2015 Ohio LSAMP Alliance Impact Report

IMPACT REPORT

2015

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Institutions

Central State University

Cleveland State University

Miami University

The Ohio State University

University of Cincinnati

Wilberforce University

Wright State University

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

Columbus State Community College

Cuyahoga Community College

Sinclair Community College

Universities

Community Colleges

Leveraging LSAMP Funding..........................................................................................................................1

Enrollment and Degree Data...................................................................................................................3-4

Economic Impact of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance......................................................................................5

Purpose of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance.......................................................................................................6

Structure of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance..................................................................................................7-8

LSAMP Scholar Profiles...........................................................................................................................9-18

Alliance-Wide Strategies for Success

President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture Series: The Honorable Louis Stokes............19

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Conference.....................................................................................20

Case Statement and Industry Support.......................................................................................21

Alliance-Wide Peer Mentoring Program....................................................................................22

Mathematics Curriculum Reform.................................................................................................23

Air Force Research Laboratory, Discovery Lab Global..........................................................24

Participation in the LSMCE Conference....................................................................................25

Results of Annual Student Survey.....................................................................................................26-28

LSAMP Programming by Institution..................................................................................................29-30

Major Accomplishments in LSAMP Programming at Partner Institutions.................................31-42

LSAMP Photo Gallery............................................................................................................................43-44

Table of Contents

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The Ohio Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Alliance was funded by the National Science Foundation in September, 2013 at $3.5 million over 5 years. It is an alliance of 7 four-year institutions and four community colleges, as well as industry and community partners. In the first 2 years, it has leveraged LSAMP funding to provide an additional $10.3 million to support the goals of increasing underrepresented minority STEM degrees.

For this impact report, we asked our partners to document leveraged funding in the following areas: institutional commitment, industry support, supplemental grants, and private philanthropic support.

Institutional Commitment

Institutional commitment includes funding of personnel, facilities, administration, and programming funds.

Many partner institutions have funded new staff positions to carry out LSAMP programming. In addition, institutional funds have been used to support student employees, graduate students, and LSAMP personnel (steering committee members, site coordinators, grants coordinator, program coordinator) as they provide LSAMP programming at each institution. Alliance-wide institutional support for personnel totaled $600,559 for 2013-15.

Institutional commitment was also seen in the form of providing space for LSAMP activities; purchases of equipment, computers, phones, and other technology; purchases of office furniture and supplies; and costs involved in recruitment activities (brochures and other publications). These costs totaled $292,157 for the alliance for 2013-15.

The partner institutions also provided support for LSAMP programming, such as funding for bridge programs, including housing, meals, equipment, computer programs, and supplies. Institutions funded programming expenses that are not covered by NSF funds, such as T-shirts for LSAMP Scholars, travel for faculty to support student participation in professional meetings, meals for LSAMP events, and technology access. Institutional support of programming costs totaled $350,439 across the alliance for 2013-15.

Industry Support

The Industry and Community Partner Task Force was instrumental in attracting non-government industry partners to The Ohio LSAMP Alliance to provide funds to support LSAMP programming, as well as in-kind contributions. We have worked with Honda of America Mfg., Inc., The Kroger Company, Procter & Gamble, Air Force Research Laboratory, Battelle Memorial Institute, Marathon, and other industry partners. They have funded key LSAMP programs, such as summer bridge programs and our summer conference. In addition, they have provided promotional items and personnel for STEM panels, workshops, and other LSAMP activities. Our industry partners also provide work experiences and internships for our LSAMP Scholars. Industry support of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance totaled $547,970 for 2013-15.

Supplemental Grants

Our partner institutions have been awarded other grants (NSF, NIH, DOE, others) that support programming for LSAMP Scholars. This support totaled $6,539,816 across the alliance in 2013-15. Some of these grants were received prior to 2013 or last through 2018. The partners reported the total value of the grant awarded.

Private Philanthropic Contributions

Finally, LSAMP programming has received support from private donors. This support totaled $4,480 across the alliance for 2013-15.

Leveraging LSAMP Funding

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Leveraging LSAMP Funding

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Enrollment across the eleven institutions in the alliance has decreased from 224,253 in 2011 to 203,524 in 2015, an overall decrease of 10.18%.

The steady upward trend in enrollment of minorities in STEM majors is a strong indication that both alliance-wide activities and institutional programming are effective.

Enrollment in The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

Despite this decrease in overall institutional enrollment, The Ohio LSAMP Alliance has demonstrated success in the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities majoring in STEM disciplines. The enrollment of minorities in STEM has increased from 5,901 in 2011 to 6,659 in 2015, an increase of 11.83%.

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Bachelor’s degrees in STEM awarded across the eleven institutions in the alliance has increased from 23,793 in 2011 to 24,465 in 2015, an overall increase of 2.74%.

The steady upward trend in underrepresented minorities earning bachelor’s degrees in STEM is a strong indication that both alliance-wide activities and institutional programming are effective.

Alliance partners submitted enrollment and degree data from Fall 2010 through Spring 2015, using the National Science Foundation LSAMP CIP codes updated in 2015. Enrollment and degree data were not submitted from Wilberforce University.

Degrees in The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance has demonstrated success in the degree attainment of underrepresented minorities majoring in STEM disciplines. Bachelor’s degrees in STEM earned by underrepresented minorities has increased from 1,242 in 2011 to 1,542 in 2015, an increase of 19.45%.

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According to the 2012 American Community Survey1 issued by the United States Census Bureau, the average income of individuals with a bachelor’s degree in STEM is approximately $78,484, whereas non-STEM degrees earn approximately $57,540. The Bureau of Labor Statistics2 reports the median annual income of a person with a high school diploma is $34,736. Taking the substantial difference between earnings of a bachelor’s degree in STEM as compared to a high school diploma:

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance has increased income earned in Ohio $79,446,368 by producing 819 additional STEM bachelor degrees between 2011 and 2015.3

Economic Impact of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

Note: Data for bachelor’s degree non-STEM versus STEM are based on full-time, year-round civilian employed aged 25 to 64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education. Data for high school diploma are based on full-time salaried or equivalent employment aged 25 and older.

1 United States Census Bureau. (2013). American Community Survey: Median Earnings of College Graduates by Field of Bachelor’s Degree and Occupation: 2012. Retrieved November 2015 from https://www.census.gov/people/io/publications/table_packages.html

2 Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014). Earnings and unemployment rates by education attainment. Retrieved November 2015 from http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_chart_001.htm

3 Calculations are based on the summation of the different of years 2012-2015 over the baseline year 2011. Assumption is made that the degrees lead to employment in STEM occupations in Ohio.

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GoalThe goal of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance is to double the number of underrepresented minority baccalaureate degrees in STEM disciplines at partner institutions within five years (2013-2018).

ObjectivesThe following are the objectives of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance:

1. to foster a partnership among alliance institutions, working with industry and community partners, that results in programming that is collaborative, effective, and sustainable;

2. to heighten the awareness of opportunities in STEM disciplines and increase the recruitment of underrepresented minority students to STEM majors at partner institutions;

3. to provide early and sustained programs to facilitate the critical transition from high school to college at each partner institution;

4. to increase the retention of first- and second-year underrepresented minority students in STEM disciplines;5. to improve the disciplinary socialization of underrepresented minority students in STEM disciplines, particularly by

providing undergraduate research opportunities through the baccalaureate; and6. to provide pathways for smooth transitions from community colleges to four-year institutions.

StrategiesDriven by the objectives, programming includes both alliance-wide activities and activities that take place at each institution.

Alliance-Wide Activities• The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Conference• Task Forces o Ancillary Studies Task Force o Articulation Agreement and Credit Transfer Task Force o Cyber-Sharing Task Force o Industry and Community Partner Task Force o Mathematics Curriculum Review Task Force• Alliance-Wide Communications and Materials o The Ohio LSAMP Alliance web site (Ohiolsamp.org) o Steering Committee meetings o Site Visits o Conference Calls o Policies and Procedures Manual o The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Logo and Brochures o Mentoring and Diversity Handbook o Case Statement

Programming at Each InstitutionThe LSAMP model for programming is based on two prominent streams of research and theory: a model of student retention, the Tinto model, which emphasizes academic and social integration of students into the academic institution; and the theory of disciplinary socialization, which is the process through which students become socialized into the STEM field of study as a profession. The following activities result in increased retention of underrepresented minority students in STEM disciplines and take place at each partner institution of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance:• Advisement and counseling• Residential summer bridge or early arrival programs• Tutoring or supplemental instruction• Peer mentoring• Faculty mentoring• Undergraduate research• Professional development workshops

Purpose of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

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Alliance Leadership

Principal Investigator: Michael Drake, President, The Ohio State UniversityAlliance Director: Barbara Fink | [email protected] | (614) 688-2998Alliance Program Manager: J. Tyler Cole | [email protected] | (614) 688-1955

Structure of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

Governing Board

Name Institution Position

Dr. Charles Ford, Jr Central State University Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. O’Dell Owens Cincinnati State Community and Technical College President

Dr. Deirdre Mageean Cleveland State University Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. David Harrison Columbus State Community College President

Dr. Craig Foltin Cuyahoga Community College Executive Vice President & Provost

Dr. Phyllis Callahan Miami University Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dr. Joseph Steinmetz Ohio State University Executive Vice President and Provost

Dr. David Collins Sinclair Community College Provost

Dr. Beverly Davenport University of Cincinnati Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost

Dr. D.R. Buffinger Wilberforce University Provost and Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Research

Dr. S. Narayanan Wright State University Provost

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Steering Committee

Institution Name E-mail Address

Central State University KrishnaKumar Nedunuri [email protected]

Central State University Subramania Sritharan [email protected]

Cincinnati State and Technical Community College Douglas Bowling [email protected]

Cincinnati State and Technical Community College Kim McMillan [email protected]

Cleveland State University Susan Carver [email protected]

Cleveland State University J.P. Holcomb [email protected]

