28 Choose Ohio First programs the Choose Ohio First Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship Program

Transcription

1 STEMM-related disciplines are critical t the future success f the state f Ohi and the natin. The United States currently ranks 27 th amng 29 develped cuntries in awarding STEMM degrees. Chse Ohi First, nw in its third academic year during , has truly becme the state's premier mdel fr recruiting and retaining talented students in science, technlgy, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM) and STEMM educatin fields. The primary bjectives f the Chse Ohi First schlarship prgram are t supprt increased participatin and retentin f students majring in STEMM and STEMM educatin fields and, in s ding, t advance the ecnmic grwth f each regin f the state. The Chancellr selected 28 Chse Ohi First prgrams fr awards in three runds f cmpetitin. All 28 prgrams are active and perating as f Nvember The Chancellr made final selectins regarding the funded prgrams based n the recmmendatins prvided by natinal experts in the STEMM disciplines. The Chse Ohi First prgrams selected were determined t be innvative and rigrus and t have the mst ptential fr advancing Ohi's psitin in the wrld markets including infrmatin technlgy, healthcare, sustainable energy, engineering, teacher educatin and science. In the academic year, the Gvernr and the Chancellr als annunced the launch f the Chse Ohi First Wdrw Wilsn Teaching Fellwship Prgram designed t educate Ohians fr STEM teaching psitins in high-need urban and rural schl districts. Fur institutins f higher educatin and crrespnding secndary schls have been identified the University f Akrn and Akrn Public Schls; the University f Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schls; Jhn Carrll University and Cleveland Metrplitan Schls; and The Ohi State University and Clumbus City Schls. The Chse Ohi First Wdrw Wilsn Teaching Fellwship prgram is supprted by Chse Ohi First and $2.4 millin dllars in supprt frm private fundatins. T date, mre than $13.2 millin has been awarded t ver 4000 Chse Ohi First Schlars attending an Ohi cllege r university. The institutins where the students are enrlled have cntributed an additinal $19.9 millin dllars in cst-shared funds. Matching funds are used t revise and develp new curriculum in the STEMM disciplines awarded COF funds, supplement student travel t industry cnferences and research sympsia, and leverage the invlvement f businesses in the develpment f Ohi s future innvatrs. Factring in the Wdrw Wilsn Teaching Fellwship campuses, 42 public and private campuses arund the state will receive Chse Ohi First funds. The COF schlarship prgram ensures that an increased number f students enter int the STEMM disciplines and graduate frm the mst innvative and rigrus prgrams that the state has t ffer. In the degree prgrams that huse Chse Ohi First schlars, undergraduate enrllment in these disciplines increased frm 90,270 ttal students in 2007 t 105,142 ttal students in The number f students graduating with STEMM degrees cntinues t increase as well. Chse Ohi First is a majr strategy f the Chancellr s Strategic Plan fr Higher Educatin in Ohi t ensure that degree attainment cntinues t rise. 1

2 Chse Ohi First Demgraphic Data Student Race/Ethnicity American Indian/Native Alaskan Black/African American Hispanic White/Caucasian Asian Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Multi-racial Unknwn race r ethnicity Nearly 27% f Chse Ohi First schlars are frm a racial r ethnic minrity. Several prgrams have the sle fcus f increasing the number f ethnic minrities in the STEMM fields. Apprximately 47% f the schlars are female and nearly 18% are nn-traditinal students ver the age f 25. While preliminary data suggests that Schlars ver the age f 25 are predminately laid-ff/displaced wrkers retraining fr a new career, additinal questins are being created fr the annual student survey t determine previus jb areas and identify the new career fields being chsen by the returning wrkfrce. Chse Ohi First Student Majrs 1 4% 1% 10% 15% 36% 34% Engineering Sciences/Technlgy Health Prfessins Sustainability/Energy STEM Teaching Other 1 1 Data as reprted frm Chse Ohi First campuses, July 2010 Mre than tw-thirds f Chse Ohi First Schlars are in an engineering discipline, a physical science, r a technlgical majr. While health prfessins shwed a slight decrease in the number f students entering int majrs frm last year, STEM teaching increased by nearly 3% ver last year. This can be attributed t the increased fcus n the imprtance f highly trained STEM teachers at the state and 2

