transition of freshmen to college life. Program students have proven to be more motivated and successful as compared to a UAPB cohort. Since the inception of this project,76% of the students have been retained at UAPB compared to 64% of the cohort, program students complete 20% more credits pre semester that the cohort in the first 4 semesters and 10% more credits thereafter. On average, program students graduate in 9 semesters compared to the cohort's 10 semesters. Graduation rates and cumulative GPAs compare very favorably to the cohort: 57% versus 20%; and 2.99 versus 2.73. The CASP Center extends the influence of the summer Bridge Program beyond the first summer session of enrollment. Students received continuous advisement and referral in solving issues and problems encountered in the classroom and in their personal and professional development. Students developed a strong sense of commitment to academics while forming strong bonds with other students and the Bridge Coordinator who also taught two required freshmen courses. A significant impact of this project was the adoption by the university of this project's model for student transition and support. The UAPB Learning Institute and Opportunities for New Students (LIONS) Program was initiated in 2008 for at-risk freshmen and directed by this project's PI. Two LIONS Programs in 2008 and 2009 have demonstrated similar student recruitment, retention and personal growth. Increased interest and engagement in science and math by students in the public schools is a major impact of this project as measured by the growth of the UAPB Science Fair. A separate division for grades 6-9 was created for science projects in 2008 to accommodate the expanded interest of these science teachers. An elementary science fair was created in 2009 by the Jefferson County Educational Cooperative to accommodate the interests of K-5 teachers. The PI continues to direct the UAPB Science Fair Expo and is a member of the K-5 Science Fair Advisory Board. The impact of the Science Fair Expo was noted by university administrators who adopted the Expo as an annual event supported by the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs who awarded a four year scholarship to the overall first place project each year. The impact of campus recognition has mobilized other departments and faculty to participate in the mentor component of preparing research projects and in judging the Expo. The Expos have been televised numerous times over the UAPB TV station. Program coordinators continue to receive comments from the community about the Expo, as seen on TV. One school that sent a student to the International Fair wrote that those students from this school who won at any level had also been mentored UAPB faculty. On average, 20% of the Expo students have enrolled at UAPB and over 50% of those in SAFHS degree programs. PRODUCTS: Program brochures and displays were produced for dissemination of information. Two research-based posters were presented at conferences. A biology enrichment curriculum was created to address problematic topics: cell biology; biological chemistry; genetics; cell metabolism; and enzymes. A biology faculty taught the enrichment program and purchased lab supplies for enrichment. Thirty-four freshmen received scholarships for tuition, fees and books; twenty-four received room and board. Four students were hired as RAs to keep students on track academically and socially. Ten students served as tutors in math, biology and English. Nine student workshops and a statewide science specialist's workshop were held and ten science modules were developed for home-schooled students. The UALR TRIO Program provided enrichment at public schools. Five Science Fair Expos were held at UAPB. A faculty expertise listing was for students to contact faculty with research questions. OUTCOMES: New partnerships with the UALR TRIO Talent Search Program and the UAPB School of Arts and Sciences (SOE) created greater collaboration for resources and staff for science enrichment and the Expo. An unintended outcome of the program occurred when the Central Arkansas Chapter of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society won the national 2007 Diversity Program Award based on chapter activities which promote interest in science among diverse populations. The UAPB Science Fair Expo was cited as a contributing activity. Thirty-one Bridge students passed six credits of math and English including 25 requiring developmental courses. Thirty-three students (97%) were retained. Students were pre- and post-tested to determine knowledge in biology and to evaluate the enrichment curriculum. Although knowledge did not improve as expected, students felt their comfort with biology improved. Forty junior girl scouts attended the six "Science Matters" workshops and 45 high school students and 3 science teachers attended the 3 laboratory workshops. Forty to fifty home-schooled students completed one science module each month. Forty science specialists attended a statewide workshop. Annually, over 200 students attended science enrichment workshops conducted by the UALR TRIO Program. Five Expos were held with 818 students in grades 7-12. Twelve high school teachers were awarded $50 for science supplies. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Seven presentations highlighted three Capacity Building projects to prepared students with science, math and career knowledge in the agricultural, life and environmental sciences. A Recruitment and Retention Pipeline: Looking at a Decade of Practice at UAPB was presented at the 65th Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference at Tuskegee University, at the ARS project directors conference in Beltsville, MD and at the ARD/AEA Conference in Memphis, TN. Three additional presentations incorporated this project model with results of the LIONS Program: An Enrollment Management Model for At-risk Students an HBCU was presented at the Higher Learning Commission in Chicago; An Enrollment Management Model for At-risk Students at UAPB was presented to the UAPB Annual Assessment Workshop and to the 2009 Student/Faculty Research Forum. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Continued outreach to middle school, high schools and community colleges is planned to enhance the recruitment, retention and preparation of student and impact career awareness. Specific initiatives include: strengthening STEM competencies; developing agricultural, environmental and human sciences career interests: initiating 2+2 transfer curricula; providing summer internships; and strengthening the CASP Center with a transition and retention enrichment curriculum.