Columbus State Community College Maia Randle [email protected]

Columbus State Community College Lisa Schneider [email protected]

Cuyahoga Community College Rebecca Stolzmann [email protected]

Cuyahoga Community College Lam Wong [email protected]

Miami University James Kiper [email protected]

Miami University Christopher Makaroff [email protected]

Sinclair Community College Anthony Ponder [email protected]

Sinclair Community College Harry Sloan [email protected]

The Ohio State University Jeff Hattey [email protected]

The Ohio State University David Tomasko [email protected]

University of Cincinnati Kenneth Simonson [email protected]

University of Cincinnati Carol Tonge Mack [email protected]

Wilberforce University Robin Moore-Cooper [email protected]

Wilberforce University Emeka Morah [email protected]

Wright State University Nathan Klingbeil [email protected]

Wright State University Anthony Bourne [email protected]

Site Coordinators

Institution Name E-mail Address

Central State University Marian Hoey [email protected]

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College Kim McMillan [email protected]

Cleveland State University Candice Quinn [email protected]

Columbus State Community College Maia Randle [email protected]

Cuyahoga Community College Kathleen Cuthrell [email protected]

Miami University Bonita Porter [email protected]

Sinclair Community College Harry Sloan [email protected]

The Ohio State University Danielle Benson Robinson [email protected]

University of Cincinnati Kenneth Simonson [email protected]

Wilberforce University Erica Thomas [email protected]

Wright State University Kera Watkins [email protected]

Structure of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance

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Robert Arthur, Jr.Major: Mechanical EngineeringClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: Columbus State Community CollegeAs a freshman LSAMP Scholar at Columbus State Community College, Robert Arthur, Jr. attended the STEM

Summer Bridge Program in August 2015. He particularly enjoys participating in STEM Club, which provides him with opportunities to participate in STEM outreach activities, such as “We are STEM” and “The Young Men of Color STEM Career Conference.” He enjoys motivating middle school and high school students to study STEM and networking with STEM professionals. Robert plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering upon transferring to a four-year institution.

Aissatou BahMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Columbus State Community CollegeAissatou Bah enjoys and benefits from participating in STEM Club, STEM outreach activities at Columbus

State Community College, and peer mentoring from LSAMP peers at The Ohio State University (OSU). She plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in molecular genetics upon transferring to OSU. Ultimately, she desires to attend medical school and conduct research in epidemiology. Aissatou finds that attending events like the LSMCE Conference helps her to learn many helpful tips for professional development, finding research internships, and networking with STEM professionals.

Denis BarryMajor: Environmental EngineeringClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeDenis Barry was a member of the first LSAMP cohort from Cincinnati State to participate in undergraduate

research at the University of Cincinnati. He worked with graduate students in the biology laboratories. Upon completing his co-op, he was invited to continue to work on a biology research project. When the results of the research are published, Denis will be included as a contributing member. Denis is very active in the Environment Student Activities program. Upon completing the Environment Engineering Technology program, he is planning to attend the University of Cincinnati.

Ahmed AbokorMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Columbus State Community CollegeAhmed Abokor attended the STEM Summer Bridge Program as a freshman at Columbus State Community College. As a sophomore LSAMP Scholar, he benefits most from

tutoring because he values being able to improve his learning outside of the classroom. He plans to pursue an undergraduate degree in biology upon transferring to a four-year institution. In July of this year, Ahmed enjoyed attending the LSAMP Ohio Alliance Conference, where he presented his research project, “The Effects of Increased Salt Concentrations on Biofuel Production in Yeast.” Ahmed is motivated by research and is particularly intrigued by cancer research.

Satch AlvarezMajor: Welding EngineeringClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: The Ohio State UniversitySatch Alvarez is currently finishing his first full semester at The Ohio State University, after transferring from the LSAMP program at Columbus State Community College. He has used this semester to become

more acclimated to Ohio State’s work load. With the help of multiple tutors and learning resources around campus, Satch has improved significantly since he started the semester. He is participating in the faculty mentoring and peer mentoring programs too. Next semester he will begin his classwork within his major, where he will learn about more of the potential of welding engineering and set sights on a career path.

Juan AmadorMajor: MathematicsClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Cleveland State UniversityJuan Amador is a senior at Cleveland State University. He is planning to obtain a Master of Arts in Mathematics. He is currently working for the Mathematics Department as a STEM Peer Teacher (SPT).

“As a second year LSAMP Scholar and SPT, I have had the pleasure of mentoring the first year cohort of LSAMP Scholars. LSAMP has offered many great opportunities. These include informative enrichment workshops, STEM speaker events, and the opportunity to travel to the First Annual, All Ohio LSAMP Alliance Conference. This was my first exposure to student research and lightened my intimidation of pursuing a STEM degree.”

LSAMP Scholar Profiles

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Chase ConnorMajor: Chemical EngineeringClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Miami UniversityChase Connor, from Westerville, OH, is a sophomore LSAMP Scholar in chemical engineering, attending Miami University, Oxford Ohio. He serves in leadership capacities for various organizations on campus and

is a new inductee into the Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute. In the LSAMP program, he learned of the wealth of resources available on the Miami campus. Being the first LSAMP Ambassador for Miami, he has mentored groups of LSAMP Scholars, while acting as a reliable resource and referral agent to help students and faculty. Responsibilities have included greeting the families at open house for prospective students, mentoring, administrative duties and public speaking.

Kamryn CosbyMajor: Mechanical EngineeringClass: JuniorInstitution: Wright State UniversityKamryn is an LSAMP Scholar and President of the National Society of Black Engineers at Wright State

University. She is passionate about taking engineering into the local communities. “You can put your mind to whatever you want to do. NSBE and LSAMP Scholars can go into the community and become mentors for the young students who didn’t even think about college.”

Lucky DedehMajor: EngineeringClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Sinclair Community CollegeLucky Dedeh enjoys the opportunities that the LSAMP program has afforded him. He participates in activities

on and off campus that he would not have otherwise been able to take advantage of. “The LSAMP program gives you the opportunity to earn Tartan cash for going to Sinclair Talks and even tutoring! Through LSAMP, I’ve been introduced to a wonderful group of people willing to assist me in any way they can.”

Justin BoamahMajor: Electrical EngineeringClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiJustin Boamah participated in the Summer Bridge Scholars Program as an incoming freshman at the University of Cincinnati. He found it to be a rigorous program, including courses in mathematics, physics,

biology, and chemistry. “My experience as an LSAMP Scholar has been quite an enjoyable time. Through the summer bridge program I was able to get a grasp for what college life would be like. I personally think that the summer bridge program was a bit more stressful than college actually is, but it made me feel confident and prepared for the actual school year. It is helpful to have my own LSAMP advisor who is so involved in my daily schedule, unlike the academic advisors that must deal with hundreds of other students.”

Zuri BrooksMajor: Earth ScienceClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityZuri Brooks has been working on improving her study skills and has been taking advantage of programs provided by LSAMP at The Ohio State University to do so. Every semester since the start of her freshman

year, she has participated in the tutoring program, which has been a tremendous help for her in mathematics. She has also participated in the workshops that the LSAMP program offers each semester. One of the workshops that she has found to be particularly beneficial provided students with the opportunity to improve their résumés. Zuri became aware of the Second-year Transformational Experience Program (STEP) through LSAMP. Through this program she will be provided with faculty mentoring and funding to develop a project that will involve undergraduate research or study abroad components.

Imani BrownMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: Wilberforce UniversityAs a senior biology major at Wilberforce University, in the Professional Studies Division, Imani Brown is engaged in several academic initiatives at the university

to improve STEM retention, particularly in engineering. She serves as an LSAMP peer mentor for the Summer Bridge/Recovery Program. She has also taken intensive coursework in engineering mathematics, and this academic enrichment in engineering will enable her to serve as a TA in future programs targeting engineering majors.


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Azia GarrettMajor: Computer Information SystemsClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Wilberforce UniversityAzia Garrett, a junior LSAMP Scholar from Wilberforce University, participated in The Ohio LSAMP Alliance summer conference and

presented her research on affective computing. “Affective computing is an important study for the development of systems and devices that can recognize, interpret, process, and simulate human affects. Affective computing fields can span computer science, psychology, and cognitive science.” Azia enjoyed her interactions with the faculty and students from the other LSAMP partner institutions during the poster session. She also benefited from the industry excursions, breakout sessions, and networking that took place during the conference.

Olivia GuzmanMajor: MathematicsClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityOlivia participated in the first LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge Program at The Ohio State University. “LSAMP is helping me realize dream careers in science. The summer bridge program

was an amazing opportunity because the instructors were our guides to exploring STEM and preparing us to succeed at the university.” Olivia and nineteen other incoming freshmen LSAMP Scholars participated in coursework, field trips, hands-on STEM activities, and professional development workshops during the three-week bridge program. Olivia serves as a workstudy student in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She is currently participating in tutoring, peer mentoring, and faculty mentoring programs.

Amanuel HaileMajor: ChemistryClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiAmanuel Haile began LSAMP programming with the intensive six-week Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati. “As an LSAMP Scholar I’ve gained a lot of experience and

knowledge on how to be successful in school. The summer bridge gave us tools on how to study, manage our time, and build a community of intelligent colleagues. The bridge provided a rewarding experience which taught LSAMP Scholars valuable lessons. Even after the summer bridge program, we are still being provided information about research, co-op, and study aboard opportunities. The faculty and mentors treat us with the utmost respect and show us steps to becoming successful later in life.” Amanuel continues in academic-year LSAMP programming, including cohort classes and STEM community engagement.

Omar EddinsMajor: Mechanical EngineeringClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeOmar Eddins is among the Cincinnati State LSAMP Scholars who is participating in the undergraduate research program with the University

of Cincinnati. He is currently conducting research in the Laser Shock Peening Laboratory at UC, where he has learned how to operate a scanning electron microscope and prepare and analyze samples. Omar has recently been working on a project involving 3D printing. After completing his undergraduate research program, Omar is looking to transfer to a four-year institution to study mechanical engineering.