3 natinal levels. The Chse Ohi First Wdrw Wilsn Teaching Fellwship at the fur current institutins will sn expand t three additinal institutins thrugh the supprt f the Race t the Tp federal prgram. Interviews fr the fellws began in Octber, and shw prmise. Out f 19,000 inquiries, less than 400 ptential fellws were chsen based n majr field, past academic success, and a rigrus interview prcess. Apprximately 20% f the fellw candidates are minrity and all cme frm a STEM backgrund. Chse Ohi First Prgram Descriptins The Chse Ohi First majr subject areas are distributed amng the 28 member prgrams. While the variety f majr areas the students are engaged in is key t the success f the prgram we want t ensure students are entering int high-demand fields that are critical t the future success f Ohi it is als imprtant t nte the variety that lies with the prgram fferings. Several Chse Ohi First prgrams reach ut t secndary students t ensure early expsure t cncepts and subjects central t success in the STEMM disciplines. This allws middle and high schl students, bth affluent and at-risk, t see value in a STEMM career and t prvide them with the tls necessary t succeed is critical t increasing the number f STEMM graduates in Ohi. As examples: The Integrated Science Training fr Nrtheast Ohi s Future Bimedical & Bitechnlgy Wrkfrce prgram engages students at the middle schl level t ensure that they are ready t enter int and successfully cmplete a STEM degree prgram. Partners: Kent State University, Cuyahga Cmmunity Cllege, Lakeland Cmmunity Cllege, Stark State Cllege The institutins wrk with many middle and high schls t encurage interest and prficiency in STEMM fields. Effrts include the develpment f inquiry-based cntinuing educatin experiences fr partnering middle schls teachers (MSTIK); the dnatin f equipment and assistance t middle schl students; the develpment f innvative educatin tls, wrkshps, & labratry experiences, thrugh which high schl students and cmmunity rganizatins can learn abut relevant material; and participatin in the Upward Bund prgram. Students in Lakeland s Bitechnlgy Science Prgram are required t participate in an 8-week internship as part f their curse f study. A number f KSU & Tri-C s schlars have als participated in research and internship pprtunities, althugh they are nt required t d s. Cmmunity rganizatins, high schls, career centers, emplyment agencies, etc. are engaged by the partner schls in recruitment and/r placement f COF schlars. The Student Success in Mathematics prgram engages students early n t ensure preparedness fr cllege curriculum. Partners: Cleveland State University, University f Akrn, Case Western Reserve University, Kent State University, Yungstwn State University, Cuyahga Cmmunity Cllege This prgram s utreach effrts center arund partnerships and dual-enrllment pprtunities with partner high schls, in rder t ensure that an increased number f entering cllege freshmen are prficient in mathematics. 3

