NSF-CSEMS Final Report: September 2001 – August 2007
PROJECT PERSONNEL
The following faculty and staff of Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) spent at
least 100 hours working on CSEMS grant-related activities each year during the
academic years 2001 through 2007 and were paid by Suffolk County Community
College:
Name
Title/Position
Dunnagan, Nancy
Russo, Michael L.
College Director of Financial Aid
PI and Academic Chair of Computer Science
Person
Months
14/3
28/3
Additional SCCC personnel who worked less than 40 hours per year on the CSEMS project.
Name
Title/Position
Person
Months
Faculty Leadership Group and Student Mentors
Breeden, Thomas
Chu, Elizabeth
Chen, Xingbin
Mandia, Scott
Michev, Dr. Iordan
Reissig, Dennis
Russo, Michael
Simon, Michael
Academic Chair of Physical Science
Assistant Academic Chair, Mathematics
Associate Professor of Computer Science
Assistant Academic Chair, Physical Science
Co-PI and Associate Professor of Mathematics
Academic Chair, Mathematics
Academic Chair, Computer Science, Chair
Instructor of Construction Technology
7/5
1/10
7/10
7/10
7/10
1/10
7/10
7/10
Other Advisory and Clerical Staff
Oldfield, Margery
Lagonegro, James
Perillo, Dolores
Monza, Monza
Gleeson, Jill
Bancroft, Rose
Lesser, Deborah
Rowe, Kate
Interim Assistant Dean of Grants Development
Director of Enrollment Information and Reporting
Senior Clerk Typist
Clerk Typist
Principal Clerk
Office Systems Analyst
Senior Budget AnalystOffice of Bus./Fin. Svc.
Executive Director, Admissions and Enrollment
Note: 1 Person-Month = 160.0 work hours.
1
7/10
3/10
2/6
2/6
2/6
7/20
7/10
3/20
Synopsis of the Activities/Work conducted by SCCC personnel:

Michael L. Russo – Principal Investigator and chair of the faculty leadership
group. Provided overall administrative oversight for year 2 of the NSF-CSEMS
project in collaboration with the offices of academic affairs, admissions and
enrollment management, legal, planning, and information services, and business
and financial services. He chaired the faculty leadership group, planning and
presiding over meetings and working individually with each member of the group
to determine the best options for recruiting and evaluating potential CSEMS
recipients. Russo sent solicitation letters to all academically qualified students, in
conjunction with enrollment services personnel, at the beginning of each
semester. He initially screened all CSEMS applications, checking for academic
and financial eligibility, and presented candidates to the selection committee for
final approval. He created and distributed brochures to advertise the scholarship
and oversees the development and maintenance of the Suffolk CSEMS Web site.

Dolores Perillo and Aida Monza – Provided clerical support for the
management of the grant, by working extensively with SCCC's Computer
Science/Information Technology professors and the College's Office of
Admissions to identify eligible CSEMS grant recipients. She also sent out
applications to potential recipients and collected all of the completed applications.
Finally, she was assigned responsibility for uploading information about SCCC's
CSEM Scholarship recipients to NSF's CSEMS website.

Deborah Lesser – In collaboration with her supervisor, Mr. John Bullard, the
Associate Dean of Business and Financial Services, Deborah assisted with the
management of CSEMS funds.

Nancy Dunnagan – Provided assistance in determining the financial eligibility of
potential scholarship recipients and in counseling students on financial eligibility
and FAFSA preparation and submission.

Thomas Breeden – Professor Breeden successfully petitioned the Suffolk County
Legislature to provide a $60,000 grant to supplement the NSF CSEMS grant with
awards for academically qualified students in computers science, engineering, and
mathematics who do not meet the financial eligibility criteria of the NSF grant.
This increased the number of scholarship recipients to around 30 students per
semester, allowing for more varied interaction among scholars.