Raven EdwardsMajor: Electrical and Computer EngineeringClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityRaven Keith Edwards is a senior at The Ohio State University working towards a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering.

He is currently employed at OSU’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion as a student assistant for the LSAMP program. “Throughout most of my college career, LSAMP has helped me focus and strive for success. The workshops, mock interviews, one-on-one counseling, and peer mentoring sessions have been integral parts of my academic achievement.”

William EdwardsMajor: Electro-Mechanical Engineering TechnologyClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeWilliam Edwards participated in the University of Cincinnati’s Summer

Bridge Scholars Program. He was one of three Cincinnati State students that were able to participate in the bridge program for the first time. William received one of the recognition awards based on his outstanding effort. William says the skills he learned in the Summer Bridge Scholars Program have helped him get off to a great start in his college career.


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Devan IrvinMajor: Mechanical EngineeringClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Cuyahoga Community CollegeDevan Irvin is a friendly and sociable student in the Engineering Technology Department. Since becoming an LSAMP Scholar, Devan

learned to be more serious in his academic pursuits. Under the guidance of Dr. Punya Basnayaka, Devan embarked on an undergraduate research project in solar energy. He conducted experiments to evaluate the power of a solar cell panel as a function of light intensity and angle of incidence. He evaluated the system efficiency of his experimental setup and compared that to the efficiencies of commercially-available solar panels.

Falicia JetersMajor: ChemistryClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeFalicia Jeters is one of the Cincinnati State students who used her co-op to perform research at the University of Cincinnati. She conducted her

undergraduate research in the UC Chemical Engineering Research Laboratory. She worked closely with a graduate student and learned in the process she was more interested in pursuing the practical laboratory disciplines. LSAMP afforded her the opportunity to learn this early in her college career so that she can make the best decisions to help her complete a four-year degree.

Jaelyn JohnsonMajor: NeuroscienceClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityJaelyn Johnson started her LSAMP programming with the LSAMP STEM Bridge Program at The Ohio State University. “This past summer, I was given the opportunity to be a part of The Ohio State University’s three-week LSAMP STEM Bridge Program, and I honestly believe that it was one of the best experiences of my life. The bridge program provided

a supportive foundation for minority students, like myself, and encouraged every one of the program’s inducted members to pursue their chosen STEM major, despite the later challenges the curriculum will entail. During the LSAMP STEM Bridge Program, we were introduced to reassuring faculty and peers, who made us realize that our pursuits towards careers in STEM fields are well worth it. Participating in the bridge program was a great honor because it surrounded us with positivity, and other individuals who not only looked like ourselves, but others who shared similar goals and aspirations. The experiences tailored for our group specifically introduced us to the rigor of the university, and because of that, the LSAMP Scholars Program will be something that I will forever cherish.”

Frederick HayesMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Central State UniversityFrederick Hayes has been involved in undergraduate research as an LSAMP Scholar at Central State University. “My experiment used directed energy as a way to control weeds. The

directed light was in the form of a device called the NatureZap. Using this product, we tested how effective this method was at different ages for weeds and at different spans of time. The weed tested was common ragweed. As the tests went on, we discovered that the directed energy remained very effective when used for twenty-second time spans. This shows that directed energy could prove to be an effective method of weed control in settings where only non-chemical forms of weed control are feasible.”

Thomas HollovaryMajor: Electrical EngineeringClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiThomas Hollovary began LSAMP programming with the six-week Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati. “I’m very grateful to be a part of the

LSAMP community. My first semester at UC would have been much more difficult and stressful if I had not had the advantage of participating in the bridge program. Not only has it opened doors for opportunities in networking and made me well-prepared for the semester, but it has opened my eyes to different cultures that I have not experienced before.”

Lexie HuckleberryMajor: Physiological ScienceClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiLexie Huckleberry is grateful for having the opportunity to participate in the Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati. For Lexie, the rigors of the coursework of the bridge

program helped in adjusting to undergraduate classes. Having LSAMP advisors throughout the academic year is also beneficial. Lexie feels that advice from the LSAMP advisors is more individualized and helpful. “The Summer Bridge Scholars Program prepared me for my courses in the academic year. I appreciate my LSAMP advisor. My experience as an LSAMP scholar has been quite an enjoyable time. Through the summer bridge program, I was able to work with someone who knows me well and is familiar with my schedule. I feel I can benefit from her advice.”


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Fattal LanganeMajor: BiologyClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Central State UniversityFattal Langane has grown in confidence and abilities while being an LSAMP Scholar. “My first research assignment involved computational studies of organic

reaction mechanisms. Dr. Gao created a very encouraging environment, not limited to a classroom. We presented our research at Cedarville University for the American Chemical Society Scholars Program awards. Currently, I am working with Dr. Arment on ‘Microbial Fuel Cells for The Detection of Organophosphate Nerve Agents.’ Dr. Arment teaches me the discipline I will need to be successful in the future. Our research hopes to find microbial fuel cell biosensors that will detect Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA) stimulants and agricultural organophosphates.”

Alycia LewisMajor: ChemistryClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Central State UniversityAlycia Lewis has conducted undergraduate research at Central State University as part of LSAMP opportunities there. “Being an LSAMP Scholar has provided me

the opportunity to enhance my educational career through participation in undergraduate research, such as studying decarboxylation reactions and how they relate to biological processes. I have had a very pleasant experience with my faculty advisor, who has assisted me with the research process. He encouraged me to start research early; with the opportunities given by the LSAMP program, I am able to do so.”

Shaquelle LynkMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: Wilberforce UniversityShaquelle Lynk has participated in undergraduate research through the LSAMP program at Wilberforce University, and she presented this research at the summer conference of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. She studied ALEKS, Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces,

a web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. Several of the LSAMP partner institutions, including Wilberforce University, use this program as a component of their bridge or early arrival programs, particularly for the assessment and improvement of skills in mathematics. “The purpose of my research is to determine the usability of an interactive math program (ALEKS) as an intervention tool for math instruction; participants will be given an online survey to assess their ability to utilize the tool, how to use the tool, and their willingness to use the tool. The objective of the study is to improve participants’ use and engagement with the tool, as an improved outcome for success in math proficiency.”

Jasmine JonesMajor: Material Science EngineeringClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityJasmine Jones has participated in undergraduate research, faculty mentoring, peer mentoring, and tutoring through LSAMP programming at The Ohio State University. The LSAMP program has enabled her to

develop skills in undergraduate research, including technical laboratory skills, experimental design, and data collection and analysis. Working with her mentor, she is learning how to publish and disseminate the results of her research. Jasmine has also taken advantage of tutoring at OSU. “The tutoring I received by being an LSAMP Scholar gave me a clear and full understanding of lecture information, which translated to maximum performance when partaking in the lab practical.” Jasmine plans to use these new skills by applying for various REUs in the field of chemistry.

Micah JordanMajor: Biomedical EngineeringClass: SophomoreInstitution: Wright State UniversityMicah Jordan is academically driven. She has been conducting undergraduate research in biomedical engineering at Wright State University. She presented her research, “Possible Solutions to the

Navier-Stokes Equations,” at the summer conference of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. “Navier-Stokes equations were created to better understand the movement of fluids in relation to three main fundamentals: conservation of mass, momentum, and conservation of energy.” Micah relies on the support of the LSAMP program to keep her motivated. “Engineering is not an easy track, so it’s important to stay disciplined and always stay focused in order to reach my goals. It also takes encouragement, and I have a lot of friends and family that are supportive of my college experience.”

Maiya Kyles-StewartMajor: BiologyClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Sinclair Community CollegeMaiya Kyles-Stewart receives tutoring in math and chemistry through the LSAMP program at Sinclair

Community College. She has participated in field trips to Wright Patterson Air Force Base Discovery Lab, General Electric Aviation Center, and the University of Cincinnati. The visit to the Discovery Lab led to an online internship at the Virtual Reality Academy. “I have meetings on Wednesdays with my mentors, Mr. Sloan and Ms. Rana Peake, and I am very pleased to be an LSAMP Scholar!”


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Brittany MosleyMajor: ChemistryClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityBrittany Mosley began her LSAMP programming with the inaugural LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge program. She is currently participating in tutoring, peer mentoring, faculty mentoring, and professional development workshops. “My experience as an LSAMP Scholar has been very rewarding thus far. I

have had the opportunity to participate in the LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge program, which turned out to be really eye-opening about my future in college. During the program I met many new scholars, and I gained a lot of confidence for my first semester, thanks to my peer mentor and the coordinators of the program. Being an LSAMP Scholar has also given me much information about research and has even paired me with a faculty mentor that is helping me get into research. This will help me as a chemistry major. As an LSAMP Scholar, this program has prepared me and is still preparing me for a successful future in STEM.”

Daniel MoussaMajor: Biomedical ScienceClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityDaniel Moussa has developed an industrial work ethic and superior leadership ability, with great thanks to the LSAMP team at Ohio State. Over the past three years, Daniel has conducted research in a Neuroimmunology and Behavior

research laboratory. He has served as a co-author on a published paper, and he has presented his research on traumatic brain injuries at numerous conferences at the local and national level. This past summer Daniel received an internship through the DAAD RISE program to conduct research at the University of Freiburg, Germany. He will attend medical school next year with aspirations to become a physician scientist. He serves as a peer mentor to the underclassmen at OSU and at Columbus State Community College.

Nyiva MuyangaMajor: Biological ScienceClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiNyiva Muyanga appreciates the learning community and cohort class scheduling available to LSAMP Scholars during the academic year, following their participation in the Summer Bridge Scholars Program.

