OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
“Integration of Education and Mentoring Programs at Louisiana State University”
Su-Seng Pang, Ph.D., P.E., Fellows-ASME, SPE, AAAS
Honorary Doctorate, University of Macau, China
Associate Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives
Jack Holmes Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Louisiana State University
March 19, 2009
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“Integration of Education and Mentoring Programs at Louisiana State University [NSF/I 3 ]”
OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
Sponsor:
PIs:
National Science Foundation
Astrid E. Merget, Isiah M. Warner
Co-PIs: Su-Seng Pang, Frank Neubrander, Branda C. Nixon,
Guoqiang Li
Program Manager: Cade J. Register
Evaluator:
Period:
Funds:
Eugene Kennedy
01/01/09 - 12/31/13
$1,000,000
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
 Support the achievements and recognition of LSU students, faculty, and staff through education and mentoring programs
 Assist in raising LSU’s academic standing among its peers through competitive and outstanding achievements by students, faculty, and staff
 Assist the Office of Academic Affairs in creating and implementing programs that enhance the diversity of students and faculty
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OFFICE of
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INITIATIVES
 Assist in developing new mentoring activities
 Assist in providing funding for potential LSU students
 Coordinate efforts to generate education/training grants to support undergraduate students
 Establish a close alliance with other Louisiana universities
(e.g., Southern, Tulane)
 Support K-12 education, teachers, and students
 Assist in increasing the number of external awards for students and faculty
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 NSF-Research Corp.-Louisiana Board of Regents/LA-STEM/Phases I & II
(PI & Co-PI)
 HHMI/Phases I & II (PI)
 NSF/LS-AMP/BD/Cohorts III-VI (PI & Co-PI)
 NSF/AGEP (Co-PIs)
 NSF/LSU-LAMP/Phase III (PI & Co-PI)
 NIH/IMSD (Co-PIs)
 NSF/REU (PI & Co-PI)
 NSF/SFS (Co-PI)
 NSF/S-STEM (PI & Co-PI)
 NSF/GK-12 (Co-PIs)
 NSF/I 3 (PI & Co-PI)
Brief summary of activities for each project is provided in the following pages.
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OFFICE of
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RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
Louisiana State University Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics Scholars Program
[NSF/LA-STEM/Phases I & II]”
Objectives:
 Recruit and provide full scholarships for 25 new highability STEM students per year to LSU (with ~100 students in the program each year)
 Provide diverse participants with a comprehensive mentoring, training, and educational program throughout their college careers
 Reach a minimum 75% retention rate of LA-STEM Scholars to graduation within five years
 Encourage and assist at least 50% of the participants
(particularly minorities and women) to pursue Ph.D.
degrees
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“HHMI Professors Program – Phases I & II”
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Activities:
 Developed a “Model for an Effective Mentoring Ladder”
 Developed teaching strategies to maximize learning
 Support innovative undergraduate research
Support (per year):
 10 Graduate and 20 Undergraduate Students
 10 Secondary Teachers and 150 Secondary Students
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OFFICE of
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“LS-LAMP Bridge to the Doctorate at Louisiana State
University [LS-AMP-BD/Cohorts III-VI]”
Activities:
 Support of 12 minority Ph.D. students per Cohort as BDP
Fellows ($30,000/yr/student for two years plus tuition, etc.)