Iordan Michev – Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group and
student mentor.
2
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNY-SB): Dr. David L.
Ferguson, Professor of Technology and Society and Applied Mathematics, continued to
provide numerous consultations on various topics associated with selection of students
and the administration of SCCC's CSEMS Grant. He and his office staff helped us to
identify venues by which SCCC students could more seamlessly transfer to SUNY-Stony
Brook in the future, and continue receive CSEMS scholarships at that institution.
Sensor Consortium for Security and Medical Sensor Systems: This SUNY at Stony
Brook grant has the goal of promoting and increasing awareness of entrepreneurship and
technology transfer activities on Long Island with a focus on national security and
medical sensor systems. Suffolk County Community College is part of the four-school
consortium, which includes Stony Brook University, Farmingdale State College of
Technology, Hofstra University, and Suffolk. Each school sends four students to
participate in each of four technical projects. Students take a course on entrepreneurship
at Stony Book, participate in different aspects of project development, and receive a
stipend.
No students from this year’s CSEMS group is participating in the consortium, but some
have applied for next year.
Other Collaborators or Contacts
Brookhaven National Laboratory: Michael Russo collaborated with Noel Blackburn
and other scientists at the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory to
develop internship opportunities for SCCC's CSEMS grant recipients. This year we had
three CSEMS students obtain community College internships at Brookhaven Lab; they
were Rachael Millings, Elizabeth Millings, and William McMahon. As of this date we
are waiting for funding approval for their internships.
Suffolk County Legislature: We have collaborated with the Suffolk County Legislature
for additional CSEMS funds to use for students who do not make the financial eligibility
criteria established for the NSF CSEMS grant. The Legislature has allocate $60,000 per
year to supplement the NSF-CSEMS program, and this will continue after the CSEMS
grant ends. These supplementary CSEMS awards began in the fall of 2004 and have
been approved in our latest budget.
ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS
This section will serve as your report to your program officer of your project's activities
and findings; please describe what you have done and what you have learned, broken
down into four categories:
Describe the major research/education activities of the project: What have been your
major research and education activities (experiments, observations, simulations,
presentations, etc.)?
3
The major activity for our program is to identify and encourage qualified people to study
in the targeted areas and to mentor scholarship awardees through their Suffolk programs.
Activities:

Multi-campus Faculty Leadership Group (FLG) meetings: The PI (Russo) met
together and individually with the FLG members to screen applications. The faculty
leadership group, and its student selection committee, subsequently defined the roles
of team members, refined the grant project schedule, and initiated contact with the
cooperating SCCC offices and departments and interested secondary school
representatives.

Coordinate project recruitment efforts with Office of Enrollment
Management: Michael Russo (PI), and other SCCC staff collaborated in the
maintenance of the CSEMS Website and letters for distribution to potential scholars.

Initiate full-scale recruitment of CSEM Scholars: Personnel connected with
SCCC's Office of Admissions/Enrollment Management and the Honors Program
assisted in recruiting potential CSEM Scholars. Letters were sent to all students
enrolled or entering in the appropriate majors who had a 3.0 GPA (or B average
from high school). Student responses were sent directly to M. Russo, who screened
applicants for financial eligibility. CSEMS brochures were also distributed to high
schools and students who were interested.

Advising/Mentoring of CSEM Scholars: The mentoring program for CSEMS
students has matured to the point that each student is in contact with his or her
faculty mentor throughout the semester. Mentors advise students on courses and
schedules, on field related job and internship opportunities, and on academic
difficulties. They are the safety net provided to CSEMS students, who have
considerable academic demands placed upon them when they enter the program.

Academic Enrichment: CSEMS students are enrolled in some the colleges most
challenging programs and take its most difficult courses. Many CSEMS students
choose honors courses for their general education requirements. The are often
academic leaders in their classes and are encouraged to form study groups that
include weaker students.

Self-esteem Building: The CSEMS program is an honor that Suffolk Students
have come to respect. The combined NSF-CSEMS and legislature funded
CSEMS program attracts a core of excellent, highly motivated students who
develop strong ties through their participation. These students develop a welldeserved sense of self-esteem and team spirit.
4
Describe the major findings from the activities identified above.
The major work done on our CSEMS grant is devoted to acquiring, stimulating, and
mentoring scholarship students. During the 11 semesters that we have had the grant we
have supported CSEMS students, including thirteen that were added this year, for a total
of 126 student-semesters, awarding $195,695.50 in scholarships. Following is a status
report on all of the students who have been part of the Suffolk CSEMS program since it
began in the spring of 2002. This list is presented in reverse chronological order.
Spring 2007

Nizar Chrabekh, mathematics: Mr. Chrabekh did excellent work at Suffolk, and
left after the spring 2007 semester to continue his education at SUNY Stony
Brook.