“As an LSAMP Scholar, I have had the opportunity to experience many advantages. I appreciate the fact that LSAMP Scholars get to participate in a learning community, a group of students that are taking the same courses. I have been greatly impacted by the LSAMP Learning Community because the peers in my group and I study together often, help each other with homework, and get through life at college together. Our peer leader offers advice and helpful information to help us acclimate to college.”

Alejandra MaizMajor: Molecular GeneticsClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityWith the help of LSAMP at OSU, Alejandra has conducted research in breast cancer, served as a peer mentor for four first-year LSAMP students, and was one of three peer

mentors for this year’s first summer bridge program. “As a student researcher, I improved my ability to think critically about real-world problems and contribute to the search for a cure for breast cancer. As a peer mentor, I had the opportunity to help steer new students down a path towards success. LSAMP helped me to engage in a lot of opportunities that I never thought were possible.”

Benjamin MarquezMajor: Computer EngineeringClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiBenjamin Marquez has benefited from LSAMP programming in the form of the six-week Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati. “I would say that my

experience as a LSAMP Scholar has been nothing but positive. It was through being a LSAMP Scholar that I received the opportunity to participate in the Emerging Ethnic Engineers (E3) Summer Bridge Scholars Program this past summer. This program provided me not only with a scholarship, but also so much more. It taught me how important it is to network, how to present myself in a professional manner, as well as provided me with resources and connections that will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Carlos MendezMajor: Biomedical EngineeringClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityWith the help provided through Ohio State’s LSAMP programming, Carlos Mendez has developed and defined his skills and goals within his field. “My first research experience started in Dr. Guo’s laboratory, helping to design and test the potential for a biological pacemaker, made entirely

from different cells in a person’s body. I can attribute most of my research and laboratory skills to the tutelage of Dr. Guo and his graduate students, from writing proposals, to designing and refining experiments and using laboratory equipment. My next research experience took me to Jaipur, India, where I worked with a team of students on evaluating and optimizing the materials used in the Jaipur Foot prosthetic. Both were very fulfilling experiences where I learned a lot.” Carlos has served as a peer mentor to freshmen LSAMP Scholars. He will graduate in December 2016, after which he hopes to complement his undergraduate education with a master’s in systems engineering with an emphasis on healthcare.


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Kennetta PalmoreMajor: MathematicsClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Cleveland State UniversityKennetta Palmore has taken advantage of the tutoring program offered at Cleveland State University, and appreciates the advisement she received through the LSAMP program. “The LSAMP program has

really helped me, not only through math tutoring but also by providing a support system that is available whenever you need it. Because of the love and support I receive in this program, I was able to get two jobs that I love (teaching/helping children learn music). I love this program because of Dr. Carver and Dr. Phillips Bey and other individuals. I have a family that I can talk to about classes, and I know they will be there for me in other aspects of my life.”

Jose PolancoMajor: NeuroscienceClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityThrough the LSAMP program, José Polanco has been able to conduct behavioral neuroscience research for The Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. He works with Dr. Randy Nelson, studying the

effects of chemotherapy on sleep cycles and how it affects behavior. José is currently an LSAMP Scholar Mentor for students transitioning from a two-year institution to a four year institution. As a mentor and researcher, José has learned valuable communication skills, as well as time management and leadership. After completing his undergraduate degrees in Neuroscience and WWII History, José is looking to apply to Physician Assistant Graduate School and live out his dream to work within the medical field as a practicing medical professional.

Diana PriceMajor: MicrobiologyClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityAs an LSAMP Scholar at The Ohio State University, Diana has grown as a STEM student and has strengthened her professional skills. Because of this, she was able to

participate in her first research experience in the Johns Hopkins Summer Internship Program. With the mentorship of Dr. Tamara O’Connor, they worked to create a BioID-based assay that would lead to identifying the host cell targets of Legionella pneumophila effector proteins. This opportunity led her to aspire to attend graduate school after taking a few gap years once obtaining her bachelor’s degree. LSAMP helped Diana envision a strong future in science.

Maimouna NdaoMajor: ChemistryClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Central State UniversityMaimouna graduated from Dayton Early College Academy (DECA) in Dayton, Ohio and matriculated to Central State University in 2013. She has majored in biology and chemistry.

In the fall of 2014, Maimouna began her undergraduate research with her advisors, Drs. Leeann Petry and Ibrahim Katampe, on “The Materials Compatibility of Implant Materials in Physiologically-Relevant Solutions.” She participated in a summer research internship at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, OH on “Selective Iron Removal of Strontium from Nuclear Waste.”

Benjamin NimrodMajor: Civil EngineeringClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Cleveland State UniversityBenjamin Nimrod has participated in tutoring, workshops, and speaker events as an LSAMP Scholar at Cleveland State University. “LSAMP

has helped me to be a better student through tutoring in Calculus I and II and by having us go to workshops and speaker events. For calculus there are mandatory tutoring sessions that we had to attend. This helped me with my homework and in preparing for exams. The workshops helped me to navigate time management and preparing for finals. The speaker events helped me to explore careers in STEM.”

Dennis OmariMajor: Aerospace and Astronautical EngineeringClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityDennis has had two summer research internships as part of the LSAMP program at The Ohio State University. The first was located at Mississippi State University,

researching the mechanical properties of polymer gels, using cavitation rheology technique. The second was a Summer Research Opportunities Program at The Ohio State University, researching the influence of Localized Arc Filament Plasma Actuators (LAFPAs) on the resonance of a weakly resonating cavity. Dennis is currently continuing this research project with the aim of graduating with Honors Research Distinction. He was a Scholar Mentor during the LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge Program for incoming freshmen. Dennis is also a peer tutor and mentors three freshmen LSAMP Scholars to help them develop professionally, academically and socially in their future endeavors.


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Bassirou SeckMajor: Electrical EngineerClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: Wright State UniversityBassirou Seck is an electrical engineering major at Wright State University. In Summer 2015, Bassirou was an intern at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in the

Automation Target Recognition center (ATR). He is working on Synthetic Aperture Radar, also known as SAR, which is a remote sensing technology that uses signal processing to create images with a large aperture. NASA uses SAR to create images of the earth. Bassirou is proud to be an LSAMP Scholar and in his words, “I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be an intern and do research at the ATR center.”

Brian SmudskiMajor: Mechanical EngineeringClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityBrian Smudski is currently completing a co-op at GE Aviation, an opportunity that would not have been possible without his participation in the LSAMP program at The Ohio State University. Through LSAMP, Brian attended

several workshops, including a mock interview at Battelle Memorial Institute, an industry partner of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. “Students sent their résumés to Battelle prior to the workshop. On the day of the workshop, they toured Battelle, were provided a presentation on résumé writing, and were matched with Battelle employees for interviews. The interviews were conducted over dinner, and the interviewers made suggestions on how to improve our résumés.” The knowledge and experience Brian gained there helped prepare him for his interview and ultimately got him the job at GE Aviation.

Beth StatlerMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityBeth Statler has been quite involved in undergraduate research through her participation in the LSAMP program at The Ohio State University. Beth’s first research project involved

characterizing gene expression in the Yellow Fever mosquito under Dr. Piermarini at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, as part of the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP). Her project was presented at the conference of Louis Stokes Midwest Center of Excellence in Indiana. She is currently exploring host-phage interactions in marine bacteria. After graduation, Beth hopes to attend graduate school in a molecular and cellular biology or genetics program.

Nicole Reinhold-LarssonMajor: MicrobiologyClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: The Ohio State UniversityNicole Reinhold-Larsson started LSAMP programming with the LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge program at The Ohio State University. She participated in course work and field trips, and enjoyed working

with the other LSAMP Scholars and her peer mentor. “LSAMP has helped me tremendously in my first semester of college. Because of the summer bridge program, I was more prepared for Chemistry 1210, and I was able to make great friends.” Nicole believes the faculty and mentors involved in the bridge program provided her support and helped prepare her for her first semester. “My peer mentor gave me extremely helpful advice about how to succeed in college and how to take advantage of my upcoming summer. My faculty mentor gave me helpful advice about how to get involved in research. Overall, LSAMP has been a priceless experience.”

Warren ReynoldsMajor: BiochemistryClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Miami UniversityWarren Reynolds, from Dayton, OH, is a sophomore biochemistry major with a pre-medical studies co-major at Miami University. “I am currently in Dr. Lorigan’s biochemistry lab,

researching the structures and functions of two proteins which help regulate the concentration of potassium ions within the heart. I have had a lot of fun learning the biochemistry lab techniques, while doing research which will definitely have a positive impact on society. When I’m not doing research, I participate in Tennis Club and the Miami Access Fellows Student Council.”

Andres SaldanaMajor: Civil EngineeringClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Cleveland State UniversityAndres Saldana is in his second year as an LSAMP Scholar at Cleveland State University and appreciates the opportunities he has had in the program. “I was able to receive supplemental instruction in order

to pass my courses. I also was able to take part in multiple events that helped aid my personal development such as the TEDx workshop, student success workshops, and even the first conference of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. I have also had the pleasure and honor to help guide fellow LSAMP Scholars as their mentor. Without this program, I would have not been able to transition smoothly into college.”


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Taylor TyreeMajor: Chemical EngineeringClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Cleveland State UniversityTaylor Tyree appreciates the tutoring program and LSAMP community at Cleveland State University. “LSAMP is a great program to get involved in. The tutors that work for the

program are really dedicated to what they do, and they are the main reason why I excelled in my calculus courses. Working with peers is also a very great benefit of being in the LSAMP program. Knowing that there are students like me that are going through similar things makes me feel a lot less stressed. LSAMP is a great program, not only to help us do well in our courses, but also because we make friends that we have for life.”

Chanell UpshawMajor: microbiologyClass Rank: SophomoreInstitution: Miami UniversityChanell Upshaw, from Cleveland, OH, is a junior with a major in microbiology, a Premedical Studies co-major, and a minor in Global Health Studies. She joined LSAMP at Miami University second semester

of her sophomore year. Since joining LSAMP, she has gained more confidence in going to her professors for help with her courses, learned about internship opportunities, and recently joined Dr. Richard Page’s lab to do undergraduate research in structural biology and biophysics of the heart. “LSAMP is a great opportunity for students to receive support from other students and faculty and to become great leaders and mentors for their peers.”

