2018-2019 Progress

Current CNS Activities

Recruitment:

  1. Participate in Provost office’s reception/recruitment event (Spring)
  2. Sponsors and coordinates Eureka Program with Girls Inc.
  3. Sponsor, organize and host community college (CC) visit days, called Community College Day and STEM Starter Academy

Retention: 

  1. Hired an Academic/ Diversity Advisor to do ‘proactive advising’
  2. Provide individualized mentoring
  3. Targeted Early Alert Program in STEM courses (Bio 151, Bio 152; Chem 111, Chem 112, Chem 261, Chem 262 and Math 127) – early outreach and advising to individuals, who are in jeopardy of earning a C- or lower grade- individuals traditionally underrepresented in STEMsCommunity Building: sponsor mixers: CNS Office of Student Success and Diversity (OSSD) alone or with other offices, such as CMASS
  4. Started Peer Advisors Program, diverse group of UMass students to help peers navigate advising questions
  5. Provide leadership and serve as co-PI on grant applications focused on broadening participation, such as S-STEM and HHMI
  6. Expose students to REU opportunities: STEM Ambassadors (Riley)/ NELSAMP (Baker/Gibson) /IALS-M2M (Chien)/ SPPUR
  7. Provide sponsorship for student travel expenses to career events that target URM and/or women in STEM
  8. Conduct student success/ professional development workshops such as ‘first in college'

Planned CNS Activities

Recruitment:

  1. Strengthen partnerships with community colleges and Western MA area high schools – Start Visiting Scientist Partnership Program
  2. Tutoring: work with Learning Resource Center (LRC) to initiate a targeted ExSEL tutoring group (based on early alert data)
  3. Create a Biology on-line Prep course, termed eBIOS, that targets individuals traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields
  4. Expand BIOS and iCONS Programs to enhance diversity
  5. Increase CNS Office of Student Success and Diversity (OSSD) profile through social media, brochure and UMass website
  6. Design a Mentoring Program with URM Scientist (UMass alum and other scientist) – pilot with first generation college students
  7. Build a CNS- Residential Academic Program (RAP) for first generation and URM students ( holistic Bio-TAP model)
  8. Partner with minority serving institutions (MSI)s – to create a Domestic Exchange Program
  9. Construct a CC-Summer Bridge Program for Western MA community college transfer students. Components will include REU experience or academic preparation (if applicable) and weekly seminar/ social event
  10. Develop a 4-week Summer Residential BIOS Program