The Rising Scholars program was established by the National Science Foundation to promote the matriculation and retention of qualified low socio-economic students into STEM fields through the cultivation of their mentor support networks. Rising Scholars students were provided with a scholarship and had a defined path of activities in college designed to enhance their professional mentoring network. They were prearranged to participate in a pre-freshman academic bootcamp, an on-going faculty-directed research project, a self-directed research project, and an internship. Students attended seminars and produced written reflections of their various individual experiences on the path to a professional career. Three cadres of 21 students total, who had expressed a previous interest in engineering, were admitted to a general studies program and provided intensive guidance and an active social group. The Rising Scholars students were successful overall at remaining in a STEM discipline, but their path through
college also intersected with the COVID pandemic. These results indicated that strongly supported students faired the social disruption better than their less well supported colleagues. Academic results for the Rising Scholars students against their matched pair grouping for graduation rate and GPA will be presented. Several students interviewed after graduation all professed that they believe they would not have graduated from Purdue and probably would not have attended in the first place. In turn, they would not have their current positions without the Rising Scholars Program.
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This content will become publicly available on July 28, 2025
Rising Scholars Program Cultural Lessons forSmall-to-Moderate Sized Engineering Departments
The National Science Foundation established the Rising Scholars program at Purdue University to promote the
cultivation of professional mentor support networks for qualified low socio-economic students in STEM fields. In
collaboration between the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department and the Minority Engineering Program,
Rising Scholars students, in three cadres of 21 students total, were recruited from general admissions to the institution, who
had previously expressed an initial desire for engineering. These students were provided with a defined path of activities in
college designed to enhance their professional mentoring networks among STEM specialists. Rising Scholars students were
provided with a partial scholarship and intensive academic guidance. These students participated in multiple networking
and social activities sponsored by the program administrators. Academic results for the Rising Scholars students against
their matched pair grouping for graduation rate and GPA will be presented. Students who socialized well and developed
stronger social networks within the high-touch, student-centric environment fared better academically and outperformed
their matched pair direct-to-engineering admits to the university. Small-to-moderate sized academic engineering
departments are well-suited to provide a similar nurturing culture for support and belonging that can help all students
succeed.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1644143
- PAR ID:
- 10558086
- Publisher / Repository:
- American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
- Date Published:
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- collegiate culture low socio-economic status professional mentors STEM disciplines, support networks.
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- Anaheim, California
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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