Ciara VillanuevaMajor: BiologyClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Central State UniversityCiara Villanueva is involved in undergraduate research through her participation in the LSAMP program at Central State University. “My experience as an LSAMP Scholar thus

far has been a very rewarding experience. My mentors have offered me a lot of insight on my research. The advisement is very hands-on. It allows me to learn as an individual on my own, but I am also encouraged to ask for help, if needed. If there is ever a problem, my mentors are there to help and encourage me to try to come up with a solution. My research has been tedious and calculated, which allows for the results to be precise, whether the outcome is good or bad.”

Nadya StreicherMajor: NeurobiologyClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiNadya Streicher appreciates the advisement and learning community she has been provided through LSAMP programing at the University of Cincinnati. “The LSAMP program has had a profound effect on my life.

It has given me a network of people, united for a common goal: promoting diversity in STEM professions. I have better study habits, a close-knit group of academically and professionally motivated peers, and a team of advisors who care for my success. My advisor, Ms. Carol Tonge Mack, is a great influence on my life and has helped me in many ways adapt to college. I am grateful for these tools and experiences given to me from LSAMP.”

Matthew TerryMajor: Aerospace EngineeringClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiMatthew Terry values several opportunities provided to him through LSAMP programming at the University of Cincinnati: the Summer Bridge Scholars Program, cohort class scheduling, the LSAMP Learning Community, and LSAMP coursework. “LSAMP has blessed me in many ways: new friends, knowledge, and above all

a head start. The LSAMP Summer Bridge Scholars Program was by far the toughest program I have ever attended. It prepared me well for my upcoming year in college. “Blacks in Science” is a class I took my first semester in college. It was taught by Ken Simonson, who conducts LSAMP programming at UC. His class has opened my eyes to the accomplishments of Black scientists throughout history. Not only has this class informed me about black contribution but other things like fractals, inventions, and interesting theories. The learning community that the summer bridge program has provided me is very helpful to my success in college. Without the learning community, I’m not sure how well I would be performing in college.”

James ThompsonMajor: Civil Engineering TechnologyClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Cincinnati State Technical and Community CollegeJames was a member of the first Cincinnati State LSAMP cohort to participate in undergraduate research at the University of Cincinnati. He conducted his research in the

Civil Engineering Structures’ Research laboratory, where he studied new ways to re-enforce concrete and conducted in-field measurements to prove his techniques. Upon completing his co-op opportunity, James was hired by the University of Cincinnati to continue his research. James is successfully moving towards graduation in the fall and has already begun the process of transferring to the University of Cincinnati for a four-year degree in civil engineering.


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Keiko WilkinsMajor: BiologyClass Rank: JuniorInstitution: Miami UniversityKeiko Wilkins is a junior from Columbus, OH, majoring in biology with a minor in Chinese at Miami University. “Through LSAMP, I was able to find a research assistant

position in Miami University’s lab for ecophysiological cryobiology. This would not have been possible without help from a faculty mentor, the weekly tutoring sessions, as well as advising from my LSAMP advisor. From this experience, I have gained the lab skills and knowledge that I continue to use in my classes.” Keiko is also the Scholarship Chair and VP of Community Service for the Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority.

Alexis WilsonMajor: Molecular GeneticsClass Rank: Community CollegeInstitution: Columbus State Community CollegeAlexis Wilson is not only an LSAMP Scholar but a COF (Choose Ohio First) scholarship recipient, too. As a freshman, Alexis participated in the

STEM Summer Bridge Program. Currently, as a sophomore, she benefits most from STEM tutoring, STEM Club, and STEM advising. Alexis became interested in the STEM fields when her sister was diagnosed with leukemia. She intends to transfer to The Ohio State University in order to pursue a degree in molecular genetics in hopes of finding a cure for leukemia and other cancers.

Kweisi WilsonMajor: Computer EngineeringClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: Wilberforce UniversityKweisi Wilson is already participating in undergraduate research as an incoming freshman at Wilberforce University. He presented the results of his research from the summer

bridge program at the summer conference of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. “The purpose of the project is to recognize the given system with the optimized or reduced data, instead of using the original data set, through applying neurofuzzy systems to verify the generated systems. The objective of the system recognition is to identify the given system by determining the output of the system from the applied or measured data with possible noise.”

Jaenae’ WalkerMajor: BiologyClass Rank: SeniorInstitution: Wilberforce UniversityJaenae’ Walker participates in undergraduate research at Wilberforce University. She attended the summer conference of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance and presented the results of her research there. She enjoyed networking with the other LSAMP Scholars from throughout

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. Her research involved observations of wildlife in the area surrounding Wilberforce University. “Consideration of wildlife in planning and maintaining a university campus not only increases the aesthetic value of the campus, but also provides essential resources for other species and thus protects biodiversity. My research begins with an inventory of the various species of wildlife on the campus of Wilberforce University and the diversity of habitats to determine whether or not the campus supplies the various wildlife species with necessary food, cover and water resources needed for their survival in this area.” Jaenae’ plans to develop solutions for improving wildlife habitats at Wilberforce University.

Maria WestMajor: BiologyClass Rank: FreshmanInstitution: University of CincinnatiMaria West admits that, although the Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati is challenging, it helped her to develop critical skills for succeeding in her STEM major. “The summer bridge

program at the University of Cincinnati has enforced my study habits and has changed the way I learn. Since the program, I rely more on study groups and collaborative learning. With that, I’m aware of how important my studies are to my future.” She also appreciates the community service component of LSAMP programming at UC. “I realize that my volunteer work is extremely important to my community; I tutor children and volunteer at my local hospital now. The summer bridge program has expanded my sense of community, society, and has sharpened my ability to be a better contributor to today’s world.”


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President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture Series: The Honorable Louis Stokes

On March 5, 2015, the Honorable Louis Stokes spoke at the President and Provost’s Diversity Lecture and Cultural Arts Series in the intimate setting of the Faculty Club Lounge. Mr. Stokes was joined by nearly 100 attendees, including President Michael V. Drake, Vice Provost Joseph Steinmetz, personnel and students from The Ohio LSAMP Alliance, and industry and community partners. Also in the audience was Dr. A. James Hicks, the National Science Foundation’s Program Director for the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP).

Strategies for Success

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The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Conference

On July 29-31, 2015, The Ohio LSAMP Alliance conducted a three-day, retreat-style conference to offer LSAMP Scholars the opportunity to present research, participate in workshops, experience excursions to industries, learn firsthand the advantages of networking, and reinforce their commitment to STEM careers. Faculty, staff, and students from the eleven partner institutions joined forces with industry and community partners to facilitate the development of the LSAMP community of scholars and offer transformational experiences to assure our LSAMP Scholars achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals. Workshops were also provided to the faculty and staff, and task forces conducted meetings to establish next steps. Conference sponsors included Battelle Memorial Institute, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), Honda of American Mfg., Inc., The Kroger Co., and Procter & Gamble.


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Case Statement and Industry Support

A case statement has been developed to provide prospective industry and community partners with a clear, concise piece that outlines the mission and goals of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance and serves as the foundation for LSAMP fundraising. It informs donors of the extraordinary value of the LSAMP program to their community or business and demonstrates that a gift to LSAMP is actually an investment in the community. The case statement has been disseminated among partner institutions through The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Steering Committee and to the development or advancement officers, so that the partner institutions can work with industry and community partners in their areas.

So far, the case statement has been successfully used to initiate partnerships with the following industries: the Air Force Research Laboratory, Battelle Memorial Institute, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), GE Electric, Honda of America Mfg., Inc., Procter & Gamble, Marathon, and The Kroger Co. In addition to providing financial support, our industry and community partners have provided internship and co-op opportunities, employment, panel discussions, workshops, laboratory excursions, hands-on activities, field trips, promotional materials, gifts cards, meals, and other forms of support.


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Alliance-Wide Peer Mentoring Program

PurposeThe Ohio LSAMP Alliance has developed a peer mentor training program to improve social and academic integration of URM students at LSAMP partner institutions. The primary goal of this program is to train peer mentors and develop strategies to engage students with the cultural community of their institutions and use the tools and resources designed to help them achieve academic success.

The Peer MentorsThe peer mentors are upperclassmen at the four-year institutions who complete training modules developed by The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. Mentors introduce their mentees to their institutions, build strong relationships founded on trust and communication, serve as resources and role models to their mentees, coach students on how to engage with faculty and explore undergraduate research opportunities, and help to strengthen their mentees’ commitment to completing degrees in STEM disciplines.

The Training Modules• Building the Relationship with Your Mentee• Creative Programming• Understanding Identity Development• Risk and Behavior Management• Cultural Competence

In addition to module-based training, the mentors are provided on-going training and advisement in establishing developmental goals for each of their mentees, and are provided guidance for making the peer mentor-mentee relationship effective. The mentors receive advisement and reflect on their experience in order to ensure that the mentors are benefiting from their mentor role.


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Mathematics Curriculum Reform

Through the efforts of Dr. Nathan Klingbeil and the Mathematics Curriculum Reform Task Force, courses in mathematics applications for STEM majors are starting to be taught throughout The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. The goals of the mathematics applications courses are to encourage students to learn math, help them succeed in their STEM disciplines, and help them understand the application of math to the STEM disciplines and why they learn the various skill sets in math.

Dr. Klingbeil, Dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Wright State University, is chair of the Mathematics Curriculum Reform Task Force and a member of the steering committee for The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. He is author of Mathematics for Engineering Applications and was PI on a TUES grant that instituted a “mathematics for engineering” course at Wright State University. This course has proven to be a successful strategy for preventing mathematics from becoming a bottleneck to STEM degrees. It has been implemented at Sinclair Community College, The Ohio State University, and Wilberforce University. Other partner institutions are planning to implement the course, and strategies for implementing similar courses for other STEM disciplines are being developed.