Impacts
Improved academic achievement and retention and graduation rates are a result of project initiatives. Since its inception, 76% of the students have been retained at UAPB compared to 64% of the cohort, program students complete 20% more credits pre semester than the cohort in the first 4 semesters and 10% more thereafter. On average, program students graduate in 9 semesters compared to the cohort's 10 semesters. Graduation rates and cumulative GPAs compare very favorably to the cohort: 57% versus 20%; and 2.99 versus 2.73. A significant impact was the adoption by the university of this project's model for student transition and support. The UAPB Learning Institute and Opportunities for New Students (LIONS) Program was initiated for at-risk freshmen and directed by this project's PI. Increased interest and engagement in science and math by students is a major impact of this project as measured by the growth of the UAPB Science Fair. A division for grades 6-9 was created to accommodate the interest of 6-9 science teachers. A K-5 science fair was created in 2009 to accommodate the interests of K-5 teachers. The impact of the Science Fair Expo was noted by the university and supported by the VC of Academic Affairs who awarded a four-year scholarship to the first place project each year.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/06 to 08/31/07
Outputs
Forty-five students and three science teachers from two area high schools visited UAPB for science enrichment in entomology, biotechnology and food science. Additionally, 232 students attended science enrichment workshops offered by the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) TRIO Talent Search Program at Dermott, Pine Bluff, Palestine-Wheatley, Dollarway, and Little Rock Central High Schools in preparation for their local and UAPB Science Fairs. Activities included hands-on experiments with university faculty members and graduate students and workshops on research methods. Ten agricultural and life science modules for high school students and teachers were developed for the Agricultural Awareness Center at the UAPB Lonoke Farm. Forty home-schooled students attended one session each month in the 06-07 school year. The 2007 UAPB Science Fair Expo was a collaboration with the UAPB STEM program, the UALR TRIO Talent Search Program and this grant. Thirty-one faculty
from the Schools of Arts and Sciences and Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences volunteered to serve as mentors to students registered for the Expo. A database of mentors, their expertise and contact information was posted on the UAPB web site to assist participating students. Thirty-nine Expo judges from the Schools of Arts and Sciences and Agriculture, Fisheries and Human Sciences reviewed projects in fourteen categories and interviewed 181 students during the event. The UAPB Science Fair Expo was supported by the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs who awarded a four year tuition scholarship to the overall first place project. Twelve high school graduates enrolled in the Bridge Academic Enhancement Program in conjunction with the UAPB summer school in June 2007. Students enrolled in math and English and participated in a biology enrichment curriculum during the 5-week program. Based on ACT scores in math and English, students enrolled in eleven developmental courses and
thirteen freshman-level courses. A comprehensive academic and personal/social enrichment schedule addressed issues related to students' transition to the social and academic environments of college. Pre-registration for fall 2007 classes included block scheduling of the Bridge students for biology, math and English courses, required freshman-level seminars and major courses of each curriculum. The biology enrichment curriculum was developed for the Bridge program in partnership with the Department of Biology to strengthen the understanding of the five most difficult topics of freshman biology. Students spent three hours in lecture and two hours in lab each week reviewing laboratory techniques, cell biology, biological chemistry, genetics, cell metabolism and enzymes. This enrichment program began with a discussion of the meaning of scholarship in the biological sciences, including vocabulary, study and note taking strategies and test readiness. The freshman-level biology course is
taught each fall semester by the summer enrichment biology faculty member. A biology major was hired to tutor all SAFHS majors with the requirement that the Bridge students attend 75% of the offered tutoring sessions.
