STEM Summer Program

The Center for Promoting STEM and Educational Research (CPSER) launched a new program during the summer with high aspirations of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields at the public schools. The primary goal of the Center for Promoting STEM Education and Research (CPSER) is to increase the quality and quantity of students successfully completing baccalaureate degrees, by improving the recruitment, retention, progression and graduation rates of minorities and women in STEM disciplines.  Funded through Title III, CPSER has the opportunity to create innovative ways to reach out to students. One of such ways is the recently concluded program, entitled "The Five-Week High School Rising Senior Summer Research Internship." High School Scholars students from Cumberland County, Richmond County and Pender County were selected to participate in this internship. STEM areas served as the basis throughout the program as well as a tool of recruitment. From June 29, 2009 until July 31, 2009, these students were involved in an intensive SAT prep course and also had the opportunity to conduct research with Fayetteville State University faculty members in STEM research.

"The summer program consisted of two components," says Dr. Sherrice Allen, the Director of the Center for Promoting STEM Education & Research. "the first is an SAT prep course held in the morning from 9 am to 12 pm."

"In the afternoon, scholars conducted research in areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with our faculty members," she says.

"Three of the faculty members are from the Department of Natural Sciences, and two members from the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science," she says.

The students were assigned research projects and also were expected to complete them within the period of the internship. Some of the activities performed by the students involved research in specific areas such as mathematical modeling, robotics, bacterial and plant genetics. The students took part in the SAT/ACT prep course in which students received instruction in advanced algebra and geometry; as well as reading comprehension and writing activities. 

The level of performance expected from the students is high, but it also opened their eyes to new experiences. Cierra Gonzalez, one of the students attending the internship, says, "Before this program, I never knew anything about CPSER."

Because of the program, one student has realized a chance at something new. "I switched my major from nursing. I am thinking about switching to biology and pursuing pre-med instead of nursing," says Cross Creek Early College student Devonda Hunter.

"What really changed my mind about my major were the various hands on activities we took part in," says Richmond County high school student Courtney Morrison.

 Courtney, who was previously undecided before entering the program, is really enjoying the program. "We participated in different research methods and we talked about the interesting things in our research just to make sure we comprehended key concepts," she says.

The Center for Promoting STEM Education and Research seeks to bring all of the STEM educational programs in the College of Arts & Sciences together. Every new adventure has its learning curve which is why the learning environment is so important.

Brittany Harris, one of the high school students in the program talks about her experience. "We've been to the greenhouse; we've grown some plants from stems and then we cut them up. We planted an in vitro culture in the tube. We tried to see if it would grow by itself without the roots," she says.

The SAT Prep course the students are taking is preparing them for the SAT that awaits them. This course is very helpful according to Cierra Gonzalez.

"The course has really helped me prepare for the SAT, because I scored a lot higher on the math portion compared to the practice I took at my school," she says. The average score of all participants in the post-Mock SAT test administered in a College Board style by the CPSER staff and faculty increased by about eight (8) percentage points from the pre-Mock SAT test.

"I would persuade people to come FSU because there are a lot of things you can do. Biology is a wide subject," says Devonda Hunter who is already sold to what type of opportunity this program has for her.

"I'm at Cross Creek Early College which is on the campus of Fayetteville State and I never considered attending this college until this program. I'm going to start coming here a lot more."

"I can honestly say that I am really considering the biology program," says Courtney Morrison.

All good things come to an end and CPSER organized a closing ceremony for its students on July 31, 2009. Before the closing ceremony, each student had to write about their research by preparing a 5-10 page paper based on their research. In addition, students were required to prepare a 10-15 minute oral presentation conveying the outcome of the research they conducted during the 5-week internship. This program has a goal aimed towards helping students reach higher levels of success.

"Hopefully by the intense activity of the SAT prep course, they will be able to increase their scores tremendously," says Dr. Allen. "This in turn will give them the opportunity to be accepted into any university they choose," she says.

With their first year of funding, CPSER has already changed lives of high school students and they are just getting started. Dr. Allen submitted a renewal that was also funded. This renewal gives rising FSU sophomores a chance to spend the summer along side high school students.

"Next year, we will expand to 15 high school students and also add 5 rising FSU sophomores that are currently majoring in STEM," says Dr. Allen. 

Based off of this program, students are already talking about plans after college. This program may be 5 weeks long, but it will create a dream that will make fiction a reality.