4 Students cmplement their academic studies with internships and undergraduate research pprtunities, bth at and utside f their respective institutins. These pprtunities are advertised thrugh presentatins by university faculty and lcal business/industry leaders, wh currently emply STEMM schlars in internship and/r prfessinal rles, as well as thrugh crprate turs and career cunseling. Numerus cmmunity engagement alternatives are given t COFSP schlars, including vlunteering with prgrams ffered by the Martha Hlden Jennings Fundatin, the Natinal Inventrs Hall f Fame, the Igniting Streams f Learning Academy, and the Cleveland City Missin. Chse Ohi First prjects ffer a mechanism fr students t be engaged in a rigrus academic curriculum, while gaining real wrld experience applicable in a STEMM field. Offering students flexible class ptins and diversified learning streams allws students t be fcused in the classrm and fcused while participating in a cperative learning pprtunity r internship. This early expsure t the real wrld applicability f their majr reduces the likelihd that graduates will chse emplyment in anther field. Fr instance: The Grwing the STEMM Pipeline in the Daytn Regin Becming an Internatinal Center f Excellence fr Human Effectiveness/Human Perfrmance prgram in the Daytn area has becme a catalyst in the regin fr sharing rigrus cursewrk, while ffering high quality experiences t schlars acrss the cllabrative. Partners: Wright State University, University f Daytn, Central State University, Wittenberg University, Sinclair Cmmunity Cllege, Edisn Cmmunity Cllege, Clark State Cmmunity Cllege, Suthern State Cmmunity Cllege Emplys a curriculum-sharing mdel via the creatin f the Daytn Area Undergraduate Studies Institute (DAUSI), mdeled after the very successful Daytn Area Graduate Studies Institute (DAGSI), t prvide all Chse Ohi First Schlars, n matter their hme institutin, with easy and affrdable access t curricula in targeted STEMM areas. Students are becming well-runded STEM schlars thrugh internships and c-ps at varius Daytn-area businesses, including WPAFB, Reynlds and Reynlds, Bz Allen Hamiltn, Miami Valley Hspital, and many thers. COF schlars are engaged in prfessinal-level wrk, including writing fr and being invlved with Natinal Science Fundatin grants, attending and presenting at natinal cnferences, and taking prfessinal level examinatins (e.g., the Fundamentals f Engineering test) prir t graduatin. The Chse Ohi First fr Engineering Entrepreneurship (COFFEE) Schlarship equips students with the educatin necessary t simultaneusly wrk n their engineering r science degrees and learn the entrepreneurial skills necessary t translate their innvatins int ecnmic grwth fr Ohi. Partners: University f Tled, The Ohi State University, Stark State Cllege f Technlgy, Lrain Cunty Cmmunity Cllege, Owens Cmmunity Cllege All COFFEE schlars participate in a frmal c-p r internship prgram. 4

5 The fur-year partners invlved actively recruit students frm the tw-year campuses in the cllabratin. Students are recruited thrugh a rigrus applicatin prcess that emphasizes academic ability, financial need, and diversity the schlars participate in a rbust prgram cnsisting f an innvative apprach t engineering educatin, an entrepreneurship minr, and c-p, internships, and mentring frm successful entrepreneurs. The Chse Ohi First Engaged Prgram in Biscience and Healthcare prgram is really wrking with the business cmmunity t ensure their students have a direct link t the wrkfrce. Partners: Cleveland State University, Baldwin-Wallace Cllege, Case Western Reserve University, Cuyahga Cmmunity Cllege, Hiram Cllege This prgram has a strng fcus n experiential learning, requiring that students participate in research, varied entrepreneurship activities/ training, and cps/internships with partnering cmpanies such as Jumpstart, BiEnterprise, & the Cleveland Clinic Fundatin. Business and Entrepreneurship curses at partner institutins help t ensure that students are academically, as well as practically, prepared t participate in the lcal STEMM business cmmunity, bth during cllege and after graduatin. Mrever, partner institutins have established a credit transfer system fr these curses, allwing schlars t take part in the business curses mst strngly related t their career gals. The Science and Math Educatin in ACTION prgram is preparing future STEM teachers, starting at the undergraduate level. Partners: Bwling Green State University, University f Findlay, Terra Cmmunity Cllege, Owens Cmmunity Cllege, Nrthwest State Cmmunity Cllege BGSU s prgram requires that schlars participate in a bridge prgram befre their freshman year, a grup research prject during their freshman year, a business/ industry practicum (partners include BiFit, DayMark, Sysc, etc.) during their sphmre year, and a pedaggical research prject during their junir/ senir years, t ensure cntinued engagement and practical learning experience thrughut their undergraduate career. BW schlars are required t participate in experiences with PK-12 teachers during their freshman year, in rder t gain early practical experience in the field. Nn-traditinal students and thse underrepresented in higher educatin, including lw-incme r first generatin students, are given the pprtunity t excel as a result f Chse Ohi First. Prgrams ffer the financial assistance necessary fr challenged students t enrll and remain in pstsecndary educatin, while ensuring students are engaged in a rigrus curriculum that prepares them fr emplyment in the Knwledge Ecnmy. 5