Sageed Khan, information technology: Mr. Khan is continuing his studies in
information technology and is in Suffolk’s STEM program.

William McMahon, electrical technology: Mr. McMahon completed his
associates degree in electrical technology in June 2007, and is continuing his
studies at SUNY Stony Brook. He completed a community college internship at
Brookhaven National Lab last summer, working in the atmospheric sciences
department there.

Yasmin Towfika, computer science: Ms. Towfika is making solid progress in her
studies here and has several semester to go to complete the computer science
program. As our NSF CSEMS grant ended in August, she was not continued in
our recently awarded STEM program. She plans to apply for a STEM award for
the spring 2008 semester.
Fall 2006

Brian Callen, mathematics: Mr. Callen completed his associates degree in June
of 2008, and is continuing in mathematics and secondary education at St.
Joseph’s College, in Patchogue, NY. His goal is to become a teacher of
mathematics.

Rafal Kanas, Construction Technology: Mr. Kanas completed his associates
degree in June of 2007 and is continuing his studies in civil engineering at SUNY
Farmingdale.

Phong Luu, computer science: Mr. Luu left Suffolk County Community College
after the fall 2006 semester and is doing very well in a four-year mathematics
program at SUNY at Stony Brook.
5

Luis Marin, information technology: Mr. Marin is continuing here at Suffolk as a
part-time student, and will finish his associates degree in information technology
at the end of the fall 2007 semester. He plans continue his studies at a four-year
institution in the spring 2008 semester.

Rachel Millings, mathematics: Ms. Millings finished her associates degree in
mathematics in June of 2008. She completed a community college internship at
Brookhaven National Lab for this summer, where she worked in the applied math
department. She is continuing towards a B.A. in applied mathematics at SUNY
Stony Brook.

Elizabeth Millings, mathematics: Ms. Millings has changed her major to
chemistry and will complete her associates degree in June 2008. She is
continuing this semester in Suffolk County Community College’s STEM program
that replaced this CSEMS grant. Ms. Millings completed a community college
internship in the chemistry department at Brookhaven National Lab this summer.
Spring 2006

Christopher Wagoner, information technology: Mr. Wagoner left the college at
the end of the spring 2007 semester; he plans to continue his studies at a four-year
institution.
Fall 2005

Alexander Ergun, construction technology: Mr Ergun will completed the
construction technology program in June 2007 and is continuing his education in
the civil engineering program at the City College of New York.

Steven Janketic, information technology: Mr. Janketic completed his associates
degree in information technology in the spring of 2006 and is continuing his
studies at a four-year institution.

Sing-Kahm Phoune, information technology: Mr. Phoune completed his
associates degree in information technology in the June 2006, and is now
employed part time in a retail store in Coram, NY. He plans eventually to
continue his education at a four-year school.

Nicholas Russo, computer science: Mr. Russo was making progress in our
computer science program but in the spring of 2007 he changed his major to arts
and sciences general studies emphasis, making him ineligible to continue in the
CSEMS or STEM programs.

Marc Sing, construction technology: Mr. Sing left Suffolk County Community
College after the fall 2005 semester and has not yet returned to complete his
degree.
6

Kimberly Vollgraff, information technology: Ms. Vollgraff changed her major to
general studies after one semester in the CSEMS program. She will finish her
associates degree, with an emphasis in science, in June 2008 and plans to continue
her education at a four-year college.
Spring 2005

Nicholas Fierro, mathematics: Mr. Fierro completed his associates degree in
January 2005. He continuing his education with the goal of obtaining New York
State certification as a secondary school mathematics teacher.

John Meyer, electrical science: Mr. Meyer completed his associates degree in
electrical science in January 2007 and is continuing his education at a four-year
school.

Philip Parr, information technology: Mr. Parr finished his associates degree in
information technology in June 2007. He has been working full time over the
past year in the field of IT and will to continue to do so in the near future. He
plans eventually to complete a four-year degree attending college part time in the
evenings.