The mathematics applications course enables engineering students to start the engineering sequence, while building a strong mathematics foundation and avoiding delays in degree attainment. This course has also become a dual-enrollment course through College Credit Plus, a statewide program in Ohio that enables high school students to earn college credit. It is critical for preparing students for the rigors of STEM education at the university level.

Ancillary studies are taking place to assess the effectiveness of the course in student retention in STEM at each participating institution.


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Air Force Research Laboratory, Discovery Lab Global

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance has been working with Discovery Lab Global to provide students with experiential internships in virtual environments. Students from across the alliance meet as avatars in virtual environments to work together on research projects involving the design and testing of drones to solve STEM-related problems.

Discovery Lab Global was established in 2006, just outside of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, to accelerate innovation by recruiting and motivating first- and second-year undergraduate college students to undertake technology-based research internships. The Deep Horizons Virtual Research Campus consists of a number of Research Institutes, each centered on a particular technology area. The campus provides a virtual environment to foster research collaboration among students, mentors, and partners so ideas can be rapidly explored. Deep Horizons uses OpenSimulator (OpenSim) as its virtual world platform for research collaboration. Through OpenSim, research teams present PowerPoint charts, draw on whiteboards, and access and review documents stored on external servers. Public poster sessions, technology conferences, demonstrations, and sidebar conversations are also possible.

Leveraging ten years of experience, Deep Horizons has developed strategies for 1) acclimation with the virtual world; 2) pre-project skills development activities; 3) team formation; 4) goal setting and task definitions; 5) progress updating; 6) project documentation result dissemination; and 6) reaching the next stage in prototype development. The benefits of social interaction and thematic research projects can build cohesiveness among student teams and motivate individual students to extract the most from their academic coursework. Anecdotal evidence indicates that Discovery Lab/Deep Horizons participants gain both personal discipline and a clearer sense of their career options which, in turn, lead to improved academic performance and enthusiasm for their chosen major.

The Ohio LSAMP Alliance currently has twenty students participating in this virtual environment working on research projects. We are planning to expand this to include the training program for the alliance-wide peer mentor program. Peer mentors will proceed through the training modules and become certified in the virtual environment. Upperclassmen at four-year institutions will each be matched with one undergraduate, one community college, and one high school student. They will work together on research projects in the virtual environment that can effectively integrate multiple STEM disciplines.


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Participation in the Louis Stokes Midwest Center for Excellence Conference

The Louis Stokes Midwest Center of Excellence (LSMCE) hosted the third annual conference on October 23-25, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The conference included over 275 guests in total, representing 14 alliances nationwide, and nearly 140 undergraduate and graduate students had the opportunity to present their research during a poster forum.

Twelve students from The Ohio LSAMP Alliance attended this year’s conference, including The Ohio State University seniors Daniel Moussa (Biomedical Science) and Beth Statler (Biology), who presented their research during the poster forum. The conference also included student professional development workshops, a career fair, and opportunities to network with graduate program directors and Bridge-to-Doctorate principal investigators.

The LSMCE Annual Conference was also a wonderful opportunity for faculty and staff from the alliances to connect and participate in workshops fitting this year’s theme, “Accelerating Diverse Talent along the STEM Pipeline.” Personnel from The Ohio LSAMP Alliance led several of the workshops offered this year. Alliance Director Dr. Barbara Fink presented “Building a Community of Scholars: Results of the Annual Survey of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance.” Tyler Cole, Program Manager, introduced an Access database used by The Ohio LSAMP Alliance in his demonstration-based workshop. Steering committee members Dr. Maia Randle (Columbus State Community College) and Ken Simonson (University of Cincinnati) were part of a panel on “Community College to Four-Year Institution Success Stories and Best Practices.” They were able to share some of the innovative programming being implemented in The Ohio LSAMP Alliance to smooth the transition of community college students to four-year institutions.


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The first annual student survey of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance was conducted during spring 2015. The survey was developed by alliance personnel in collaboration with Jan Upton, Institutional Research Consultants, Ltd., external evaluator for The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. The survey included questions in the following areas: student background, high school preparation and achievement, initial entry experiences, current experiences, academic integration, disciplinary socialization, social integration, LSAMP programming, and three open-ended questions. All partner institutions ceded institutional review board approval to The Ohio State University. Over 5,600 students were invited to take the survey: 125/284 Level 1 Scholars and 502/5668 Level 2 Scholars completed the survey.

Results of Annual Student Survey

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More Level 1 Scholars expected to complete a doctorate (31% vs. 13%). More Level 2 Scholars expected to earn a professional degree (23% vs. 17%).


Percentages are based on those with valid response to item. Statistically significant differences are between Level 1 and Level 2 LSAMP Scholars using a linear regression model that controlled for institution type (2-year and 4-year) and freshman status. *Statistically significant difference with p-value < .05.

The reasons Level 1 Scholars gave for their decisions to major in a STEM discipline included: interest in the discipline (98%), desire for a high salary (82%), and desire to help others through STEM activities (75%).

Percentages are based on those with valid response to item. Statistically significant differences are between Level 1 and Level 2 LSAMP Scholars using a linear regression model that controlled for institution type (2-year and 4-year) and freshman status. *Statistically significant difference with p-value < .05.**Statistically significant difference with p-value < .01.

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A significantly greater percentage of Level 1 than Level 2 Scholars:

Were majoring in engineering (54% vs. 31%)

Wanted to be an engineer (57% vs. 37%)

Wanted to be a business owner (22% vs 16%)

Were involved in volunteer work (77% vs. 60%)

Lived in campus residence halls (51% vs. 22%)

Were recipients of scholarships based on financial need (56% vs. 37%)

Were recipients of scholarships not based on financial need (76% vs. 47%)

Were comfortable talking with teaching assistants (75% vs 67%)

Were comfortable talking with faculty (70% vs. 69%)

Participated in at least one study group (61% vs. 35%)

Had a faculty mentor in a STEM field (62% vs. 27%)

Were satisfied with the academic advisement received (79% vs 68%)

Were satisfied with the supportiveness of faculty in their major (70% vs. 68%)

Studied 3 or more hours/day (34% vs. 28%)

Related well with classmates (74% vs. 65%)

Were comfortable making friends with people from different backgrounds (92% vs. 87%)

Received referrals to campus resources (67% vs. 55%)

Were advised about opportunities to do undergraduate research (61% vs. 48%)

Participated in

tutoring/supplemental instruction in math (46% vs. 29%)

tutoring/supplemental instruction in sciences (48% vs. 23%)

tutoring/supplemental instruction in major courses (34% vs 17%)

tutoring/supplemental instruction in non-STEM courses (19% vs. 9%)

study skills workshops (54% vs. 26%)

early arrival programs (41% vs. 18%)

bridge programs (38% vs. 12%)

undergraduate research (25% vs. 15%)

professional meetings (61% vs. 35%)

counseling and advisement (54% vs. 3%)

peer mentoring (39% vs. 18%)

LSAMP Scholars stated that the following programming contributed the most to their academic and social integration:

Attentive academic advisor

Caring faculty mentor

Tutoring/supplemental instruction in math and science

Participation in study skills and career workshops


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LSAMP Programming by Institution

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Number of Level 1 and Level 2 LSAMP Scholars are reported for 2013-2015. Data were not submitted by Wilberforce University.

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LSAMP Programming by Institution

Data reported are for number of unduplicated Level 1 LSAMP Scholars who have participated in LSAMP programming from 2013-2015. Data were not submitted by Wilberforce University.

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All the partner institutions are providing the following programming: advisement and counseling, bridge or early arrival programs, tutoring or supplemental instruction, peer mentoring, faculty mentoring, undergraduate research, and professional development workshops. In addition, they all participate in the alliance-wide activities. What follows is a brief description of the emphasis of the programming at each of the partner institutions. LSAMP Scholars at our community college partners frequently participate in bridge or early arrival programs, faculty mentoring, peer mentoring, workshops, and other LSAMP programming at nearby four-year institutions, in addition to programming at their own institutions.

Major Accomplishments in LSAMP Programming at Partner Institutions

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: KrishnaKumar NedunuriProgram Coordinator: Marian HoeyCampus Advisory Board: Anthony Arment, Daqing Gao, Ibrahim Katampe, Leanne Petry, Suzanne Seleem, Subramania Sritharan

LSAMP Programming

Funding from the LSAMP grant has been used to provide stipends to students to participate in one or more of the following activities: advisement and counseling, tutoring or supplemental instruction, faculty or peer mentoring, or undergraduate research. A systematic investigation into causes for attrition of majors from STEM fields at CSU revealed that most students are having difficulties completing the early foundation courses due to inadequate preparation in mathematics, chemistry, physics, and biology during their high schools years. Therefore, CSU provides supplemental instruction to eight gateway courses in these areas at the freshmen and sophomore levels. The student instructors are LSAMP Scholars in their junior and senior years, selected on the basis of their performance in the courses. They undergo mandatory tutoring certification and participate in the classroom instruction.

CSU adopted a new strategy to attract freshmen and sophomores into undergraduate research. The undergraduate research program consists of two phases: freshmen and sophomore apprenticeship program and junior and senior research internships. Students work with STEM faculty as apprentices in their laboratories, learning how to conduct a systematic scientific inquiry or engineering design. They present their experiences in local colloquia and at the Ohio LSAMP Alliance conference or LSMCE conference. As they progress into their junior and senior years, these students mature into undergraduate research assistants, involving themselves in typical extramural research spearheaded by CSU faculty. A fraction of the LSAMP stipend is withheld until the Scholar completes research and presents the findings at a conference. CSU has instituted an internal LSAMP meeting for all LSAMP Scholars at least once each semester to review research progress. Eleven students are currently conducting research, and nine students are serving as tutors.