PRODUCTS: Fliers and registration forms were designed, printed and mailed to deans, faculty and academic administrators at 1890 institutions, historically black colleges and institutions in Arkansas announcing the National Conference on Recruitment and Retention at 1890 Institutions: Best Practices in the Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences. Six high school teachers who supported their students' 2007 Science Expo projects were awarded $50 for science supplies toward preparation for the 2008 Expo. A biology enrichment curriculum was created in 2006 for entering freshman who enrolled in the 2006 and 2007 summer Bridge Academic Enhancement programs. Biology faculty developed a curriculum that addressed five problematic topics in freshman biology and taught the lecture and lab during the five week summer programs. Laboratory supplies were purchased for the lab in 2006 and were reused for the 2007 program. The grant offset salary for the biology faculty who taught the biology enrichment
sessions during the summer and mentored the Bridge students during the regular fall semester academic session. A Bridge Academic Enrichment Program brochure was designed and produced for distribution during 2007 recruitment cycle. Twelve incoming freshman received full scholarships of tuition, fees, room and board and books. Two students were hired as resident assistants for the 5-week residential summer program, supervising the dormitories and keeping students on track academically and socially. Two upper-division agriculture students were employed to tutor in math, biology and English. A senior biology major was employed for tutoring sessions through fall semester 2007 in freshman biology. A mid-term academic tracking system was created within the Comprehensive Academic Support Program Center for assessment of academic progress by the Bridge students. The Center uses this information to identify students needing additional advisement and/or tutoring through the Center. A mentor
database was created listing faculty, their expertise and contact information and was posted on the UAPB website along with Science Fair Expo registration forms and information. Several high school students contacted SAFHS and UAPB faculty through the database with research questions and completing projects under their supervision. Several students were mentored by UAPB faculty one of those mentored by a fisheries biology professor received an honorable mention at the Arkansas ISEF State Fair. Forty-seven students received awards at the UAPB Expo, twenty-one of those received awards at the Regional Affiliated Fair and eight of those received recognition at the state level. One student placed at the International Fair. Both the Science Expo and the Bridge programs sparked new partnerships with UALR TRIO and the UAPB School of Arts and Sciences (SOE). Greater collaboration with the SOE faculty emerged as a result from mentoring and judging of the Expo and exposure to interdepartmental
expertise. Additionally the UALR TRIO Program contributed resources and staff for science enrichment workshops at areas school, Expo awards, refreshments and travel expenses for schools to attend the Expo.
OUTCOMES: The February 2007 UAPB Science Fair Exposition registered 181 students in fourteen scientific research categories from six area schools. Thirty-nine UAPB faculty and two professionals from the National Center for Toxicological Research in Pine Bluff volunteered to judge presentations and interview the students. Cash and trophy awards were given to first place winners in each category, second and third place received medals of recognition. The overall best of fair student project was awarded a four-year tuition scholarship to UAPB by the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs. Several high school teachers expressed great satisfaction with the care and professional treatment of their students and were especially thankful for the individual interviews that helped students refine and prepare their projects for the regional and state fairs. Two students who received university faculty mentoring support won first and second place in chemistry at the Regional Science Fair. An
unintended outcome of the program occurred when the Central Arkansas Chapter of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society won the national 2007 Diversity Program Award based on chapter activities which promote interest in science among diverse populations. The UAPB Science Fair Expo was cited as such an activity. Several UAPB/Sigma Xi faculty served as judges or mentors during the 2007 Expo. Outreach to a greatly expanded set of middle and high schools has begun in cooperation with the Jefferson County Educational Cooperative's science coordinator who will work with teachers and direct them to UAPB faculty mentors. This partnership with the local educational cooperative which has direct contact with middle and high school classroom teachers results directly from local media publicity of the Expo. All twelve Bridge students passed six credits of math and English including eight of the conditional freshman requiring developmental studies. All twelve students pre registered and enrolled
for the 2007 fall semester. Three students required additional developmental coursework while nine of the twelve students were admitted as full freshman. Bridge students were pre- and post-tested to determine baseline knowledge in five problematic areas of freshman biology and to evaluate the effectiveness of the biology enrichment program. Knowledge in these content areas did not improve as much as was expected. However students felt that their level of understanding and comfort with the subject matter had improved. All twelve students enrolled in biology of biological sciences depending on the requirement of the major. Each student was scheduled into the university freshman course, Personal and Social Development, taught by the CASP Coordinator and tailored to SAFHS majors. Students were also block scheduled into at least two other common courses to continue the association with their peers.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The proposed dissemination activity included a national conference hosted by UAPB for all 1890 land-grant universities and Tuskegee. This conference titled Recruitment and Retention at 1890 Land-grant Institutions: Best Practices in Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences was well publicized and received inquiries from several institutions. The conference was cancelled due to lack of national, broad interest and commitment form other faculty and professional. The PI's have dialoged with recruitment and retention professional at other 1890 institutions for potential publications that will highlight those programs of interest. A presentation on the impact of the summer Bridge program and the Science Fair Expo is planned at the 65th Annual Professional Agricultural Workers Conference at Tuskegee University in December 2007.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The 2008 Expo is scheduled for February 21, 2008. The 2008 summer Bridge Academic enhancement Experience is planned for May 26-June 27, 2008 Outreach to a greatly expanded set of middle and high schools has begun in cooperation with the Jefferson County Educational Cooperative's science coordinator who will work with teachers and direct them to UAPB faculty mentors. This partnership with the local educational cooperative which has direct contact with middle and high school classroom teachers results directly from local media publicity of the Expo. A separate middle school division will be created for science project the 2008 Expo to accommodate the expanded interest of science teachers of grades 6-9. The proposed dissemination national conference for this grant on Recruitment and Retention at 1890 Land-grant Institutions was cancelled due to lack of national interest. The PI's have dialoged with recruitment and retention professional at other 1890 institutions for
a planed collaborative conference, pooling both resources and personnel.