Anthony Ramos, mathematics: Mr. Ramos received his A.S. degree in June
2005. He is continuing in a program of study that leads to certification as a
secondary mathematics teacher.

Lucas Robak, construction technology: Mr. Robak completed his associates
degree in construction technology in June 2006. He is continuing his education at
a four year college.

Brian Tucker, computer science: Mr Tucker completed his associates degree in
computer science in January 2006. He did an internship at Brookhaven National
Laboratory during the summer of 2007. He is now in the process of finding a job
in a technical area.
Fall 2004

Carmen Abolo, information technology: Ms. Abolo was funded for the fall 2004
and spring 2005 semesters. She left the college after the spring of 2005 without
completing an associates degree.

William Giugliano, mathematics: Mr. Giugliano completed his associates degree
in June 2005. He is currently enrolled full time in the electrical engineering
program at the SUNY Stony Brook and is making good progress towards his
degree there.
7

Matthew Hopkins, engineering science: Mr. Hopkins left the college after the
spring 2006 semester without completing his associates degree.

Joseph Lanier, computer science: Mr. Lanier completed his associates degree in
computer science in June 2006. He is continuing in the computer science
department at SUNY Stony Brook.

Karin Noe, information technology: Ms. Noe received her A.A.S. degree in
January 2006. She is continuing her education at a four-year school.

Christine Thompson, information technology: Ms. Thompson received one
semester of funding from CSEMS in fall of 2004, and then left the college
because of personal difficulties.
Spring 2004

Boubacar Ba, Engineering Science: Mr. Ba was awarded a CSEMS grant for the
spring of 2004, but dropped all of his courses and left the college for personal
reasons early in the semester. He returned in the fall of 2007 as a part-time
evening student in engineering.

Sean Green, construction technology, (spring only): Mr. Green completed his
AAS degree in June of 2004 and is employed locally in the field.

J. R. Greene, information technology (spring only): Mr. Greene completed his
associates degree in January of 2007. He plans to continue at a four-year college.

Holdine Hector, electrical engineering: Mr. Holdine completed his associates
degree in June 2005.
Fall 2003

Erik Arfsten, mathematics: Mr. Arfsten received NSF funding for two semesters
and then became financially ineligible for the award. He continuing in the
CSEMS program under the Suffolk County Legislature funding that was given to
us, and will complete is A.S. degree in mathematics this spring. He in continuing
his studies mathematics and secondary education at SUNY Oneonta.

Gary Kostyrka, mathematics: Mr. Kostyrka left the CSEMS program after is
GPA dropped well below the minimum NSF requirement. He completed his
associates degree in mathematics January 2006.
8

James Lospinuso, computer science: Mr. Lospinuso received the scholarship in
the fall of 2003 and spring of2004. He then left the CSEMS program and
changed his major to general studies. He completed his associates degree in
general studies in January 2006.

Robert McEvoy, electrical engineering: Mr. McEvoy received the CSEMS award
for the fall of 2003 and spring of 2004, and then left the college in the fall of 2004
without completing his associates degree, and began studies in the electrical
engineering department at SUNY Stony Brook in the fall of 2004, where he is
making progress towards a B.S.

Mudussar Nazir, electrical engineering: Mr. Nazir completed an A.A.S. degree
at Suffolk in August 2004 and is successfully continuing in mechanical
engineering at SUNY Stony Brook.

Gokay Ozdemir, computer science: Mr. Gokay received the CSEMS award for
the fall of 2003 and spring of 2004, and then left the program and changed his
major to business. After the spring 2005 semester he left the college without
receiving his degree..

Mathew Trezza, computer science: Mr. Trezza completed his associates degree
in computer science in January 2007 and is continuing his education at t four-year
school.
Spring 2003

Mathew Brady, architectural and construction technology: Mr. Brady competed
and AAS degree in January 2005, and is presently employed locally in the
construction field.

Harley Davis, mathematics: Complete an AA degree in mathematics in August
2004 and is continuing at a four-year college.

Christopher Gabriel, computer science: Graduated from Suffolk County
Community College in June 2004 and is working towards a four-year degree.