Leveraging LSAMP Funds

LSAMP funding at CSU has been leveraging resources from the DOD STEM X-ED Center through the use of its facility, computer labs, and study spaces for LSAMP scholars. The center director is providing non-academic mentoring and career counseling to students. The Department of Water Resources Management uses the study lounge to provide study spaces for LSAMP Scholars. The University College (UC) is a student-centered academic division charged with providing the structure and support needed to enable all first-time freshmen and transfer students to successfully transition first into Central State, then retain them as they transition into the college of their declared major. It provides administrative support for LSAMP programming.

Central State has managed to leverage LSAMP funding to provide an additional $29,000 in personnel support and $247,000 in facilities and programming funds. In addition, Central State is leveraging funding from the DOD STEM X-Ed grant ($4.9 million over four years) and from the NSF IPSRG grant ($754,816 over three years) to enhance programming for LSAMP Scholars.

Central State University

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Douglas BowlingProgram Coordinator: Kim McMillanCampus Advisory Board: Ken Simonson, Michele Ford, Lawra Baumann

LSAMP Programming

LSAMP Programming at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College focuses on attracting students to join STEM majors, supporting them to persist to obtain two-year degrees, followed by providing a pathway for completing four-year degrees. This past year, fourteen students participated in the LSAMP program. Eleven students have participated in faculty-mentored undergraduate research in the engineering laboratories on University of Cincinnati’s campus. These students are applying the knowledge gained in their classes to help investigate and research meaningful solutions to problems experienced in their field of studies.

During the summer, three incoming freshman participated in the seven-week residential Summer Bridge Scholars Program at the University of Cincinnati. These students joined UC’s freshman students to gain a solid foundation and position them for success upon entering school in the fall semester. Two of the Cincinnati State students were recognized for their outstanding efforts during the bridge program. They learned the importance of team work, time management, planning study schedules, and asking for help. This opportunity afforded to Cincinnati State from alliance-partner UC has served as a great tool for recruitment of STEM students into Cincinnati State and the University of Cincinnati.

Cincinnati State has also created a pre-engineering program and has worked on developing articulation agreements with several four-year institutions. This provides pathways for community college students to complete four-year degrees in STEM by providing them with a strong foundation and a smooth mechanism to transfer to four-year institutions.


Cincinnati State has managed to leverage LSAMP funds to provide $19,000 in personnel support and $3,700 in facilities and programming. By working collaboratively with UC and other alliance partners, additional programming opportunities have been provided to Cincinnati State LSAMP Scholars. One of the highlights of this year’s efforts was participation on The Ohio LSAMP Alliance conference, where students had the opportunity to network with students and faculty from the four-year institutions.

Cincinnati State Technical and Community College

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: John HolcombProgram Coordinator: Candice QuinnCampus Advisory Board: Richard Rakos, Susan Carver

LSAMP Programming

LSAMP Programming at Cleveland State University is tailored to the level and needs of the LSAMP Scholars. All LSAMP Scholars receive counseling from the LSAMP Program Coordinator and advisement from Dr. Carol Phillips-Bey in the mathematics department. LSAMP programming begins in the summer prior to the freshman year with the OpSTEM Summer Institute, a program developed specifically for the OpSTEM and LSAMP Scholars. Forty incoming freshmen participate in activities focused on academic integration, social integration, and professionalization. The program includes a review of algebra and pre-calculus skills, exploration of CSU activities, STEM speakers, and group study skills sessions.

During the freshmen and sophomore academic years, students participate in mandatory supplemental instruction, peer mentoring, faculty mentoring, a STEM speaker series, and enrichment workshops. During the sophomore year, the LSAMP Scholars are enrolled in a newly-developed research methods course designed as an introduction to conducting research. The junior and senior years are focused on undergraduate research, and LSAMP Scholars are expected to be working with faculty mentors on research. They also serve as peer mentors for freshmen and sophomore LSAMP Scholars and attend professional development workshops, focused on graduate school and research.


LSAMP funds have helped Cleveland State expand the OpSTEM program. The Summer Institute is offered to eighty participants, with forty underrepresented minority STEM scholars funded through the LSAMP grant and forty nonminority scholars funded through the OpSTEM grant. This past year’s summer bridge program also included seven LSAMP Scholars and two student workers from LSAMP partner Cuyahoga Community College. The mandatory supplemental instruction program was expanded to include all Pre-calculus I and II sections and two Calculus I and II sections. In addition, a Peer Mentoring Program was initiated, in which second-year LSAMP Scholars have been paired with incoming freshman LSAMP Scholars to help guide them through their first year as college students. This program was specifically designed for LSAMP Scholars, but it may be extended to scholars of both programs in the future. Cleveland State funded a 50% position for the LSAMP Program Coordinator and another 50% position for the Math Education Coordinator in order to support the LSAMP program. It has provided support for meals, equipment, supplies, and personnel for the Summer Institute. Cleveland State has leveraged LSAMP funds to provide $56,900 for personnel and $9,300 in facilities and programming. The OpSTEM grant brings in $875,000, which is used to support programming for LSAMP Scholars.

Cleveland State University

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Dr. Maia RandleAdministrator: Lisa SchneiderCampus Advisory Board: Michael Hailu, Laura Shady

LSAMP Programming

Columbus State Community College LSAMP Scholars have the opportunity to get involved in a number of STEM-related activities and outreach services. Freshman LSAMP Scholars attend the STEM Summer Bridge Program, which not only gives students hands-on lab experiences in biological and physical sciences, but teaches them study and time management skills. The program also provides the opportunity for LSAMP Scholars to share their interests by networking with peers. During the academic year, LSAMP Scholars participate in faculty mentoring, peer mentoring, and professional development workshops offered by LSAMP sister school, The Ohio State University. These activities equip students to transfer to four-year institutions to complete their degrees and to conduct undergraduate research.

At Columbus State Community College, LSAMP Scholars receive STEM advising, STEM tutoring, and participate in STEM Club, a student-run organization, which includes such programming as discipline-specific speakers and field trips to local STEM businesses and industries. In addition, LSAMP Scholars have the chance to serve their community by encouraging high school students to study STEM, helping judges at District Science Day, and other such activities. CSCC Scholars participated in The Ohio LSAMP Alliance conference and attended the LSMCE conference in Indianapolis.


LSAMP Programming at Columbus State Community College is supported by the Office of the President and the Office of Academic Affairs through support of the STEM Bridge Program. The Dean of Arts and Sciences provides advising personnel to the LSAMP Scholars. The Departments of English, Mathematics, and especially Biological and Physical Sciences encourage their faculty to work with and mentor LSAMP Scholars. The STEM Club benefits from the generosity of The Ohio State University and Honda of America. CSCC has managed to leverage LSAMP funding to provide an additional $14,500 in personnel and $650 in programming funds.

Columbus State Community College

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Lam WongProgram Coordinator: Kathleen CuthrellCampus Advisory Board: Rebecca Stolzman, Chris Huhnke, Antoine Brown

LSAMP Programming

Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) is implemented as a stipend program at Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). In order not to interfere with their regular academic workload, students have the flexibility to complete the program in one or two years. There are six components in the LSAMP program, each carrying a weighted percentage as follows:

• Faculty Mentoring and Undergraduate Research 27%• Summer Bridge Program 21%• Monthly Cohorts Peer Mentoring & Enrichment Gathering 20%• Tutoring Services 12%• Advising and Counseling Services 10%• Conferences 10%

These components are subdivided further into tasks and events so that students may earn partial credit and be paid along the way. Students who apply and are accepted into the program are required to attend a welcome orientation session to learn about the program specifics, have a chance to meet their cohort peers, and get to know their program faculty and staff.

There are currently 62 LSAMP Scholars at Tri-C. They are welcomed with a luncheon that included an icebreaker and guest speakers for Tri-C’s counseling and tutoring centers. Faculty members from STEM departments also share their research interests. Throughout the year, LSAMP Scholars enjoy monthly breakfast meetings that include professionals who speak on a variety of topics. A recent breakfast featured a professor from Baldwin Wallace University, who challenged the students with a group project and a presentation on “Creative Problem Solving.”


Tri-C has succeeded in leveraging LSAMP funds for an additional $40,000 in personnel and $23,000 in programming funds. Tri-C has also supported travel for faculty and students for field trip and conference opportunities.

Cuyahoga Community College

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Christopher Makaroff and James KiperProgram Coordinator: Bonita PorterCampus Advisory Board: Richard Bretz, Richard Page

LSAMP Programming

LSAMP programming at Miami University begins with a five-day early-arrival Bridge Program created for the LSAMP students in coordination with the “MADE in Miami” program offered by the Office of Diversity Affairs. The Bridge Program is attended by about twenty incoming freshmen. Activities focus on study skills, social integration, navigating university resources, and career development. Students also use ALEKS, an online mathematics program, to reinforce skills in mathematics.

Throughout the academic year, tutoring and study skills workshops are also utilized by the students at the Rinella Learning Center. Through monthly group meetings, professional development workshops, panel discussions, and guest speaker presentations, students investigate opportunities in research labs, internships, and academia. Each LSAMP student is matched to a faculty advisor for one-on-one mentoring and introduction to undergraduate research. Students receive stipends for participation in a variety of LSAMP programming. Information about opportunities for the LSAMP Scholars is disseminated through the LSAMP Niihka Page (online learning page), Miami LSAMP Facebook page, and a monthly newsletter.


All Miami students receive free tutoring from Miami’s Rinella Learning Center. The Office of Diversity Affairs supports the Bridge Program and the MADE Program, which is funded by the university. The College of Arts and Sciences funds the salary of the LSAMP Program Coordinator and the summer salary of the bridge program director. Miami University leveraged LSAMP funds to obtain an additional $36,700 in personnel support and $15,800 in programming support for LSAMP programming. Miami also funds $772,600 in scholarships, with some of these funds supporting LSAMP Scholars.

