Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
888 N EUCLID AVE
TUCSON,AZ 85719-4824
Performing Department
Nutritional Sciences
Non Technical Summary
As outlined in its strategic plan, the University of Arizona (UA) is committed to serving Arizona's culturally diverse students by addressing educational equity and the STEM retention gap in underrepresented group of students (URGs) including students who are first generation, from low-income households, under-represented minorities (URM), and community college transfer students. The Arizona's Science, Engineering, and Math Scholars (ASEMS) program is a nationally recognized STEM-diversity retention program that uses an asset-based, student-centered, student experience focused approach that has increased retention among undergraduates in URGs at UA. We propose to adapt the ASEMS Program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS, referred to as CALS-ASEMS) to increase retention among undergraduates focused on food and agricultural sciences. CALS-ASEMS will increase annual retention, sense of belonging and participation in experiential learning opportunities among undergraduates from URGs by focusing on 2 educational need areas (recruitment/retention and experiential learning) with 3 objectives: Objective 1: Increase academic achievement and persistence in STEAM by providing academic, social and financial support through culturally responsive, asset-based and individualized advising, activities, and mentoring. Objective 2: Increase sense of belonging within CALS, UA, and the STEAM environment by developing a STEAM identity, forming a structured STEAM learning community and providing culturally responsive mentoring. Objective 3: Increase interest in STEAM careers by building career capital through creating a career plan, fostering an awareness of why STEAM is important to Scholars and their communities, and engaging Scholars in STEAM career preparation activities.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Goal/Objective 1:Increase academic achievement and persistence in science, technology, engineering, agriculture and math (STEAM) by providing academic, social and financial support through culturally responsive, asset-based and individualized advising, activities, and mentoring through the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Arizona's Science, Engineering and Math Scholars (ASEMS) Program. Goal/Objective 2: Increase sense of belonging within the CALS, University of Arizona (UA), and the STEAM environment by developing a STEAM identity, forming a structured STEAM learning community and providing culturally responsive mentoring through participation in the CALS ASEMS Program.Goal/Objective 3: Increase interest in STEAM careers by building career capital through creating a career plan, fostering an awareness of why STEAM is important to Scholars and their communities, and engaging Scholars in STEAM career preparation activities through participation in the CALS ASEMS Program.
Project Methods
Promotional/Recruitment videos for CALS-ASEMS: Videos (6-8 30 sec. videos) will be created by the Office of Digital Learningin collaboration with Dr. Bernal to help recruiters showcase the benefits of CALS-ASEMS.Recruiting PCC and AZ high schools students to CALS-ASEMS:Recruitment videos will be used at all sites to encourage application to CALS-ASEMS. CALS-ASEMS Success Specialists will continue to use the UA-PCC Bridge program to identify and recruit STEM students transferring from PCC to the CALS (i.e.students enrolled in the "PCC STEM Transfer" course, advised by PCC STEM academic advisors, and by attending events at PCC). 3 high schools in southern AZ were selected as pilot sites for targeted recruitment due to their proximity to the U.S./Mexico border and large number of Hispanic students (Douglas, Nogales, and San Luis High School). Arecruiter in COH, Karina Rodriguez,will work with CALS-ASEMS Success Specialists, the Guidance Counselors, and CALS Recruitment Coordinators who oversee new student enrollment in CALSto coordinate recruitment materials that promote CALS-ASEMS.Performance Objective 1:A. Proactive and asset-based advising by CALS-ASEMS Student Success Specialists. Success Specialists will1)review applications,2) interview and review Scholars planned schedules, transcripts, preparation for courses, life responsibilities, and provide advice on a proper course load that balances all of their responsibilities, which will allow sufficient study time,3)guide Scholars to utilize free services offered by UA and CALS-ASEMS,4) meet monthly with 1st year Scholars, twice/semester with 2nd year Scholars, and once/semester until graduation,5)reinforce time management and6)adjust Scholars' career plans.B. CALS 197B Success in STEM course. Completing this course will encourage degree completion witha strong GPA.Freshman and transfer scholars will enroll in 197B during their 1st semester at UA and complete lessons on learning strategies, active-learning, faculty expectations, teaching styles in gateway science courses, time management, mental health, well-being,goal-setting, career exploration, preparing for finals and developing an individualized 4-5 year academic plan with corresponding weekly schedules.C. CALS 197C Professionalism in STEM course. 