Objectives
The first program objective was to retain at least this percentage of scholars
Goal was 75% (met this for every semester….low was 90%, high was 100%)
Each semester, student demographic information was collected
True. NSF required demographic information to be input within 30 days of the beginning of the semester.
Mercer's NSF S-STEM grant awared this many scholarships
98
Student applications were complete when submitted
False. Student applications were often incomplete and required multiple follow-ups
The proposal budget was prepared considering input from the faculty
False. The budget was prepared by the VPAA, not input from faculty, paid at adjunct rate
The second program objective was to have this percentage of students be URMs or women
Goal was 50% (met this for every semester….low was 50%, high was 90%)
This end-of-semester activity required collecting information from students
Exit surveys to update student data, input into NSF's system, determine who will re-enroll at Mercer.
Mercer's NSF S-STEM grant awarded this much scholarship money
$504,600
All scholarship recipients agreed to attended Mercer
False. Some students declined the scholarship. Others accepted the scholarship but did not enroll.
Communication with these areas of the college were challenging
Finance (credit students for scholarships); Bursar (do not drop students for non-payment); Accounting (end of year draw downs)
The third program objective was to have students participate intervention and advising. Examples of this were…..
DaVinci lunch meetings, transfer workshops, summer bridge program, resume building, practice interviewing, advising meetings
NSF required an annual report at the end of each grant year
True. The annual report was due 90 days prior to the end of the current budget year
By the last year of the grant, which major had the highest percentage of participation in the program?
Engineering (39%); Engineering Tech. (18%); Biology (21%); Comp. Sci (14%); Math (4%); Chemistry (4%)
Scholarship payment was provided directly to the student
False. Students' accounts were credited. (Coordination with financial aid and accounting so as not to drop for non-payment)
The fourth program objective was to have this percentage of scholars graduate or transfer
Goal was 75% (met this for each year…low was 75%, high was 100%)
The NSF grant did not require an external evaluator
False. An external evaluator was involved with each annual report.
When student feedback was collected, which area showed the most improvement?
Access to mentors
These mid-semester activities helped to plan for the upcoming semester
Student surveys to determine if students were going to re-enroll, graduate etc.
NSF requires that the program results be disseminated
True. Presented nationally at American Association for Engineering Education Conference, etc.
This end-of-semester activity required reviewing final grades
GPA review; probation letters; rescind letters