| NSF Org: |
RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) |
| Recipient: |
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| Initial Amendment Date: | September 4, 2020 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | July 16, 2023 |
| Award Number: | 2028343 |
| Award Instrument: | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Brandon Jones
mbjones@nsf.gov (703)292-4713 RISE Integrative and Collaborative Education and Research (ICER) GEO Directorate for Geosciences |
| Start Date: | October 1, 2020 |
| End Date: | March 31, 2024 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $49,998.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $66,488.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
FY 2022 = $6,500.00 FY 2023 = $9,990.00 |
| History of Investigator: |
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| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
701 S NEDDERMAN DR ARLINGTON TX US 76019-9800 (817)272-2105 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
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| Primary Place of Performance: |
416 Yates Street Arlington TX US 76019-0017 |
| 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): |
SPECIAL EMPHASIS PROGRAM, Integrat & Collab Ed & Rsearch |
| Primary Program Source: |
01002324DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT 01002021DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT |
| 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): | 47.050 |
ABSTRACT
The workshop seeks to develop national strategies and key recommendations to engage groups currently under-served in the geosciences, including students from key geographic areas and at institutions that serve economically and demographically diverse populations. The workshop effort seeks to support students to pursue graduate degrees in the geosciences by learning about methods that could increase the likelihood of successful applications for Federal graduate fellowships. The project aims to create an initial model for the geosciences that can be tested with and applied to other STEM disciplines. The project will also elucidate the data needed to provide evidence-based understanding of the impacts of different funding mechanisms, especially federal graduate fellowships, on graduate student recruitment, retention and workforce outcomes.
This workshop will address two overarching goals: To understand the impact of different funding mechanisms, especially federal graduate fellowships, on both graduate student recruitment and workforce outcomes, and to learn how to leverage graduate funding mechanisms and targeted outreach to broaden participation of under-represented people in STEM, particularly in the geosciences. The workshop will bring together thought leaders in graduate education, broadening participation, the geosciences, and relevant federal agencies, with the aim of recommending evidence-based strategies, achieving greater data transparency, and enabling targeted application support for fellowship applicants. The main outcome of this workshop will be to provide professional development level guidance for UR students on how to leverage graduate funding mechanisms for career advancement in STEM disciplines with an emphasis on the geosciences. The proposed workshop has the potential to develop a path forward for filling in a necessary professional development gap for underrepresented students to gain understanding in the value of fellowship support for career mobility and preparation. The workshop should yield an increased understanding of how graduate student support mechanisms can lead to greater diversity in the geosciences and related disciplines.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
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 two workshops supported by this grant sought to develop national strategies and key recommendations to engage groups currently under-served in the STEM and geosciences, — including students from key geographic areas and at institutions that serve economically and demographically diverse populations — inform them of graduate fellowship funding opportunities, and teach them methods that could increase the likelihood of successful applications.Thus, these workshop had two overarching goals: To understand the impact of different funding mechanisms, especially federal graduate fellowships, on both graduate student recruitment and workforce outcomes, and to learn how to leverage graduate funding mechanisms and targeted outreach to broaden participation of under-represented people in STEM, particularly in the geosciences.
The first workshop held in DC had 30 students participate with all but 5 of them from Fort Valley State University (an HBCU). They were surveyed before and after the workshop and most of them only had a cursory knowledge of graduate school and graduate school funding before the workshop but the vast majority, according to the post survey, were much more likely to apply to the GRFP and believed the workshop helped them understand the potential of graduate school.
The second workshop was held at UTA and hosted 13 students in person (5 from Prairie View University, an HBCU, and the rest from UTA, an HSI) and 19 students virtually (all from the HBCU Fort Valley State University) for a total attendance of 32. The students online were chaperoned by two faculty advisors to ensure participation.
The majority of the students before the workshop indicated they were interested in graduate school and knew the difference between undergraduate and graduate school. However, only about a third of them knew where to apply for funding or about the GRFP. After the workshop a full 80% of them Strongly Agreed with applying to the GRFP. Furthermore, over 75% believed the workshop helped them understand graduate school better and the opportunities available to them.
The success of both conferences illustrated how graduate funding opportunities can increase the interest of underserved students in STEM graduate studies and how important targeted outreach is to inform students about graduate school and help them prepare compelling fellowship proposals.
Last Modified: 07/29/2024
Modified by: Erick C Jones
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