 Regular Bridge to Doctoral program meetings, mentoring of students and allocation of resources to support participation at professional meetings
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OFFICE of
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RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
“Graduate Alliance for Education in Louisiana
[NSF/AGEP]”
Activities:
 Coordinate faculty visits for recruiting students into the program
 Co-sponsor recruitment fairs at Tulane/LSU
 Involve students in faculty-mentored research
Support (per year):
 12 LSU minority graduate students receive a $3,000 supplemental scholarship and travel support
 4 GAELA Dissertation Writing Fellowships with $19,500 plus tuitions
 10-20 potential graduate students to visit LSU/Tulane
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OFFICE of
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“Louisiana Alliance for Minority Participation (LAMP) -
- Phase III [NSF/LS-LAMP]”
Activities:
 Provide undergraduate students education/training/ research scholarships
 Sponsor monthly workshops and seminars
 Develop peer tutoring and K-12 outreach programs
 Establish book and calculator awards/loan programs
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“MBRS IMSD Program at Louisiana State University
[NIH/IMSD]”
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Objectives:
 Serve the academic needs of undergraduates with a specific interest in advanced biomedical research training
 20 diverse undergraduate students awarded $4,320 per year
 Student Scholars would be matched with faculty research preceptors according to their common interest
 Student Scholars work in the preceptors’ laboratories for two academic years (to include wages)
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OFFICE of
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“Broadening the Participation in Interdisciplinary
Science: The REU Component of LA-STEM – II
[NSF/LA-STEM/REU]”
Activities:
 20 undergraduate students in STEM disciplines are supported each summer of 2006 to 2009 to conduct research
 Each receives $5,000 Summer Stipend in eight weeks
 Most students are freshmen recruited from the existing LA-
STEM and HHMI programs
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OFFICE of
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“Scholarships, Mentoring, and Academic Enhancement
Training for Science and Mathematics Undergraduate
Students [NSF/S-STEM]”
Activities:
 Sponsor computer/information technology training workshops
 Develop various academic enhancement activities
 Establish education and industrial outreach programs
Support (per year):
 30 Science and Mathematics students will receive a $3,600 scholarship per academic year
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OFFICE of
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RESEARCH
EDUCATION
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“Collaborative Project: Faculty Development – Multi
University Research and Training in Information
Assurance and Computer Security [NSF/SFS]”
Activities:
 Sponsor information assurance and computer security summer workshops
 Extend the workshop training to the academic teaching and mentoring within each institution
 Establish collaboration among LSU, Louisiana Tech,
Southern University and other participating institutions in the area
Support (per year):
 8 Faculty Scholars from various institutions per year for two years during summer
 8 mini-grants for faculty Scholars during the academic year
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“National Science Foundation GK-12 Fellow Program at Louisiana State University [NSF/GK-12]”
OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
Activities:
 Support 8 graduate students ($30,000/yr/student), 8 undergraduate students ($10,000/yr/student), and 16 GK-12 teachers ($3,500/yr/teacher)
 Sponsor summer teacher workshop
 Instructional Support Community; Professional Learning
Community, Math and Science Enhancement Activities,
Training and Mentoring Program
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OFFICE of
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Our Next Focus Step
“Integration of Education and Mentoring Programs at
Louisiana State University [NSF/I 3 ]”
• To break disciplinary barriers and change the traditional way of conducting education and mentoring
• To leverage the limited resources available at LSU and enhance the synergy and positive “composite action” among the existing projects
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Nurture our students in an interdisciplinary environment so that they will become Inspirational Teachers, Exemplary
Mentors, and Effective Leaders
• Raise LSU’s academic standing through outstanding achievements by students and faculty
• Create and implement programs that broaden the participation of more diversified students and faculty
• Enhance the academic environment to better support LSU students who will subsequently transfer their service to K-12 education
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OFFICE of
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INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Educate and mentor our students and public to have sufficient knowledge with what lies across these boundaries
• Innovatively integrate all education and mentoring summer programs for college faculty and students as well as high school teachers and students
• Provide a higher level of leadership training for LSU students
• Integrate the STEM research between college and high school students
• Establish a mechanism for college students to volunteer their effort in tutoring high school students
• Establish an interdisciplinary curriculum in materials science and engineering at LSU as well as collecting and demonstrating its relevant facilities for students
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OFFICE of
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INITIATIVES
Integration of Educational Programs
NSF/
AGEP
NSF/
GK-12
NIH/
HHMI
NSF/
LSAMP
-BDP
NSF/
LA-
STEM
NSF/
I 3
NSF/
S-
STEM
NSF/
REU
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
Activities and Tasks
LSU-OSI
NSF/I 3
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
“Integration of Education and Mentoring Programs at
Louisiana State University [NSF/I 3 ]”
Activities:
 Consolidation of Summer Workshops and Camps for Students,
Teachers and Faculty Members
 Leadership Training in Academics through a Student-
Governing Organization
 High School Math Tutoring Program by College Students
 Mentoring High School Louisiana Science and Engineering Fair
Projects by College Students
 Integration of Research into Education in Materials
Engineering and Science
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Build a successful integration model in the STEM disciplines based upon the breadth and depth of leadership and infrastructure provided by the LSU Office of Strategic
Initiatives
• Assist students in their professional development towards advanced degrees
• Create an interdisciplinary curriculum in materials engineering and science
• Develop a Hierarchical Mentoring Ladder system involving faculty members, graduate/undergraduate students, and high school teachers/students
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• The establishment of collaborations among faculty members in different disciplines and different academic settings, from high schools to community colleges and comprehensive research universities
• An increase in the number of well-prepared high school, undergraduate, and graduate STEM students
• Broadening participation of women and under-represented minorities in the
STEM disciplines
• Promotion of inter-cultural participation among non-minority and minority students and faculty members
• Outreach activities by providing tutoring or teacher assistant service to high schools during the academic year
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OFFICE of
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INITIATIVES
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EDUCATION
MENTORING
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OFFICE of
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EDUCATION
MENTORING
• LA-STEM/HHMI Summer Bridge
• Cain Center Summer Circle
• OSI REU
• HHMI High School Science and Math Summer Program
• Etc.
