Innovative Models for Effective Collaboration Between Universities and Community Colleges Strengthening Opportunities for STEM Students

1
Innovative Models for Effective Collaboration
Between Universities and Community Colleges
Strengthening Opportunities for STEM Students

• Hesham Ali
• Brad Morrison Jack Heidel
• Michele OConnor Dana Richter-Egger

2
The Setting
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Omaha
• The largest city in Nebraska
• The largest metropolitan center within 150 miles
• The University of Nebraska at Omaha
• A metropolitan university
• 14,000 fte undergraduate students
• Metropolitan Community College
• 7,500 fte students
• 26,000 individual students

3
Why the Need for Collaboration?
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Institutions have to do more with less
• New initiatives are necessary for healthy growth
• Institutions operate in competitive environments
  and have need for allies
• Greater chance of acquiring funding with
  collaborative efforts
• Different perspectives from collaboration are
  more likely to lead to innovations

4
Benefits Of Effective Collaboration
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Enhance opportunities for students and faculty
• Increased interaction ? greater creativity
• Better preparation for students to transition
  from community college to university
• Complimentary goals with minor conflicts
• Maximize strengths and increases resources at
  both institutions
• Encourage faculty collaboration with colleagues
  outside of their institution
• Break down misperceptions that may exist between
  the two institutions as a result of enhanced
  communication

5
Challenges Of Collaboration
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Different cultures and perspectives
• for students
• and for administration and faculty
• Lack of sufficient funding
• Finding time and willing participants
• Breaking down the walls
• Outcome difficult to quantify sometimes
• Results not always seen immediately

6
Taking A Strategic Approach
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Many models of collaboration exist each with its
  benefits and challenges
• Perfect model may not be attainable in one step
  may have to be implemented in stages
• Not all activities require significant funding
• Can build upon existing structure and grow
  gradually
• Identify appropriate model for current
  circumstances and strategic goals

7
Our Goal
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• To recruit and retain STEM majors through a
  broad, multifaceted effort to strengthen the
  collaboration between UNO and MCC
• HOW?
• Funding from a NSF STEP Grant
• 2 million over 5 years
• The intent is support expansion and adaptation of
  currently successful activities within and
  between the two institutions as well as the
  implementation of new activities.

8
What is STEP Anyway?
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• STEM Talent Expansion Program (STEP) Science
  Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM)
• A congressionally mandated NSF program
• The first awards were made in the fall of 2003
• PURPOSE
• to increase the number of students pursuing and
  obtaining STEM degrees
• Includes both community colleges and four-year
  institutions

9
Insight from NSF
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Thoughts from Dr. Bement NSF Director
• Foster flexible, creative and collaborative
  research
• Build bridges across the gaps that students
  fall through
• Create seamless educational pathways for our
  students
• Today's laboratory shapes tomorrows economy

10
Our Objectives
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Expand, diversify and incorporate new STEM
  degrees
• Develop agreements for the articulation of
  complete programs of study
• Attract and retain students through the use of
  scholarships
• Particularly under-represented and
  non-traditional students
• Improve the quality of and access to experiential
  education opportunities and student support
  services
• Increase outreach and recruitment activities

11
New Degree Options
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• STEM Associate of Science Degrees at MCC
• Pre-Biology
• Pre-Biotechnology
• Pre-Chemistry
• Pre-Mathematics
• Pre-Physics
• Pre-Bioinformatics
• Computer Science
• Previously in place

New
12
New Degree Options
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• New Interdisciplinary Majors at UNO
• Bioinformatics (new degree)
• Interdisciplinary
• Computer Science (College of Information and
  Technology)
• Biology (College of Arts and Sciences)
• One of only a few such programs in the U.S.
• Now has 37 majors
• Many students in the program are involved in
  interdisciplinary research supported by STEP and
  other funding.