Joseph Lapuglia, architectural and construction technology: Mr. Lapuglia
complete an AAS degree in January 2005 and took a semester off to work in
construction management at a local company. He began begin full-time study at
SUNY Farmingdale in the fall of 2005, working toward a BA in architecture.
Fall 2002

Katie Brown, mathematics: After receiving the CSEMS award for two semesters
Ms. Brown graduated from Suffolk County Community College and went on to
9
receive her B.A. in mathematics and economics from Queens College in Flushing,
New York. She presently works in the New York office of Milliman, a global
consulting and actuarial firm. She is attending Hunter college part time, working
toward an M.A. in mathematics and preparing for the actuarial exams.

Jason Clark, computer science: After the spring 2003 semester Mr. Clark left
Suffolk County Community College and went to work as an assistant branch
manager for banking and investments at Suffolk Federal Credit Union in
Commack, NY.

Charles Gaffney, computer science: Mr. Gaffney completed his AS degree in
computer science in January 2005. He is continuing his studies in computers
science at SUNY Stony Brook.

Rudy Lopez, instructional technology: Mr. Lopez changed major to accounting
and completed his associates degree in January 2006.

Patrick Lowry, computer science: completed an AS degree in computer science
in January 2004 and spent the following semester continuing in computer science
at Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. He left Dowling after one semester and is
employed by the Geico Insurance Company as an auto damage adjuster.

Anthony Perez, mathematics: Left Suffolk after the spring 2004 semester without
completing his degree (he is one physical education course short). He completed
a four-year degree in applied mathematics and statistics at SUNY at Stony Brook
in June of 2006 and plans to attend graduate school soon to prepare for a career in
teaching.

Ralph Petrulo, Internet and Web development: Mr. Petrulo completed his
associates degree in January 2006. He plans to continue his education at a fouryear college.

Richard Robinson, electrical technology: Mr. Robinson completed his associates
degree in June 2005 and is continuing his education in electrical engineering at a
four-year college..

Xin Shao, engineering science: left the college after the spring, 2004 semester
and continued his studies in electrical engineering and applied mathematics at
SUNY at Stony Brook. He graduate from Stony Brook in June of 2006 and is
now working as a quality assurance engineer at Falconstor Software, in Melville,
NY.

Wanda Wesbee: instructional technology: Ms. Wesbee was awarded a CSEMS
grant for the fall of 2002, but dropped all of her courses and left the college for
personal reasons early in the semester. She returned for one semester in the
spring of 2003, and has taken no courses since.
10
Spring 2002

Khaula Doleh, computer science: Ms. Doleh received the CSEMS award for one
semester and then left the program. She left the college after the spring 2004
semester without completing a degree.

Kalpesh Patel, computer science: Mr. Patel received the CSEMS award for one
semester and then left the program. He left the college after the spring 2002
semester without completing a degree.

