| NSF Org: |
EES Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | April 16, 2015 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | April 16, 2015 |
| Award Number: | 1500513 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Martha James
mjames@nsf.gov (703)292-7772 EES Div. of Equity for Excellence in STEM EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | May 1, 2015 |
| End Date: | April 30, 2018 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $987,000.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $987,000.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
3124 TAMU COLLEGE STATION TX US 77843-3124 (979)862-6777 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
TX US 77845-4645 |
| Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
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| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
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| Parent UEI: |
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| NSF Program(s): | Alliances-Minority Participat. |
| Primary Program Source: |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
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| Program Element Code(s): |
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| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program assists universities and colleges in diversifying the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce through the development of highly competitive students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM disciplines: African-Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders. The goal of the LSAMP Bridge to the Doctorate (BD) Activity is to increase the quantity and quality of STEM graduate students from underrepresented populations, with emphasis on Ph.D. matriculation and completion. For the U.S. to remain globally competitive, it is vital that it taps into the talent of all its citizens and provides exceptional educational preparedness in STEM areas that underpin the knowledge-based economy. Texas A&M University, lead institution of the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) LSAMP, will host their 11th cohort of BD Fellows. The goal of the program is to foster academic success in a cohort of twelve first-time underrepresented STEM graduate students by developing their readiness and encouraging eagerness to complete STEM doctoral degrees and by preparing them to take their place as leaders in interdisciplinary research and in academia. By increasing the number of well-prepared and highly qualified Ph.Ds that ultimately enter the STEM workforce, TAMUS LSAMP BTD program has the potential to contribute significantly to the increase of this nation's economy and prosperity.
The objectives of the TAMUS LSAMP BD Program will be achieved through collaborations among the College of Science (COS), the Dwight Look College of Engineering (COE), the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (COALS), and the College of Geosciences (COG) at TAMU. The five major components of the program are (1) professional development, (2) academic support and social integration, (3) mentoring, (4) leadership development, and (5) student support and community building. The twelve BD Fellows with differing STEM disciplines and a common purpose will be nurtured for two years as a cohorted community and will share coordinated resources and intellectually enriching group activities with each other, and also with the larger population of STEM graduate students at TAMU, for the benefit of all. The objectives of the program include (1) retention of fellows into doctoral programs with funding after completion of the two-year NSF BD program, (2) preparation of fellows to meet the challenges of completing STEM doctoral programs and for possible academic careers in higher education, and (3) leadership skill development necessary to succeed as young STEM professionals upon completion of doctoral programs of study. Out of the 60 BD fellows supported in the first five cohorts at TAMU, 26 have completed their Ph.Ds. in STEM and 12 are progressing well towards the doctoral degree.
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PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT
Disclaimer
This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.
The Bridge to the Doctorate (BTD) Fellowship program is an extension of the Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), aimed at increasing the quality and quantity of underrepresented minorities (URM) students successfully completing STEM graduate degrees. This program complements the TAMUS LSAMP as well as other LSAMP programs throughout the country, which have, since 1991, contributed substantially to the number of URMs who have graduated with STEM bachelor of science degrees, creating a substantial pool of potential URM STEM graduate students in the Texas A&M University System and nationally. The TAMUS LSAMP BTD program’s goal was to foster academic success in the tenth cohort of URM STEM graduate students at Texas A&M University (TAMU), by developing their readiness and encouraging eagerness to complete STEM doctoral degrees and by preparing students to take leadership roles in interdisciplinary research and in academia. The strategic plan for the BTD XI award was achieved through direct National Science Foundation (NSF) support for student stipends, tuition and fees, and a focused set of activities. In the first year, BTD XI Fellows attended twenty-five seminars focused on acclimating to graduate school, developing stress and time management skills, and securing funding for the remainder of their academic careers. In the second year, Fellows attended sixteen seminars focused on developing leadership skills, establishing collegial networks, and writing strategies for publishing scientific articles, theses, and dissertations. In 2016, Fellows attended the 25th Anniversary Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation Research Symposium in National Harbor, MD.
TAMUS LSAMP BTD XI Fellows have developed as researchers in various STEM disciplines. Many of these individuals will pursue STEM careers, including academia. The participants will progress to their professional careers knowledgeable of diversity and its importance in education, productive research, problem solving, and in project management. Fellows have published research results in peer-reviewed journals and presented at world-renowned conferences. These dissemination opportunities have increased the recognition of NSF LSAMP and TAMU as producers of URM graduate students who are making significant contributions to STEM fields. Below are some of the outcomes of the BTD XI program:
- Five (5) BTD XI Fellows have completed their master’s degrees and published master’s theses.
- Fellows won thirteen (13) awards, including two (2) NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) awards and one (1) NSF GRF honorable mention.
- Fellows published seven (7) scientific journal or conference research articles.
- Fellows participated in forty (40) presentations at numerous research conferences and symposia.
- The 2015-2016 academic year overall cohort average grade point average (GPA) was 3.46.
- The 2016-2017 academic year overall cohort average GPA was 3.55.
Last Modified: 05/24/2018
Modified by: Shannon Walton
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