Impacts
In addition to inspiring area students to develop and present research projects, the program gained invaluable local public recognition. The Expo and Awards Ceremony was taped and televised numerous times over the UAPB TV station. Program coordinators continue to receive comments from the community, teachers and the Arkansas ISEF board about the Expo as seen on the TV program and reported in the newspaper. Two high school teachers and an Arkansas ISEF board member contacted the PI that the 2007 Expo was so well run that every attempt should be made by the University to establish state recognition as an affiliated regional fair through the ISEF process of affiliation. Teachers cited that faculty interviews of students and extreme fairness in judging projects during the Expo competition contributed to student satisfaction with the overall research process and Expo. Probing questions by the faculty and prompt feedback to students with comments drawn from the judging forms
created an additional learning experience for students. High school teachers have already requested access to the 2008 mentor database and have expressed their intention to attend the 2008 Expo. One school that sent a student to the International Fair wrote that those students from his school who won at any level had also been mentored by a UAPB faculty member. Over the past two years twenty-two percent of the eleventh and twelfth grade Expo competitors have enrolled at UAPB, one half (53%) of those have chosen a major in SAFHS.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/05 to 09/01/06
Outputs
This is a collaborative recruitment, retention and teaching enhancement program for prospective and freshman students in agriculture and related sciences. This report is progress-to-date in the project three objectives. Objective 1 Forty-five students and three science teachers from two area high schools visited UAPB for enrichment in agricultural sciences, food science and fisheries biology. SAFHS faculty scheduled laboratory experiences on entomology, biotechnology and food science for these students and teachers. A follow-up biotechnology enrichment experience to three biology sections of one of the schools included a DNA extraction experiment and a lesson on genetics and heredity. Ten agricultural and life science experiential learning modules for high school students and teachers were developed for the Agricultural Awareness Center at the UAPB Lonoke Farm. Forty home-schooled students attended one session each month of the 05-06 school year. An additional
partnership with the UAPB Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program included three SAFHS faculty at the Elementary Science Specialists Workshop in February 2006. Faculty presented sessions on aquatic life, water quality and GPS navigation for mapping. Objective 2 The Science Fair Expo grew into a joint effort in cooperation with the UAPB STEM program, supported by the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs who award full-tuition to the overall first place project. Thirty-two Expo judges reviewed projects in twelve categories and interviewed students during the half-day event. The 2007 Expo is scheduled for February 22, 2007. Outreach to fifteen area high schools has already begun. Objective 3 Ten high school graduates enrolled in the Bridge Academic Enhancement Program in conjunction with the UAPB summer school in June 2006. Based on ACT scores in math and English, students enrolled in nine developmental courses and eleven freshman-level courses. A comprehensive
academic and personal/social enrichment schedule addressed issues related to student transition to the social and academic environments of college. A biology enrichment curriculum was developed for the Bridge program in partnership with the Department of Biology to strengthen the understanding of the five most difficult topics of freshman biology. Students spent three hours in lecture and two hours in lab each week reviewing laboratory techniques, cell biology, biological chemistry, genetics, cell metabolism and enzymes. This enrichment program began with a discussion of the meaning of scholarship in the biological sciences, including vocabulary, study and note taking strategies and test readiness. Bridge students were block scheduled into the freshman biology course taught by the summer enrichment biology faculty member. Course grades for these students will be compared with other students in this and other sections. The CASP Center expanded to offer computerized supplemental
instruction genetics, metabolism, ecology, biotechnology, environmental biology, and biological careers. The effectiveness of the biology enrichment strategies will be evaluated at the end of this semester.
