The results of the HCC STEM Scholars project will undergo a formative and summative evaluation process using student surveys and interviews, surveys and interviews of project partners, student data, and observations from the management team. Formative evaluations of the cohort will be performed every semester to inform the PI of possible practice changes, to assess student engagement and support, to review academic challenges, and to address other needs. The survey will be modeled after the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, which is currently in use at HCC. The management team will meet on a semester basis to select new cohort participants, as well as perform formative assessment of the project. Annual (summative) reports will be completed by the PI with assistance from the management team. PI Vasu will submit annual reports to NSF.
Members of the management team will review student applications and interest surveys prior to Scholar selection. The team will select new applicants to maintain or exceed project enrollment objectives. The team will also review the status of current Scholars. An exit survey or interview will be given to students who are graduating, transferring, entering the workforce, or leaving the program for negative reasons.
The Office of Institutional Research, led by Dr. Veena Dhankher, will oversee an independent assessment of the project and discuss strengths and weaknesses with the management team, identify a comparison group of students, and review assessment tools for appropriateness and utility. The PI is interested in studying what affect the scholarships, and especially the proposed activities will have on the success rates of underrepresented students in HCC’s STEM disciplines.