Project FORCE (Focus on Occupations, Recruiting, Community, and Engagement) is an NSF STEP Type 1A supported program that is centered on increasing recruiting and retention in all of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines at Northern Kentucky University. One strategy of the project focuses on providing paid summer research opportunities (UR-STEM) to early-career students, especially those who are in danger of leaving the STEM disciplines or the university. Interested faculty from the participating departments (Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Computer Science, and Physics, Geology and Engineering Technology) submit project descriptions, with students then selecting their preferences in their applications. Students typically but not exclusively choose their home department. Priority rankings are given to students who are struggling in their coursework, are members of underrepresented groups in their disciplines, are rising sophomores or juniors, and do not have previous experience in the STEM fields. Students can either do a mini-project (4 weeks) or a full research experience (10 weeks at half time), and after applying are interviewed by the faculty with whom they would be doing research. While faculty ultimately choose the student(s) they will accept, funding preference is given to highly ranked students. Along with several social and skill-building meetings during the summer research period, the students present their research at the end of the summer at a poster session. Since the program’s inception in 2010, 189 students have participated on projects led by typically twenty-five faculty per year. Participating students are retained at significantly higher rates than a randomly-selected comparison STEM group, and often continue in research with their mentors. This unique focus on early-career, struggling students rather than high-achievers not only increases retention among STEM students, but also broadens the population of students doing research, with benefits for all involved.

Broadening participation in STEM undergraduate research by targeting students at risk of leaving STEM

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.