6 The Innvatin Alliance: STEM Undergraduate Engagement in an Engineering Envirnment prgram strives t ensure equitable access t the STEM disciplines fr all. Partners: The University f Akrn, Baldwin Wallace Cllege, Stark State Cllege, Lrain Cunty Cmmunity Cllege Partner institutins have established a system whereby institutinal cst-share dllars are used fr administratin, advising, facility upgrades, and ther imprtant needs f the COFSP. COF staff members make presentatins at schl and cmmunity events, cllege fairs, etc. t imprve ptential students knwledge f STEMM fields and encurage students t attend cllege. Ptential schlars at UA are even given greater cnsideratin if they are sciecnmically disadvantaged, veterans, r transfer students frm ut-f-state. Because f this and ther utreach factrs, this prgram has a particularly high cncentratin f first-generatin student schlars (72% at UA and 59% at BW). COF schlars participate in rientatin, lcal/reginal STEMM events, & lcal c-p and internship pprtunities, thrughut their tenure. Mrever, they are able t cmmunicate with lcal business leaders thrugh varius means. This encurages engagement in and cmmitment t the prgram and lcal STEMM cmmunity The Diversifying Ohi in STEM (DO-STEM) prgram highlights the need fr a diverse wrkfrce in the critical areas f STEM. Partners: Central State University, Sinclair Cmmunity Cllege, Cuyahga Cmmunity Cllege, Miami University, University f Cincinnati, Kent State University, Yungstwn State University, Clark State Cmmunity Cllege, Wright State University, Cincinnati State Technical and Cmmunity Cllege This prgram places significant emphasis n recruitment f minrity schlars, particularly African Americans, wh cmprise the vast majrity f this prgram s student base. CSU undergraduate schlars are required t participate in bth graduate schl visits and prfessinal wrkshps as a cnditin f their schlarship. Similarly, Sinclair Cmmunity Cllege schlars engage in regular meetings, which keep them apprised f the Ohi jb market and university pprtunities. While this prgram s schlars are nt required t participate in an internship, a number have dne s, bth in and ut f the state. Emplyers include ZIN Technlgies, Avetec, Wright Pattersn Air Frce Base, and NASA. Schlars are als given the pprtunity t wrk at natinal research labratries thrugh Natinal Science Fundatin and Natinal Nuclear Security Administratin grants. The Keeping Students in the STEM Pipeline by Increasing the Yield f Talented Students and Reinfrcing the Baccalaureate Experience t Imprve Retentin aims t increase success by imprving the cllege experience. Partner: University f Cincinnati This prgram s significant retentin effrts begin with a recmmended 7-week bridge prgram fr sciecnmically disadvantaged and first-generatin schlars and/r a mre targeted virtual prgram fr thse whse math placement test scres were lw (ALEKS). The bridge prgram is multi-faceted and includes classes, study grups, 6