PRODUCTS: Four categories of products were funded during the first year of this grant. Science supplies and travel for three workshops for 45 high school students and three science teachers were directly funded from this grant. Additional funding for these workshops was received through a partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock TRIO Talent Search program. An additional statewide workshop for 40 science specialists was conducted jointly with the UAPB STEM program. High school teachers who supported student 2006 science projects were awarded $50 for science supplies toward preparation for the 2007 Expo. A biology enrichment curriculum was created for entering freshman who enrolled in the 2006 summer Bridge Academic Enhancement program. Cooperating faculty from the Department of Biology identified five problematic topics that could be addressed during the five week summer program. Biology faculty developed the curriculum with laboratory experiences and taught the
lecture and lab during the five weeks. Laboratory supplies were purchased for the lab component of the program. Several students were support with grant funds. Two students were hired as resident assistants for the 5-week residential summer program. They supervised the dormitories and kept students on track academically and socially. For many students this was the first time to stay away from parents. The RAs supported their initial transitions to independent lives. RAs arranged and managed the residential tutoring times and attended all field trips and social events with the students. Two upper-division agriculture undergraduates were employed during the summer program to tutor in math, biology and English. The biology tutor will continue through fall semester 2006 to further strengthen student comprehension in biology and support the learning process for the Bridge students. A faculty mentor database was created and posted on the UAPB website as a part of available Science Fair
Exposition information. Several high school students contacted SAFHS and UAPB faculty through the database with research questions. As an example, Altheimer school district connected with chemistry faculty who loaned liquid chromatography equipment to the school for the support of their chemistry projects.
OUTCOMES: Students who attended the initial laboratory experiences formed a natural bond with SAFHS faculty. Several students used the database of UAPB mentors to locate and contact university faculty who mentored students and supported their science fair projects. Students relied on the support of university faculty for the generation and critical review of science project ideas and support during the research and analysis stages. Care was taken not to assign mentor faculty to those research projects during the Expo judging event. Two students who received university faculty mentoring support won first and second place in chemistry at the Regional Science Fair. The February 2006 UAPB Science Fair Exposition registered 151 students from five area schools. Students displayed their research projects in twelve categories following established science fair criteria for presentation. Thirty university faculty and two professionals from the National Center for Toxicological Research in
Pine Bluff volunteered for the half-day judging student interviews event. Cash and trophy awards were given to first place winners in each category. Several high school teachers expressed great satisfaction with the care and professional treatment of their students and were especially thankful for the individual interviews that helped students refine and prepare their projects for the regional and state fairs. All ten Bridge students passed six credits of math and English including five of the conditional freshman requiring developmental studies. One student required additional developmental coursework while nine of the ten students were admitted as full freshman to the fall academic year. Bridge students were pre- and post-tested to determine baseline knowledge in five problematic areas of freshman biology and to evaluate the effectiveness of the biology enrichment program. Although knowledge in these content areas did not improve as much as was expected, students felt that their
level of knowledge and comfort with the subject matter had improved. Mid-term and semester grades for these students will be compared to other students enrolled in freshman biology.
DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: A national dissemination conference will beheld in October 2007 bringing together researchers and administrators from the 1890 land-grant institutions. The theme of the conference will be, best practices in recruitment and retention in the agricultural, food and life sciences.
FUTURE INITIATIVES: The SAFHS Bridge program will contineu as long as funding is avaialble or until the univerisity supports all or part of the intiaitve. The Sceince Fair Expo will continue at the request of the university and participating schools. Attempts are underway to secure regional affiliated fair status from the Arkansas state science fair organization. Affiliated status will raise the level of participation to include a larger population of sutdents. Students winning at the UAPB fair can enter state and international fairs directly. Requests have been made for support by local schools for this designation.
Impacts
In addition to inspiring many area students to think about science and develop research projects, the program gained invaluable local public recognition. The Expo was televised numerous times over the UAPB TV station. Program coordinators continue to receive comments from the community about the Expo as seen on the TV program. Two high school teachers contacted the PI that the 2006 Science Fair Expo was the most efficiently and effectively run fair that they had attended. Teachers cited, in particular, faculty interviews of students that occurred during the Expo. Probing questions by the faculty and prompt feedback to students created an additional learning experience for students for which both the students and teachers expressed appreciation. Students were thrilled to present their research to university faculty while the teachers were impressed by the high level of faculty. The science coordinator at a large Pine Bluff high school has already requested access to
the 2007 mentor database and two new high schools have expressed their intention to attend the 2007 Expo. The impact of the Science Fair Expo was noted by university administrators who have requested that the Expo be an annual event supported by the campus. Implications of campus recognition will help mobilize other departments and faculty to participate in the mentor component of preparing research projects and in judging the Expo. Ultimately, those students and faculty mentors will establish lasting relationships that may lead to the enrollment of more students who are highly motivated toward science.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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