Miami University

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Barbara FinkProgram Coordinators: Danielle Benson Robinson and Tyler ColeCampus Advisory Board: Lisa Abrams, Lisa Barclay, Victoria Dunn, Jeffery Hattey, Marcela Hernandez, Tiffiny Rye-McCurdy, Nancy Santagata, Pamela Thomas, David Tomasko, Yolanda Zepeda

LSAMP Programming

The first LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge Program was launched in Summer 2015 as a new program developed specifically for the LSAMP Scholars. Twenty incoming freshman LSAMP Scholars participated in this three-week residential program. It included coursework (Problem Solving in STEM, Integrated Sciences, STEM Study Skills, and Technical Communications), field trips (Stone Laboratory on Gibraltar Island, Cedar Point Amusement Park, Center of Science and Industry), hands-on activities in STEM conducted by STEM department faculty, lunch-and-learn workshops in career planning, campus tours, and Scholar Mentor-led activities.

Throughout the academic year, all LSAMP Scholars receive advisement and counseling from the LSAMP Program Coordinator. Junior and senior LSAMP Scholars serve as peer mentors to freshman Scholars and Scholars from Columbus State Community College. Freshmen and sophomore students, as well as CSCC students, are matched with faculty mentors in their STEM disciplines to participate in introductory research experiences. LSAMP Scholars are expected to be conducting undergraduate research by their junior years. Tutoring and supplemental instruction are available to all LSAMP Scholars in introductory STEM courses. Scholars also participate in professional development workshops throughout the year.


LSAMP Programming at The Ohio State University has benefited from support from its academic departments, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI), the Office of Advancement, and industry and community partners. The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences funds stipends for its students to participate in LSAMP programming. Along with the College of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences, it also provides faculty and staff support and funding for the LSAMP bridge, faculty mentoring, and other activities. ODI funds the salaries of the Alliance Director and the Program Coordinator for the OSU LSAMP Program, the tutoring and supplemental instruction programs, the meetings of the LSAMP Steering Committee, the bridge program, and social events for the LSAMP Scholars, and it provides the rooms for many of the OSU LSAMP activities. The Office of Advancement and the Director of Advancement at ODI assisted in the development of a case statement to seek additional funds for LSAMP. This was provided to all partner institutions of The Ohio LSAMP Alliance. OSU LSAMP currently receives financial and personnel support from Honda of America Manufacturing, Battelle Memorial Institute, the Kroger Company, and the Center of Science and Industry (COSI).

In the first two years of LSAMP funding, The Ohio State University has managed to leverage LSAMP funding for an additional $289,365 in personnel and $133,800 in programming funds. In addition, the university provides $540,000 in scholarships to underrepresented minority students, many of them LSAMP Scholars, and industry funding and in-kind support totals over $45,000 for the first two years of NSF support.

The Ohio State University

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Harry SloanProgram Coordinator: Harry SloanCampus Advisory Board: Marita Abrams, Kay Cornelius, Cari Gigliotti, Larraine Kapka, Anthony Ponder, Olga Stephens

LSAMP Programming

LSAMP programming at Sinclair Community College consists of:• Academic Advantage Summer Bridge Program for incoming engineering

students in conjunction with Wright State University, the week before the start of fall semester;

• Co-curricular activities (Sinclair Talks), where students are paid stipends to attend talks on subjects ranging from study habits to international cultures;

• Advising and mentoring, where students are paid stipends for meeting with advisors, mentors and faculty members in their major;

• Tutoring, where students are paid stipends for each hour of tutoring attended;

• The Ohio LSAMP Alliance Conference, where students can interact with other LSAMP Alliance students from two-year and four-year institutions;

• Wright-Patterson Air Force Research Laboratory Discovery Lab visits with student participation in the online program; and

• GEM GRAD LAB at GE Aviation and University of Cincinnati to interact with other students and LSAMP students that have transitioned to Graduate School.

Sinclair Community College is currently developing summer research internships for the LSAMP Scholars and plans to send students to national conferences and meetings of local professional societies.


LSAMP funds are leveraged as follows:• Advisors, mentors and faculty members meet with students for no additional

compensation.• Sinclair Talks are provided at no cost to the program.• Tutorial Services are paid by the institution.• BIOSIS, Biology resource area, provides additional resources and

opportunities for tutoring at no cost to the program.• The Math Lab provides additional math tutoring on a walk-in basis. The Lab is

funded by the institution.• Chemical Resource Center offers tutoring in chemistry. Tutors receive

remuneration from the institution.• Physics Resource Center offers tutoring in physics a required content for

LSAMP Scholars. Tutors receive funds from the institution.

Sinclair Community College

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Ken SimonsonProgram Coordinator: Ken SimonsonCampus Advisory Board: Jeffery Johnson, Brian Kinkle, Megan Lampkin, Bradford Mallory, Carol Tonge Mack, Kristen Metz, Monica Wilkens

LSAMP Programming

The University of Cincinnati’s Emerging Ethnic Engineers (E3) Summer Bridge Scholars Program celebrated its silver anniversary in 2015, and over 500 students have participated in the program. E3 has been dedicated to increasing the number of underrepresented minority students who enroll in and graduate from the College of Engineering and Applied Science. Over the past two years, the LSAMP program has enabled E3 to expand to include underrepresented minority students exploring science, technology, engineering, and math. The GPA and overall graduation rate for the bridge students are substantially higher than the national average, and 90% of students are retained through sophomore year.

In 2015, fifty-one students participated in the program, including three students from LSAMP partner Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. The Summer Bridge Program is a seven-week residential program for incoming freshmen. The objective of the program is to create a learning community of students who develop the academic and social skills necessary for achieving academic excellence. The summer bridge provides courses in pre-calculus, calculus, chemistry, English, and physics. The math course uses the ALEKS online program to enhance the math skills of the students. All instructors use collaborative learning, an instructional method that requires students to interact on a higher level than in a traditional classroom setting. Students spend time in six-member heterogeneous groups and work collectively toward the common goal of mastering the material. They meet regularly with instructors and assess goals and performance.

The cohort continues to meet throughout the academic year and participates in additional LSAMP programming, including faculty and peer mentoring, tutoring, collaborative learning courses, cohort class scheduling, academic assessment monitoring, and undergraduate research.


Most LSAMP Scholars receive the Neihoff Presidential STEMM Scholarship, which is funded from the sale of the former UC presidential residence and operating budget. LSAMP Scholars received over $400,000 in scholarships from the university and their colleges. UC has leveraged LSAMP funds to provide an additional $97,000 in personnel, $154,000 in programming, and $500,000 in industry support.

University of Cincinnati

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Robin Moore-CooperProgram Coordinator: Erica ThomasSteering Committee Members: Mohamed Abas, D.R. Burringer, Emeka Morah, Erik Potts, Lisa Turner

LSAMP Programming

LSAMP Programming at Wilberforce University begins in the summer prior to the freshman year with the LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge/Recovery Program. This new program has been structured specifically for the LSAMP Scholars. Twenty incoming freshmen participate in activities focused on academic enrichment and transition to the university community. This is a six-week residential program and concentrates on enrichment in mathematics. The ALEKS online program is used to help students master basic math, pre-algebra, and chemistry. During the academic year, students continue with ALEKS supplementation to their courses. In addition, a peer mentoring/tutoring programming has been instituted, particularly to help students with math skills. A faculty-mentored “Introduction to Research” program helps students with time management and study skills, as well as providing access to research opportunities.


LSAMP funds at Wilberforce University have been leveraged to provide housing and meals for the LSAMP STEM Summer Bridge/Recovery Program at $64,000.

Wilberforce University

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Personnel

Principal Investigator: Nathan KlingbeilProgram Coordinator: Kera WatkinsCampus Advisory Board: Anthony Bourne, Martin Gooden

LSAMP Programming

At Wright State University, the Summer Bridge Program provides stipends for underrepresented minority STEM students enrolled in the Academic Advantage Program (intensive math camp) for incoming freshmen. Stipends are made available to eligible students on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Student Success Advising Program provides stipends for a select group of LSAMP Scholars supporting the LSAMP Student Success Advising activities for STEM programs. The Undergraduate TA Program provides stipends for a select group of up to four LSAMP Scholars serving as undergraduate TA’s in Wright State’s first-year curricular interventions to increase student retention and success in STEM. The Undergraduate RA Program provides stipends for a select group of LSAMP Scholars participating in undergraduate STEM research projects at Wright State University. The Dual-Enrollment Program provides stipends up to twelve LSAMP Scholars participating in dual-enrollment implementations of EGR 101 or SM 101 at the Dayton Regional STEM School, the Dayton Early College Academy (DECA) or other partner high schools. The Participant Travel Program supports the WSU LSAMP scholars to attend conferences, research symposia, and other professional activities.


LSAMP funding has been leveraged to provide substantial institutional support at Wright State University, particularly through the Minority Engineering Program (MEP). The primary function of the MEP office is academic advising and mentoring, while secondary functions include career planning (i.e., preparing for graduate school, workforce), and professional development. The office also provides support to the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) in the areas of college recruitment, STEM promotion, and minority retention. The MEP office maintains strong partnerships with important campus resources, most notably the Bolinga Black Cultural Center, where Dr. Gooden, LSAMP Co-Pi, serves as Faculty in Residence. The MEP works closely with the students from National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. The MEP partnerships also extend to a variety of minority student organizations, including the Black Student Union, Black Men on the Move, and Black Women Striving Forward. The Director of MEP also oversees the Wright STEPP, pre-college engineering program which serves as a pipeline program to the MEP program. Wright STEPP provides tuition scholarships to eligible participants.

Wright State University leveraged LSAMP funding to provide an additional $14,800 in personnel support and $54,000 in facilities and programming funds.

Wright State University

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LSAMP Photo Gallery

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LSAMP Photo Gallery

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The Ohio LSAMP Alliance is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, award number

HRD-1304371.

2015 Ohio LSAMP Alliance Impact Report

Documents

Transcript of 2015 Ohio LSAMP Alliance Impact Report