7 meetings t discuss student prgress, trips t lcal businesses (General Electric, Tyta, Prcter & Gamble), and exit testing/ interviews. All COF schlars wh participate in the bridge prgram are als required t participate in supplemental retentin prgrams, which include Supplemental Cperative Learning Curses and peer-mentring, and are eligible fr crprate mentring prvided thrugh GE. All schlars are expected t participate in six quarters f c-p wrk, which is crdinated by the university. This requirement and the accmpanying curse help t ensure that graduating schlars are well-equipped t succeed in Ohi s jb market. Schlars are als given the pprtunity t participate in a 2-quarter r summer research prject with a faculty mentr, which is funded thrugh NSF. During this perid, the students bth actively participate in research and attend seminars and wrkshps geared twards expanding their research knwledge base and skills. All schlars are required t participate in 10 hurs per quarter f vlunteer service, aimed at strengthening ties t the cmmunity and gaining greater scial/ cultural understanding. Nearly 23% f the Chse Ohi First students spent the academic year at a cmmunity r technical cllege. Displaced wrkers ften have t make tugh chices abut their educatin and the feasibility f entering careers that require additinal training. Chse Ohi First s presence n a cmmunity cllege campus increases the likelihd that laid-ff wrkers will return t schl t either enhance their skills fr emplyment in their current industry r be trained fr a different career field altgether. As an example: The URG Chse Ohi First STEM Schlarship Prgram has the unique distinctin f being primarily hused n a campus that pairs a private 4-year and a public 2-year institutin. Partners: University f Ri Grande, Ri Grande Cmmunity Cllege, Hcking Cllege, Ohi University The RGCC Schlars in Nursing, Fine Wdwrking, and Pwer Plant Management prgrams have cmpleted internships with lcal cmpanies, including Hlzer, Adena, and American Electric Pwer. Fur 2009 COF graduates were accepted t graduate r medical Schl! The Future Scientists f Ohi prgram ensures that students wh enter int the pipeline at a 2-year campus have a direct cnnectin t the 4-year campus. Partners: The Ohi State University, Clumbus State Cmmunity Cllege All students in this prgram begin at Clumbus State, including a bridge prgram that prepares returning students fr the rigr they will sn encunter. Ohi State ffers shared cursed t students and research experiences are ffered n campus fr Clumbus State s students. Prgram was used as leverage t receive a NSF grant. 7

8 Nearly 13% f COF schlars are hused at Ohi s private clleges and universities. Partnership and cllabratin amng the University System f Ohi s public clleges and universities and the private institutins arund the state have resulted in mre students being served, and mre efficient use f Ohi s fiscal and human resurces. Fr instance: The Building the Nursing Wrkfrce in Nrtheastern Ohi prgram partners an utstanding private institutin with a USO campus. The result is a cllabratin that truly addresses a particular wrkfrce need f the regin. Partners: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University This prgram cnsists almst ttally f graduate prgrams in nursing, students fr which are recruited frm the partner institutins BSN and accelerated degree prgrams. The aim is t increase nt nly the number f qualified candidates fr nursing psitins but als the future number f individuals qualified t teach such in such degree prgrams. COF schlars must engage in a research prject, in cnjunctin with senir researchers and are als encuraged t attend lcal and reginal events related t the field f nursing. The Pharmacy Schlarships prgram enhances a pipeline between a public and private institutin t fill a crucial need. Partners: Ursuline Cllege, University f Tled Students enter int the pre-pharmacy prgram at Ursuline with the understanding that they will be admitted int the pharmacy prgram at the University f Tled after their secnd year. The recruitment activities fcus n students wh are frm underrepresented backgrunds. The retentin activities include mentring, entrance int prfessinal rganizatins, and prgrams targeted tward the backgrund f the student (firstgeneratin cnnectins, cultural awareness, etc.). Chse Ohi First ffers graduate students an pprtunity t excel in STEMM fields. Graduate students cmprise apprximately 11% f the ttal number f Chse Ohi First students, an assurance that individuals seeking t btain advanced degrees in subjects like engineering, science, mathematics, etc., are able t receive financial assistance frm this prgram as well. As examples: The Imprving STEM Teacher Preparatin: A Lng Term Investment (D-STEM) prgram ffers schlarships t students interested in pursuing graduate degrees in STEM disciplines. Partners: Miami University, Cleveland State University, University f Tled, Cincinnati State Technical and Cmmunity Cllege, Cuyahga Cmmunity Cllege, Owens Cmmunity Cllege Students pursuing graduate degrees in Envirnmental Science and Chemistry are preparing t pursue careers in research and ultimately the prfessriate. Schlars are invlved with learning cmmunities that prvide enrichment pprtunities, enhanced academic supprt, and access t innvative curses designed specifically t enhance the STEMM experience. Schlars include individuals frm minrity ppulatins, and will meet Ohi s future wrkfrce needs f individuals wh are prepared t teach the STEMM graduates f the 8

