UCAMCS

Program Description

The UCAMCS program at Fayetteville State University is sponsored by National Science Foundation, with the goal of providing scholarships to encourage and enable academically talented but financially needy students to complete their baccalaureate degree in Mathematics or Computer Science, and to enter the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workforce.

The UCAMCS program works collaboratively with the FSU Honors Program to provide scholarship support for 10 students in the second year of the funded period, 13 students in the third year, 16 students in the fourth year and 19 students in the fifth year. The first year of the funded period will be devoted to planning. Our proposed model would graduate 19 students with substantial provision for the sustainability beyond the funded period. While 10 of the scholars would graduate, 9 scholars would still be in pipeline, at the conclusion of the grant period. Undergraduate students in Mathematics and Computer Science will benefit from enhanced academic advisement, undergraduate research, other campus support services, mentoring from professionals working in local STEM enterprises, and opportunities to engage in pre-professional work experiences. The results of the implementation and evaluation of the proposed project would be adequately disseminated.

The activities of the program provide not only important opportunities to advance knowledge and understanding relative to effective support and enhanced advisement for undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines but also opportunities to recruit and place new graduates in STEM enterprises. The use of innovative academic advisement and mentoring models and subsequent evaluation of these foster tight integration of education and research. The PI and Co-PIs are well qualified to conduct the proposed project and have had successful experiences advising students in academic enrichment and research. The PI and Co-PIs are well qualified to conduct the proposed project and have had successful experiences advising students in academic enrichment and research. An organizational development tool will be utilized for enhanced advisement/mentoring that would represent exploration of creative and original concepts.

The UCAMCS program is well conceived and organized. Resources are sufficiently available to support various activities.The UCAMCS program is primarily focused on support for undergraduate students in the STEM disciplines while improving the quality of teaching, training and learning university wide. Proposed activities broaden the participation of underrepresented groups for recruitment, retention, graduation, and placement in the STEM-related areas. The project will promote institutionalized and systematic change in the infrastructure at FSU for advisement, mentoring, networking, and partnerships. Successful implementation of proposed activities will strengthen the social, economic, and intellectual fabric of the Southeastern region of North Carolina.