Shared Services Models for STEM Workforce Development
Arkansas Summer Research Institute: A Case Study Utilizing A Shared Services Model To Accelerate STEM Workforce Development in Arkansas – Collier-Youngblood, Marta
The Arkansas Summer Research Institute shared services model was developed and launched in 2015 as a part of the Arkansas EPSCoR ASSET Initiative Workforce Development portfolio. This program was developed to address a persistent problem in matching undergraduate students to research opportunities and the facilitation of best practice mentorship within NSF-funded laboratories across the State of Arkansas. The initiative had three main aims: (1) Identify the research training deficits for eligible undergraduate students at Arkansas colleges and universities; (2) Create a training program in partnership with in-state researchers to address the undergraduate student researcher skills gaps; (3) Address and Eliminate the institutional barriers that restricted faculty and student exchanges between campuses to increase access to research experiences for eligible undergraduate students.
The Evolution of an Engaging Online Training Program in Data Analytics and Research Targeting Underrepresented Students in STEM. – Holden, Whitney M.; Krakowiak, Patrycja A.; Krakowiak, K. Maja; Fowler, Jennifer
Shortage of highly-skilled STEM workers, lack of critical technical skills, and persistence of underrepresentation are key problems for our nation’s future. The Arkansas Summer Research Institute (ASRI) incorporates novel approaches to broaden participation in STEM, research, and data analytics, especially among URM students (over 50% of ASRI participants). The ASRI has evolved from in-person to a virtual model that includes innovations in organization, engagement technologies, personalization, gamification, mentoring, and networking. Students conduct independent research projects and present their findings. Student confidence in coding, research, statistics, and visualization skills improved significantly (p<0.001) during this two-week summer program. Furthermore, the use of continuous communication, ongoing help, extremely low student-to-mentor ratios, and one-on-one coaching led to excellent overall satisfaction scores on a 5-point scale, which were surprisingly higher in a virtual environment (N = 148, M = 4.73, SD = 0.53) than an in-person (N = 133, M = 4.11, SD = 0.87) one (p < 0.001). The ASRI has trained over 300 students and involved over 130 STEM professors and professionals from across Arkansas in the pursuit of equitable and productive training and can serve as a model for other groups seeking to develop similar programs in the future.
Capacity Building Partnerships with Emerging Research and Minority Serving Institutions
Strategies for Building Capacity at MSIs for Advancing Research and Research Impacts – Pai, A., Eck, K., Renoe, S., Brown Clarke, J., Brown, B., Coley, C., Collier-Youngblood, M., Fields, H., Hammonds-Odie, L., Hendrickson, T., Hollowell, G., Huizinga, D., Inniss, T., Maglia, A., Nader, R., Talley, C., Vassmer, S., Washington, T., Weintraub, J., Williams, K., Winfield, L.
To address systemic barriers to inclusion, including bias, inequitable partnerships, and limited research support and service capacity, Spelman College, NORDP, and ARIS brought together leaders at MSIs to discuss their research experiences. The process convened 34 representatives across two virtual listening sessions in March and April 2023, and an in-person convening in June 2023 at Spelman College. Participants elevated the importance of celebrating successes at MSIs while also acknowledging the systemic barriers and challenges MSIs continue to face. The project was funded by the National Science Foundation through grant MCB-2236057.
NORDP Consultants Program
The NORDP Consultants Program is dedicated to increasing the diversity of our national research ecosystem by providing research development services to minority-serving and emerging research institutions at no cost to the institution. NORDP launched the NORDP Consultant Program with a pilot projects in summer of 2021 to grow research capacity and competitiveness by increasing institutional capacity for research development.
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