9 future at the cllege level. Current students prvide tutring supprt at the secndary level and are engaged in activities that cultivate teachers fr urban envirnments. The prject als prvides schlarships t existing STEM teachers wh are interested in a Master s degree and/r endrsements in their subject areas. Mving Beynd the Challenges The Chse Ohi First Schlarship prgram administratin vercame several challenges during the secnd year. The delay in the dispersal f funds and the subsequent ability f campuses t award schlarships that ccurred in the first year was mitigated by creating award agreements earlier, gaining campus buy-in n prcedures and requirements, and ensuring that prgrams were adhering t the stated gals and bjectives set frth in the apprved prpsals. Anther challenge arse in the difficulty f marketing the unique and varied Chse Ohi First prgrams implemented arund the state. Despite the shared verall gal f increasing the number f STEMM graduates in Ohi, sharing the innvatins in each prgram wuld result in 28 different prject descriptins. The Ohi Bard f Regents has mved t reslve this issue, as there is currently a studentcentered COF website under creatin. The website is currently under cnstructin and will cntain cntent frm the 42 Chse Ohi First campuses, including student vides, text, and ther infrmatin. The website cncept was well received by student fcus grups, gathered t brainstrm ideas and ensure the directin f the website was acceptable. COF 2.0 and Beynd In the academic year, the Chse Ohi First Schlarship Prgram saw tremendus grwth. Over 2600 Schlars had been awarded, and all 28 Chse Ohi First prgrams were up and running. The year als saw the additin f the Chse Ohi First Wdrw Wilsn Teaching Fellwship prgram. Fur campuses have already been selected fr hsting the Fellws, and an additinal 3 campuses will jin in the year thrugh the Race t the Tp initiative, with the hpes f prducing 450 highly qualified STEM teachers fr the state. The Chse Ohi First Wdrw Wilsn STEM Teaching Fellws Prgram has begun t recruit high-ptential individuals with backgrunds in science, technlgy, engineering, and mathematics int graduate prgrams that will prepare them t serve as teachers fr Ohi s high need urban and rural schl districts. The Fellws will be asked t make a three year teaching cmmitment in Ohi in exchange fr graduate level teacher preparatin in the STEM fields. Fur institutins in Ohi will be chsen t transfrm their prgrams f teacher preparatin int the strng cllabrative and innvative prgrams necessary t prduce these highquality teachers. The data frm the Chse Ohi First campuses has als becme mre rbust and meaningful. A cmprehensive evaluatin is being cnducted with Chse Ohi First Schlars, with data available sn after the New Year. Bth quantitative and qualitative measures will be included in the evaluatin and will prvide insight int student satisfactin with the Chse Ohi First Schlarship prgram frm a statewide perspective. As we mve quickly tward the furth year f the prgram and, thus, the first fficial graduating class f Chse Ohi First Schlars will als be able t begin cllecting data n the degree attainment f graduates and the retentin Chse Ohi First Schlars in the Ohi wrkfrce. 9

10 I nw understand nt nly the significance f alternative energies such as fuel cell technlgy, slar cells, and wind turbines, but als hw they wrk. -COFFEE COF Schlar, The Ohi State University Chse Ohi First is als beginning t mve tward an understanding f hw the prgram might wrk best, in additin t understanding the significance and need fr such a prgram. The Chse Ohi First Prgrams f Innvatin was launched with the hpes f encuraging campuses t submit their best STEM degree prgrams fr review in rder t be eligible t award Chse Ohi First Schlarships. The Prgrams f Innvatin will allw current campuses t expand their Chse Ohi First fferings, and allw ther campuses the pprtunity t ffer COF schlarships fr the first time. Chse Ohi First has encuraged the institutins that huse the Schlars t be innvative and frwardthinking in their effrts t develp mdels f recruiting and retaining high quality students in the STEMM disciplines. The Chse Ohi First Schlarship allws students wh have the access t preparatin and the ability t excel, the pprtunity fcus n their studies and nt n the limitatin f financial resurces. 10