| NSF Org: |
DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 15, 2016 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | January 21, 2022 |
| Award Number: | 1564855 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Jennifer Ellis
jtellis@nsf.gov (703)292-2125 DUE Division Of Undergraduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | September 15, 2016 |
| End Date: | August 31, 2023 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $999,991.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $999,991.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
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| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
1700 CHAPEL DR VALPARAISO IN US 46383-4520 (219)464-5215 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
IN US 46383-6493 |
| 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): | S-STEM-Schlr Sci Tech Eng&Math |
| 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
Undergraduate commuter students face unique challenges which impact their success in higher education, especially within STEM disciplines. The Establishing Practices for Integrating Commuters (EPIC) program at Valparaiso University addresses several problems documented in previous research for commuters to improve the recruitment and retention of commuters within STEM. This is accomplished primarily through scholarships, social engagement, and providing substantial interdisciplinary research opportunities across four academic years and one summer. Additional support mechanisms include training in oral and written communication, travel to conferences, monthly meal gatherings, annual retreats and field trips. This program provides direct financial support for at least 30 STEM majors; many other STEM students also benefit as non-scholarship recipients are incorporated into program activities. The scholarships help bring Valparaiso University within the reach of more first generation students as well as students from nearby economically depressed areas with large minority populations.
Results from the EPIC program will fill important gaps identified in the literature on recruitment and retention programs in STEM at liberal arts and religiously affiliated institutions, especially considering commuter students. The assessment plan focuses on the three major objectives of the program: 1) improving student retention, especially among commuters, 2) increasing the number of STEM graduates prepared for research intensive careers, and 3) increasing the number of departments with research intensive majors and strengthen existing programs. Evaluation, both formative and summative, utilizes mixed-methods design, including in-person interviews, focus groups, archival student data, and survey research.
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 EPIC (Establishing Practices Integrating Commuter Students) program provided scholarships for both commuter and residential students with the intent to:
1) Improve recruitment and retention of commuter students via a program of enhanced academic and social opportunities.
2) Study the impact of these same opportunities on commuter students in order to fill important gaps identified in the literature on recruitment and retention programs in STEM at smaller liberal arts and/or religiously affiliated institutions, like Valparaiso University.
3) Provide scholarships to commuters to increase time on campus.
4) Bring VU within reach of more 1st generation, under-represented minority and lower socio-economic status students.
5) Integrate students into academic professional development opportunities including, conferences, research experiences, presentations, and scientific and grant writing opportunities.
One of our more surprising observations was that, certainly relative to residential students, commuter atudents are placed under a commonly very heavy burdon of family obligations. These typically took the form of expectations to work in the family business long hours, or to act as sitters for their younger siblings, without regard for the long hours of study normally expected of college students. This placed commuters under considerable pressure.
On the positive side of things, we were able to observe that the programmatic enhancements provided by the EPIC program allowed scholarship recipients to be retained to graduation at rates nearly double that of the average STEM student here at Valparaiso University. In addition to providing increased confidence, the enhancements served to connect students to each other, providing an instant group of friends, and to reduce the normal barriers between students and faculty, making the EPIC students much more likely to interact with faculty in ways that improved their education.
We are hoping to extend most of the enhancements to all of our STEM majors and to convince colleagues in non-STEM fields that they can adopt a similar approach in order to better serve students.
Last Modified: 09/04/2023
Modified by: Michael K Watters
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