2nd-semester freshmen will complete 197C to develop further their professional and academic skills related to the pursuit of STEAM degrees and careers. The course focuses on skills related to applying for undergraduate research opportunities, understanding scientific literature and research, professional communication skills, identifying food and agricultural career paths in STEAM, and building an identity in STEM.D. Early grade reporting. Scholars will complete an early grade report during week 7 of the semester in all CALS-ASEMS courses. Course instructors and Success Specialists will review the reports and meet with Scholars (earning a C or below in any course) to develop an action plan.E. Tutoring.Students from URGs will be hiredand trained in inclusive mentor practices by the UA STEM Learning Center. The ASEMS Program Coordinator will recruit, supervise, and match Scholars with tutoring groups for regular meetingtimes.F. Coaching Scholars to be better managers of their finances. Scholars will complete a budgeting activity in 197B. Budgeting will be discussed during meetings with Success Specialists. Long-term financial coaching workshops will be offered to Scholars who are planning to graduate.G. Emergency financial assistance. Scholarshipswill ensure financial aid is available for unforeseen circumstances and Scholars who are at risk of dropping out, being food insecure, or homelessness. This is crucial for assisting Scholars in overcoming temporary hardships that may prevent them from succeeding in their classes and staying enrolled in UA.Performance Objective 2:A.STEM community building/engagement events. An annual "Welcome Event" will be held before fall semesterand will include a panel discussion based on the intervention described in "Closing the Social-Class Achievement Gap". Freshman, transfer students and parents will participate in separate discussions with peer-group specific panelists matched for background. An "Inclusive engagement event" will be held.B. Group Scholars into supportive cohorts that attend common courses and events.Each 2nd weekly session of 197B/C will be led by peer mentors who will engage Scholars in group activities, group discussions and coach Scholarsin completing assignments.C. Peermentoring. Junior and senior CALS-ASEMS Scholarswillbetrained in inclusive mentor practices by the UA STEM Learning Center.Success Specialists will recruit and supervise peer mentors to provide mentoring to new cohorts of CALS-ASEMS Scholars.Mentors will meet twice/semester with Scholars, normalize their experiences andreinforce time management.D. Peer-Peer support and communication: We will facilitate and encourage communication between all CALS-ASEMS scholars with Microsoft Teams. Scholars will also learn Adobe Creative Cloud, which will promotedigital literacy skills and will prepare Scholars to navigate outside an academic environment.E. Faculty involvement.Drs. TeskeandLopezwill continue to assist with advising Scholars on research and careers in STEAM fields, co-instruct 197B/C, and teach 297B. CALS faculty will be recruited annually to assist with advising and to increase the cohort of CALS faculty members that host CALS-ASEMS scholars for research shadowing in 297B.F. Mental health and well-being:Mental health and well-being will be addressed throughout CALS-ASEMS and in 197B/297B. Success Specialists will continue to work closely and refer Scholars to the CALS Life Management Counselor, Ryan Daily-MA, who provides in-house, free and confidential mental health counseling in CALS.Performance Objective 3:A. Career planning & tracking. Scholars will develop a multi-dimensional career plan and a career competency plan for the early, middle and late stages of their academic career in 197B/C and 297B. Scholars will update their plans with their Success Specialistsand the CALS Career Center.Scholarswill select an agricultural career track (government, industry, graduate/professional school, academia) in their 2nd or 3rd year (transfer and UA freshmen, respectively). Success Specialists will direct Scholars to use the CALS Career Center services (resume, cover letters, personal statements) and resources (mock interviews, career competencies transferable skills, graduate school planning, career planning workshop).B. CALS 297B: Research Readiness course:Completing this coursewill increase interest in STEAM careers and engagement in research and experiential learning by:1)identifying lab-based research opportunities(short- or long-term),2)interviewing faculty,3)conducting research shadowing or projects,and4)drafting a personal statement. Scholars will learn: how to interview faculty, approach research, find relevant scientific articles, explore other projects related to their focused interests, and skills for time management, mental health and wellbeing.C. Develop Leadership Skills:Skillswill be integrated in 197B/C and 297B, will continue until graduation and include: critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, communication skills, and ethics. Scholars will be encouraged to1)be peer mentors,2)complete the SCI 295C Leadership in STEM course (develop a LinkedIn profile, communicate personal and professional strengths, problem-solve, network, interviewing skills, public speaking, identify needs in their communities and perform 13 hours of service) and3)apply to a CALS or COH Leadership programs. Thus, Scholars will be competitive for the workforce or graduate/professional school.