13
New Degree Options
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• New Interdisciplinary Majors at UNO
• Information Assurance (area of emphasis, MIS/CS)
• Plans for conversion to an actual degree
• Medicinal Chemistry (a new degree track)
• Approved Fall 2005
• Neuroscience (proposed new degree)
• Students with this interest can currently use the
  interdisciplinary studies major

14
Articulation
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Avenues for progression and transfer are
  especially important in the STEM disciplines
  because of the inherent hierarchical program
  structure
• Allows students to transition from community
  college to university with sense of completion
  and accomplishment

15
Articulation of Complete Programs
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• A to B getting Associates Degree then Bachelors
  
• More challenging to implement
• Requires higher level of coordination
• More people involved to accomplish
• Now available in 7 STEM areas MCC ? UNO
• Pre-Biology Pre-Chemistry
• Pre-Biotechnology Pre-Mathematics
• Pre-Physics Pre-Bioinformatics
• Computer Science

16
Scholarships
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• STEP Scholars - 1000/semester
• 2004-05
• 16 Scholarships awarded
• Fifteen scholarships were renewed for the second
  year
• 2005-06
• 18 Scholarships awarded
• 2006-07
• Recruitment currently underway
• Three MCC students have applied

17
Scholarships
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Bridge Scholarships at MCC
• Covers the expenses for the last quarter of study
• 2004-05
• 4 students - 4 male (1 minority
• 2005-06
• 16 students - 13 male (3 Minority), 3 female
• First MCC student received a UNO Bridge
  Scholarship

18
Early Undergraduate Research
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Faculty recruit qualified early undergraduates
  into a motivational research activity and then to
  supervise the students involved for one or more
  semesters.
• Focus on 1st and 2nd year students
• Encourages these students to consider a STEM
  major
• Funding provides for
• Faculty summer stipend
• Tuition waivers for students, up to 3
  credits/student
• Limited funds for materials/supplies

19
Early Undergraduate Research
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Proposals selection criteria
• Evidence for successful recruitment and retention
  of students into a STEM major
• On what personal experience or successful
  external models of EUR is the is the project
  based?
• Number of students projected to be involved
• Sustainability
• Anticipated duration
• Is it an ongoing project or one-time?
• Will continuation require additional funding?
• If the proposed research is interdisciplinary
• Projects that specifically target
  underrepresented groups are especially encouraged.

20
Early Undergraduate Research
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• 2004-05
• 6 projects funded
• 37 students participated in EUR activities, most
  received 3 semester hours of tuition waivers
• 2005-06
• 6 projects funded
• 24 students participated in EUR activities
• 2006-07
• 7 projects funded
• 54 of those 61 EUR students from years 1 and 2
  are currently pursuing STEM degrees

21
Recruitment and Outreach
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• MCC STEP Coordinator
• Recruits at area high schools and community
  events distributing STEP literature for both UNO
  and MCC STEM programs.
• Focused on providing prospective students and
  their families a broad view of STEM educational
  opportunities.
• Centralizes creation of all promotional materials
• Assists with coordination of joint activities
  between the two institutions
• The go to person for both institutions

22
Impact Beyond Intended Goals
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• New Graduate Teaching Assistant Positions
• UNO graduate students (4 in math currently) teach
  at MCC which reimburses teaching salary to UNO
• Other departments are being encouraged to also
  participate

23
Impact Beyond Intended Goals
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Interdisciplinary Research Inquires in General
  Chemistry
• a (separate) but similarly aligned NSF-CCLI grant
• General Chemistry and Environmental Geology
  students study of lead contamination of soil
• Geology students collect soil samples
• Focus on an EPA Superfund site within Omaha
• Chemistry students analyze the samples
• Self-selected geology and chemistry students do
  further analysis and interpretation of the
  aggregate data
• Activity is repeated each fall and spring semester

24
Impact Beyond Intended Goals
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Taking Science for a Test Drive
• A NSF-CCLI proposal from Biology and Chemistry
• Significantly expands upon the STEP-EUR which it
  is modeled after
• Targets MCC students and UNO pre-service teachers
  and general non-STEM majors
• Sixty students per year, in groups of ten, will
  participate in two-week research experiences
  during summer
• Will rigorously test the assertion that EUR is an
  effective means of recruiting STEM majors and of
  positively impacting the attitudes of non-STEM
  majors, particularly pre-service teachers.