Timothy Seeley, engineering science: Mr. Seeley received funding from the
CSEMS program for three semesters and received his A.S. degree in engineering
science in June 2003 and went on to a four-year program.
The following table summarizes the participation and present status of all of the students
that have been included in the Suffolk County Community College NSF CSEMS
program since the first students were offered scholarship in the spring of 2002.
Of the students listed as have “left the college,” most of them reached a point in their
studies where they could gain acceptance into a four-year program without receiving an
associates degree from Suffolk County Community College. The two student who
withdrew from the CSEMS program did so after they were selected for admission but
before they were paid the scholarship stipend. Both of these students encountered
personal difficulties that forced them to withdraw from their studies at least temporarily.
Most of our graduates transfer their degrees to four-year institutions and continue their
studies towards a bachelor’s degree. Those students listed in the table as continuing at
Suffolk will be accepted into our STEM program which begins in the fall of 2007,
provided, of course, that they have maintained acceptable academic standing.
Appendix A summarizes the results of a survey that we administered to participants in
our CSEMS program to determine the impact that the grant has had on students.
CSEMS Program -- Suffolk County Community College
Spring 2002 -- Spring 2007
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Last Name
First Name
Abolo
Arfsten
Ba
Brady
Brown
Callen
Chrabekh
Clark
Davis
Carmen
Erik
Boubacar
Matthew
Katie
Brian
Nizar
Jason
Harley
Number of
Semesters
Starting
Semester
Career Goal
Status
2
2
0
4
2
2
1
2
3
Fall 2004
Fall 2003
Spr 2004
Spr 2003
Fall 2002
Fall 2006
Spr 2007
Fall 2002
Spr 2003
Information Technology
Mathematics
Engineering Science
Construction Technology
Mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics
Computer Science
Mathematics
Graduated
Graduated
Withdrew
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Continuing
Graduated
Graduated
11
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
Doleh
Ergun
Fierro
Gabriel
Gaffney
Giugliano
Greene
Green
Hector
Hopkins
Janketic
Kanas
Khan
Kostyrka
Lanier
Lapuglia
Lopez
Lospinuso
Lowry
Luu
Marin
McEvoy
McMahon
Meyer
Millings
Millings
Nazir
Noe
Ozdemir
Parr
Patel
Phoune
Perez
Petrulo
Ramos
Robak
Robinson
Russo
Seeley
Shao
Sing
Thompson
Towfika
Trezza
Tucker
Vollgraff
Wagoner
Wesbee
Khaula
Alexander
Nicholas
Christopher
Charles
William
JR
Sean
Holdine
Matthew
Steven
Rafal
Sajeed
Gary
Joseph
Joseph
Rudy
James
Patrick
Phong
Luis
Robert
William
John
Rachel
Elizabeth
Mudassar
Karin
Gokay
Philip
Kalpesh
Sing-Kham
Anthony
Ralph
Anthony
Lucas
Richard
Nicholas
Tim
Xin
Marc
Christine
Yasmin
Matthew
Brian
Kimberly
Christopher
Wanda
1
4
1
3
5
2
1
1
1
3
2
2
1
2
4
4
2
2
3
1
2
2
1
3
2
2
2
2
2
3
1
1
4
2
1
3
5
4
3
4
1
1
1
5
2
1
3
0
Spr 2002
Fall 2005
Spr 2005
Spr 2003
Fall 2002
Fall 2004
Spr 2004
Spr 2004
Spr 2004
Fall 2004
Fall 2005
Fall 2006
Spr 2007
Fall 2003
Fall 2004
Spr 2003
Fall 2002
Fall 2003
Fall 2002
Fall 2006
Fall 2006
Fall 2003
Spr 2007
Spr 2005
Fall 2006
Fall 2006
Fall 2003
Fall 2004
Fall 2003
Spr 2005
Spr 2002
Fall 2005
Fall 2002
Fall 2002
Spr 2005
Spr 2005
Fall 2002
Fall 2005
Spr 2002
Fall 2002
Fall 2005
Fall 2004
Spr 2007
Fall 2003
Spr 2005
Fall 2005
Spr 2006
withdrew
12
Computer Science
Construction Technology
Mathematics
Computer Science
Computer Science
Mathematics
Information Technology
Construction Technology
Electrical Technology
Engineering Science
Information Technology
Construction Technology
Information Technology
Mathematics
Computer Science
Construction Technology
Information Technology
Computer Science
Information Technology
Computer Science
Information Technology
Electrical Technology
Electrical Technology
Engineering Science
Mathematics
Mathematics
Electrical Technology
Information Technology
Computer Science
Information Technology
Computer Science
Information Technology
Mathematics
Information Technology
Mathematics
Construction Technology
Electrical Technology
Computer Science
Engineering Science
Engineering Science
Construction Technology
Information Technology
Computer Science
Computer Science
Computer Science
Information Technology
Information Technology
Information Technology
Left the college
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Left the college
Graduated
Graduated
Continuing in STEM
Left the college
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Left the Program
Graduated
Left the college
Continuing
Left the college
Graduated
Graduated
Graduated
Continuing in STEM
Graduated
Graduated
Left the college
Graduated
Left the college
Graduated
Left the college
Graduated
Left the Program
Graduated
Graduated
Left the Program
Graduated
Left the college
Left the college
Left the college
Continuing
Graduated
Graduated
Left the college
Graduated
Left the college
During the 2005 – 2006 academic year, our grants office conducted a survey of students in
