Initiatives for Community College
Students
Tamara Hamilton, Syracuse University
Drake Harrison, Onondaga Community College
Tomicka Wagstaff, Rochester Institute of Technology
Overview
• ULSAMP: Who We Are?
• Why is supporting community college students
important?
• ULSAMP Community College Initiatives
• Next Steps
Upstate LSAMP
Established in 2007, the goal of the ULSAMP is to recruit, retain, and graduate
an increasing number of URM students in STEM fields and to provide early
student research experiences to foster graduate school enrollment.
URM STEM Fall Undergraduate Enrollment
Source: ULSAMP Institutional Data
Bachelor’s Degrees Awarded to URM STEM
Students
Source: ULSAMP Institutional Data
Why is supporting community college students
important?
Objective #2: Increase the number of students transferring from Alliance and
non-Alliance member community colleges to four-year STEM studies at
Alliance universities by 20%.
Source: ULSAMP Institutional Data
2013
(Baseline)
2014
2017
Target
28
44
(+57%)
34
ULSAMP Initiatives
●Transfer Fairs
●Visits to Four-Year Institutions
●Summer Bridge Programs
●Academic Boot Camps
●Undergraduate Research Experiences
●Conference Participation
●Graduate School Preparation
Transfer Fairs
● STEM-focused transfer fairs designed and executed by the OCC
CSTEP/LSAMP Office
● Target alliance partners
● Develop faculty/student/administrators network
● Provide venue for students to individually meet with campus
representatives to discuss their specific situations
Visits to Four-Year Institutions
• Traditional campus visits
-Syracuse University (proximity to OCC and role as lead institution for alliance provide opportunities for visits)
-Rochester Institute of Technology (Imagine RIT, yearly in May)
• Detailed campus visit
-Institution to visit selected by student vote after attending the Transfer Fair
-Successful “prototype” visit: Clarkson University (April 2014) – Two OCC LSAMP students and one MCC LSAMP student
transferred to Clarkson University for the fall 2014 semester
• Detailed campus visit includes:
-Meetings with admissions-related personnel, STEM faculty, OCC or other community college alumni and current STEM
students
-Campus tour including STEM labs and participation in student event(s) (e.g., basketball game or movie)
-Hosting of community college students by four-year institution students (dorm experience)
-Discussion of potential summer research experiences (students receive information regarding opportunities at this
particular institution before the visit
OCC Transfer Initiative: Transfer Fairs, Campus Visits
and Summer Research
Summer Bridge Programs: OCC
OCC hosts a six-week program, initially offered in summer 2013
2013 (Total of 24 students)
MAT-161 (Calculus I)
Class average: 94.2%
12 students
CHE-104 (Chemistry II)
Class average: 86.3%
12 students
MAT-161 (Calculus I)
Class average: 93.4%
11 students
MAT-162 (Calculus II)
Class average: 85.7%
10 students
CHE-103 (Chemistry I)
Class average: 83.5%
15 students
2014 (Total of 36 students)
Key component for student success: Intensive, three-tiered tutoring
Summer
Bridge
Programs:
OCC
Three-tiered
Tutoring
Component
Summer Bridge Programs: MCC
MCC hosts a five-week program, initially offered in summer 2013
2013 12 students
2014 14 students
All students take both courses: College Algebra and College Orientation
Successful completion is defined as ≥ 95% attendance and a grade of B- or
better
Field trips include local laboratories and STEM companies in the area
Academic Boot Camps
● Struggling students self-identify/are identified by faculty/staff
● Based on student needs, STEM courses, tutors and days/times are selected
● Students are asked to attend all sessions
● If no tutors are available, students form a student-run tutoring group
The LSAMP Coordinator provides support for the student-run tutoring groups
● The LSAMP Coordinator meets with students and faculty members to ensure
students take full advantage of all faculty have to offer (recitation section, office
hours, and office hours by appointment)
Students show faculty respect for time/subject matter by attempting problems before
meetings
The importance of doing well/opportunity for a letter of recommendation is stressed
Undergraduate Research
Professional development workshops
• CV writing, Personal Statement, How to Manage your
Relationship with your faculty mentor, Interview Techniques,
Dress for Success, The Graduate School Process.
Research symposium
• National McNair Conference
• NSBE National and Regional Conferences
• 2015 ULSAMP Research Symposium in Syracuse
• Students are encouraged to present at Discipline specific
conferences throughout the year
Conference Participation
Signature Conferences:
• NSF Emerging Researchers National Conference
• Louis Stokes Midwest Center for Excellence Conference
• National Society of Black Engineers Conference
In March 2014, ULSAMP sponsored transportation for students to attend
the NSBE national convention in Nashville, Tennessee. Over 50 ULSAMP
students participated in the conference
Numerous awards won by ULSAMP students
Graduate School Preparation
GEM Getting Ready for Advanced Degrees (GRAD) Lab
In October 2013, ULSAMP hosted the GRAD Lab facilitated by the National GEM
Consortium at Rochester Institute of Technology. Over 80 students and 10
educators attended the event.
•
•
•
•
•
Graduate School Visits, Fairs and Panels
Funding Graduate School Workshops with Financial Aid
Letters of Recommendation
Personal Statements
Resumes
Next Steps
• 2015 ULSAMP Student Research Conference
• Proposal to NSF on socialization of community college
students
• Revise Articulation Agreements
• Support of veteran students at community colleges
Contact Us
Tamara N. Hamilton
Syracuse University
tnhami01@syr.edu
Drake Harrison
Onondaga Community College
harrisod@sunyocc.edu
Tomicka Wagstaff
Rochester Institute of Technology
tcgnsc@rit.edu