25
Evaluation
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• How well are students acquiring important STEM
  knowledge, skills and concepts as defined by
  respective curriculum requirements at UNO and
  MCC?
• Are the STEP activities encouraging higher levels
  of participation in STEM courses and programs at
  UNO and MCC?
• How are program and course offerings within and
  between UNO and MCC meeting the needs of students
  in providing effective transitions between the
  colleges?
• How are STEP project activities providing greater
  accessibility to STEM related areas of study and
  career opportunities?

26
Social Climate Assessment
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• What are majors and non-majors perceptions,
  beliefs, and experiences in STEM courses?
• Do the STEP goals of inclusiveness and diversity
  extend beyond the students who are directly
  involved (scholarships or EUR support)?
• Results suggest that the social climate in STEM
  courses and departments is remarkably positive.
• The results were surprising given literature
  indications that a negative social climate may be
  at least partly responsible for a lack of
  interest in STEM majors.

27
Sustainability
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Math/Science Learning Center
• Both one time and ongoing funding are will be
  used to form a Math/Science Learning Center at
  UNO.
• This center will be a significant way in which
  the activities of the STEP grant will be
  institutionalized.
• The Center will
• Assess science education effectiveness
• Coordinate peer mentoring and peer led team
  learning
• Offer workshops for STEM faculty and students
• Provide
• Entry level tutoring
• Course modules
• Specialized instruction
• Study skills training

28
Sustainability
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• The Scholarship Program may be the most difficult
  because of its large budget
• All the scholarships offered total approximately
  100,000 per year.
• Private support for STEP scholarship endowments
  is being actively pursued by the Principal
  Investigator and the Arts Sciences Dean in
  conjunction with the Nebraska University
  Foundation.

29
UNO STEM Graduates
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination
30
STEM Transfers from MCC to UNO
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination
31
What We Have Learned
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Be Broad Based and Inclusive
• The greatest strength of the UNO/MCC STEP grant
  is its breadth. It includes six UNO departments
  in two different colleges and two different
  educational institutions.
• Cast a Wide Net
• There are many dynamic connections between the
  UNO academic areas that make up the STEM
  disciplines (biology, chemistry, computer
  science, geology, mathematics, and physics) how
  they will develop and grow is impossible to
  predict.

32
What We Have Learned
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Reach Out to Actual Potential STEM Majors
• Science has a great intrinsic appeal. It takes
  some students longer than others to come to this
  realization they may need extra encouragement in
  the meantime.
• By All Indications -- Success
• Success is attributed to both the generality of
  the approach and to the interest and enthusiasm
  of the participants.
• The sharing of Best Practices will assist
  institutions regardless of their level of
  experience in STEP.

33
Challenges Faced
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Establishing a good working relationship between
  UNO and MCC. The different cultures of the two
  institutions means a relationship is not
  automatic and must be developed.
• Encouraging MCC students to continue their
  education at UNO.
• Uneven success in Early Undergraduate Research
  (EUR).
• Letting the world know what we are doing.

34
Overcoming those Challenges
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Inclusion of MCC faculty and students in EUR
• Need to focus more on increasing students sense
  of belongingness
• Increasing student recognition of the grant
  program/efforts
• Make better use of the campus advisory committee
• More sophisticated evaluation of the most
  innovative activities, such as EUR

35
Dissemination
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• Innovative Models for Effective Collaboration
  between Universities and Community Colleges,
  Hesham Ali, Jack Heidel, Michele OConnor and
  Dana Richter-Egger, 110th annual meeting of the
  higher learning commission of the North Central
  Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), in a
  Collection of Papers in Self-Study and
  Institutional Improvement, Volume 1, pp. 73-75,
  Chicago, April 8-12, 2005.
• http//avalon.unomaha.edu/step/

36
(No Transcript)
37
Acknowledgements
Introduction Goal STEP Program Our Objectives New
Degrees Articulation Scholarships Research Outreac
h Broader Impact Assessment Sustainability Outcome
s Challenges Dissemination

• The National Science Foundation
• DUE STEP Grant 336462
• The University of Nebraska at Omaha
• College and Departmental support
• Metropolitan Community College
• College and Division support
• The University of Nebraska System
• Excellence and priority funding