the CSEMS program. The tabulated results of that survey follows. The tables are selfexplanatory and give a picture of how CSEMS students that time felt about the services
offered by the program. The survey was given to all of the students in the NSF CSEMS
program along with students in the program who were funded by the Suffolk County
Legislature CSEMS grant.
Significance of CSEMS Program to NSF-CSEM & Suffolk-CSEM Scholars
Survey Question (n=22)
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
NSF only–Without CSEM scholarship, it would be
difficult for me to stay enrolled at SCCC
60%
40%
--
--
All CSEMS– Without CSEM scholarship, it would
be difficult to stay enrolled at SCCC
54½%
18%
23%
4½%
NSF only–CSEMS provided me with academic
opportunities I would not have had otherwise
80%
20%
--
--
All CSEMS–CSEMS provided academic
opportunities I would not have had otherwise
82%
14%
4%
--
NSF only–After graduation, I plan to transfer to a
4-year institution to continue my education
N/A
100%
N/A
--
All CSEMS–After graduation, I plan to trans-fer to
4-yr institution to continue my education
N/A
95½%
N/A
4½%
Usefulness of Selected CSEMS Services or Program Elements for CSEM Scholars
Survey Question (n=22)
Very
Useful
91%
Somewhat
Useful
0%
Neutral or
No Answer
9%
Usefulness of CSEMS meetings/luncheons
82%
18%
0%
Usefulness of CSEMS website
50%
36%
14%
Other–helped w/ BNL internship (n=1)
–helped w/ transfer to SBU (n=1)
9%
N/A
91%
Usefulness of my faculty mentor
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Describe the opportunities for training/development provided by your project.
CSEMS students have access to the CCI program at Brookhaven National Laboratory,
and four of our scholarship students were accepted into the Brookhaven program and
were funded by NSF through our CSEMS grant.
Several CSEMS students were employed by the computer science and information
technology department at Suffolk County Community College to serve as tutors. This is
a paid position which gave our top students the opportunity to work with CS and IT
students having difficulty with concepts, problems set, and projects, face-to-face,
developing the skills of both tutors and students needing the tutoring.
Describe outreach activities your project has undertaken.
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Distributed CSEMS brochures to high school counselors throughout Long Island
Distributed brochures to all freshmen who enrolled for the Fall semester during
the summer 2003.
College administrators, faculty, and staff spoke abut the CSEMS grant at all
appropriate college events.
Current SCCC students were screened according to the CSEMS criteria, and were
sent letters inviting them to apply for a CSEMS scholarship. The letter referred to
the CSEMS Web site where forms and applications could be downloaded.
Various SCCC advisory committees, including the Board of Trustees, were
notified about the CSEM Scholarship program.
The Suffolk County Legislature was asked to supplement the NSF CSEMS
funding so that awards could be given to academically qualified students who
were not financially eligible.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS
What Have You Published in Journals?
In general, we do not engage in research that results in publishable papers.
Do you have any major journal publications to report?
No
What Books or Other One-Time Publications Have You Produced?
None
Do you have any books or major one-time publications to report?
No
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Internet Dissemination
A comprehensive Web site was established for recruiting and coordinating scholarship
recipients.
The URL of the site is http://www.sunysuffolk.edu/Web/csems/. It contains all
important CSEMS information including detailed program information, a downloadable
scholarship application and applicable instructions, names and email addresses of all
scholarship recipients and assigned mentors, faculty leadership group members with
email and office contact information, a bulletin board for communication among all
program participants, and important announcements.
Have you developed any other specific product of significance?
No.
CONTRIBUTIONS: Now we invite you to explain ways in which your work, your
findings, and specific products of your project are significant. Describe the unique
contributions, major accomplishments, innovations and successes of your project relative
to : 1.the principal discipline(s) of the project; 2.other disciplines of science or
engineering; 3.the development of human resources; 4.the physical, institutional, or
information resources that form the infrastructure for research and education; and 5.other
aspects of public welfare beyond science and engineering, such as commercial
technology, the economy, cost-efficient environmental protection, or solutions to social
problems.
Contributions within Discipline
Nothing to report.
Contributions to Other Disciplines
Nothing to report.
Contributions to Human Resource Development
Nothing to report.
Contributions to Resources for Research and Education
Nothing to report.
Contributions Beyond Science and Engineering
Nothing to report.
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