MAGEC-STEM
Savannah State University (SSU) has been the main aperture
through which ethnic minorities in Georgia have entered the
technical professions. The University offers quality
education in science, technology, engineering and
mathematics (STEM). Significant challenges to maintaining
the quality of academic programs have been to recruit and
retain minority students in large numbers and to encourage
them to continue their education in graduate schools in
these disciplines
Minority Access to Graduate Education and Careers in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (MAGEC-STEM)
program is to establish a framework for the production of a
continuous stream of highly competent and well qualified
minority scientists, technologists, engineers and
mathematicians. This goal will be achieved through a
vigorous and cost effective implementation of a number of
activities such as faculty development, curriculum review
and revision, infrastructure development, student tracking
and midstream interventions, career counseling and
exploration, experiential training, a
pre-freshman/head-start program, and selective recruitment
to ensure a perpetual supply of high-ability/high-potential
of STEM students.
MAGEC-STEM proposed activities will have direct impact on
two groups of minority students. The first group and
absorbing most of our energy will be the STEM undergraduates
at SSU. Activities for these students will ensure that a
large number of them will successfully complete their
undergraduate education in STEM with a high percentage of
them enrolling in graduate school. The second group consists
of pre-freshman students. Activities will include vigorous
targeting and recruitment of high potential students to feed
this group, and strengthening admitted students’ backgrounds
in STEM subject areas. The MAGEC-STEM program will expose a
large number of minority youngsters to STEM careers and will
also enhance our chances of achieving increased enrollments
in STEM in future years.
MAGEC-STEM is a collaborative effort with a number of
institutions (Georgia Institute of Technology, Mercer
University and Medical College of Georgia), area businesses,
and the school systems within our service area. It will
benefit from our already existing relationship with Georgia
Tech and Mercer University, and from our shared interest in
the Yamacraw initiative with H.O. systems, Inc., and Bell
South, as well as our collaborative program with the Gulf
Stream Aerospace Company. Additionally, SSU has formed a
partnership with the South Eastern Consortium for Minorities
in Engineering (SECME) Inc. to conduct annual workshops for
science and mathematics teachers in order to strengthen our
recruitment base and source of future undergraduate STEM
students.
Planning, formative and summative evaluations will be
conducted to periodically measure project outcomes,
determine required mid-corrections, weigh the merits and
values of activities, and ensure strict compliance with NSF
policies and guidelines. Our specific goals are to increase
STEM enrollment at SSU, and attaining a STEM undergraduate
student retention rate of 80%, minimum, and placing at least
30% of STEM graduates in graduate schools. MAGEC-STEM will
be managed and implemented by highly competent faculty from
biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics,
engineering and technology. Every member of the leadership
team has had a substantial amount of experience in funded
educational/training program management and implementation. |
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