Advancing Navy STEM Workforce through Education and Research (ANSWER)
Abstract
San Diego State University (SDSU) is pleased to propose a program entitled Advancing Navy STEM Workforce through Education and Research (ANSWER) to the Office of Naval Research. ANSWER is designed to improve the recruitment, retention, and graduation of a diverse and qualified STEM workforce through the strategic nested integration of four proven and innovative education interventions in collaboration with local community colleges and the Naval Warfare Systems Command Pacific (SSC-Pacific). San Diego has a large population of military families given the long-standing strategic military role of the region. As one of the oldest higher education institutions in southern California, SDSU has long been committed to regional workforce development, and is increasingly recognized for its education and research at the national level. The proposed ANSWER program will have a major positive impact in meeting the STEM workforce needs of the Navy. The SDSU-ANSWER program will move beyond individual student support by providing opportunities at scale through Engineering Learning Communities (ELC) for military dependents, underrepresented students, and women in STEM with a focus on engineering majors relevant to documented Naval workforce needs. ANSWER will identify these students from the incoming transfer students, both residential and commuter that have been accepted into engineering majors. Both San Diego City College (SDCC) and Southwestern College (SWC) have undergraduate level MESA programs and will be our partners in this ANSWER program. ANSWER will (1) allow the existing MESA program to scale its current “carrying capacity” to serve more military-dependent, underrepresented minority, and female STEM students, (2) provide the opportunity to develop a sustainable, integrated, and nested suite of student success interventions that leverage our existing partnerships with local community colleges and strengthen a partnership with SSC-Pacific and (3) adds the opportunity for students to participate in activities that will accelerate academic success and prepare them for research/internships to enhance their eligibility to engage in the high impact practice of research or internship experience. Building upon the proven MESA model as an established foundation, we propose a nested integrated program that leverages the following educational interventions: 1. Earlier student engagement in developing their curricular path-to-degree. 2. Guided student application process and enrollment into the proposed ANSWER program to facilitate their successful transition to SDSU; 3. Student integration into a transfer, first - year Engineering Learning Community that includes an academic seminar, Academic Excellence Workshop, peer mentoring, and employment preparation; 4. Student preparation, improved eligibility, and micro-certification for Research or Internship Experiences (such as NREIP, REUs, Internships, etc). Utilizing this nested integrated program that leverages educational interventions in Outreach, Learning Communities and Research Experience incorporates a combination of high-impact, scalable practices that positively affect retention, graduation, and success of STEM students, increase the pipeline of highly qualified STEM professionals and meet the hiring needs of SSCPacific and the broader STEM sector.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 10, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812365
Entities
People
- Theresa Garcia
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies
- United States Navy