Award Abstract # 1649328
Collaborative Research: NSF INCLUDES: Consortium of Minority Doctoral Scholars (CMDS)

NSF Org: OIA
OIA-Office of Integrative Activities
Recipient: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN SYSTEM
Initial Amendment Date: September 12, 2016
Latest Amendment Date: September 12, 2016
Award Number: 1649328
Award Instrument: Standard Grant
Program Manager: Cynthia Phillips
cphillip@nsf.gov
 (703)292-0000
OIA
 OIA-Office of Integrative Activities
O/D
 Office Of The Director
Start Date: September 1, 2016
End Date: August 31, 2019 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount: $67,488.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date: $67,488.00
Funds Obligated to Date: FY 2016 = $67,488.00
History of Investigator:
  • Jerlando Jackson (Principal Investigator)
    dean.jackson@msu.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office: University of Wisconsin-Madison
21 N PARK ST STE 6301
MADISON
WI  US  53715-1218
(608)262-3822
Sponsor Congressional District: 02
Primary Place of Performance: University of Wisconsin-Madison
21 N. Park St.
Madison
WI  US  53715-1218
Primary Place of Performance
Congressional District:
02
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): LCLSJAGTNZQ7
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s): Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES
Primary Program Source: 01001617DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s): 029Z
Program Element Code(s): 032Y00
Award Agency Code: 4900
Fund Agency Code: 4900
Assistance Listing Number(s): 47.083

ABSTRACT

Abstract Gilbert 1649320 [Collaborative Proposal ID 1649328]
Part I
Although major growth in engineering and computing jobs is expected in the next 10 years, students are not majoring in sufficient numbers to meet this demand. These impending workforce demands cannot be met without developing the skills of racial and ethnic minorities: however, Hispanics and Black/African Americans make up only a small percentage of doctoral students in the United States. The goal of the Consortium of Minority Doctoral Scholars (CMDS) Design and Development Launch Pilot is to broaden the participation of minorities in these fields. This pilot project will create a data portal that will allow the research team to study and understand the efficacy of various mentoring strategies that might be piloted across institutions and minority doctoral scholars programs.
Part II
The Consortium of Minority Doctoral Scholars (CMDS) will unite three of the nation's oldest and most prominent minority doctoral scholars programs (GEM, SREB and McKnight); organizations with a long history of impact in increasing the numbers of minorities obtaining advanced degrees. The CMDS Design and Development Launch Pilot will conduct extensive studies using data from these three programs. The research team will conduct a mixed method analysis of the data to discover commonalities and distinctions about the three programs' mentoring efforts as compared to students not involved in the three programs. This will result in a data-driven strategy for researching the efficacy of mentoring programs that can be applied across the three CMSD member and other minority doctoral scholars programs. By utilizing data from successful programs to pinpoint effective mentoring strategies, the project will create opportunities for larger numbers of minorities to be successful. This approach has implications not only with respect to equity and access, but also the development of a workforce that will drive future advances.

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 INCLUDES Consortium of Minority Doctoral Scholars (CMDS) was focused on identifying best practices in recruiting and retaining Hispanic and African American/Black doctoral students in Engineering, Computing, and Information Sciences. In particular, we were especially interested in the role of mentorship in pursing graduate studies in STEM fields. Drawing from a sample of students, alumni, and administrators from three minority doctoral scholars programs (i.e., National GEM Consortium, McKnight Doctoral Fellows Program, and the Southern Regional Education Board Program), we conducted interviews with 67 participants: 50 students and 17 administrators. In an effort to broaden participation, retention, and success of underrepresented students in science and engineering, the qualitative data collected examines in-depth experiences and perceptions of program participants as a contribution toward constructing a framework for mentoring underrepresented students in STEM fields. The emerging themes identified from the interviews were:

1. Build a community for scholars of color

2. See success “like me”

3. Mentoring matters

4. Giving back is a core belief

5. Outsourced graduate experience

6. Programs and organizations are paramount

The National GEM Consortium, McKnight Doctoral Fellows Program, and the Southern Regional Education Board Program are the nation’s largest and oldest minority doctoral scholars programs. Prior to this award, these 3 organizations were operating independently in their own spaces. However, through the collective impact framework, the three minority doctoral scholars programs are working together collaboratively as a result of this project. A significant accomplishment of this award was to bring the 3 programs together to increase their collaborations and success.

In summary, findings from the INCLUDES CMDS project suggest successful mentoring strategies ought to comprise:

1. Purposeful platforms for communication among minoritized doctoral students in STEM fields

 

2. Developing and expanding one’s network and social capitol with similar backgrounds and aspirations

 

3. Assigning mentors in addition to academic advisors to facilitate successful navigation and retention in STEM PhD programs

 

4. Establishing on-going opportunities for under-represented STEM students to engage in peer mentoring

 

5. Institutional awareness is necessary to ensure a “true” graduate experience for minoritized doctoral students is embedded in STEM academic departments

 

6. Group and organizational mentoring has value for minoritized doctoral students in STEM


Last Modified: 01/30/2020
Modified by: Jerlando Jackson

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