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Buddy System pairing undergraduates and high school students
• Poster Presentations
• Mentoring Night
• Field Trips
- Dow Chemical Co.
- CAMD
- NASA Stennis Space Center
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
Accomplishments:
• Several meetings with PIs and managers from the OSI and the Cain Center to map out the planned 2009 summer activities and discuss possible field trips, activities, mentoring events, etc.
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EDUCATION
MENTORING
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Each program chooses a president and officers
• Presidents and officers from each program form the I 3
Governing Council
• Council meets with Program Manager and Administration
• Council is responsible for coordinating social events and bonding activities
• Council is responsible for I 3 website
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
Council members will develop their leadership skills by:
• Attending the Leader Education and Development
Program Series
• Attending Lagniappe Leadership Conference
Involvement in the Council will promote:
• Leadership
• Initiative
• Self-Motivation
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
Accomplishments:
• Creation of the I 3 Governing Council. The first meeting in
February included students from LA-STEM, S-STEM, HHMI and LS-LAMP.
• The first monthly social bonding activity is being planned for late March or early April (ideas include a drive-in movie on the parade grounds or a Rock Band 2 tournament sponsored by the local Electronic Arts testing facility) .
• I 3 website is in development: http://www.i3.lsu.edu/
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Integration of tutoring into OSI/Cain Center math classrooms
• Integration of technology into tutoring
• Remediation and prep classes for various standardized tests
• ACT targeted programs
• Organization/support of peer tutoring by high-achieving students for students with academic need
• Setup of service-learning and volunteer services of LSU undergraduates
• Organization of various math and science enhancement activities
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
• High school teams will be mentored by undergraduate students where they will receive encouragement, knowledge, and advice
• High school students:
- Develop research skills
- Learn Time Management skills
- Are encouraged and inspired to pursue additional study or careers in
STEM disciplines
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OFFICE of
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RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Investigators, in collaboration with middle/high school educators, will annually formulate and pose 20 projects and provide support for materials and supplies.
• Investigators will regularly supervise student teams in the months leading to the competitions and participate as judges as needed.
• Investigators will host an onsite exhibit at the State Fair and will sponsor trophies and/or cash awards for the best environmental technology related projects.
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OFFICE of
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Accomplishments:
• Several students volunteered to serve as judges for the
Iberville Parish District Science Fair.
• Several students volunteered to serve as ‘Welcomers’ and
‘Display and Safety Officers’ at the Louisiana Region VII
Science Fair. An OSI booth was also set up and manned by OSI staff and students.
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OFFICE of
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RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Curriculum Enhancement
- Develop “Materials Engineering and Science (MES) concentration or minor
- Enhance ME 4783: Composite Materials: Manufacturing, Characterization, and
Mechanics
- Create 4000-level “Smart Composite Materials” course
• Demonstration of Advanced Research Equipment
- Access to equipment and facilities at Louisiana State University
- Access to equipment and facilities at Southern University
• A Web Based Research Center
- Create an Integrated Internet Interaction (I 3 ) database to be used by project participants and researchers globally
- Create a workshop series to disseminate derivative technology to industry
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OFFICE of
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• I 3 involvement with the Louisiana State Science and
Engineering Fair as greeters and safety monitors. In the fall,
I 3 students will begin working as science fair project mentors with high school students from across the region.
• Incentive program for student mentoring.
• Weekly or bi-weekly I 3 e-mail updates for program managers, coordinators and PIs.
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• I 3 involvement with the Louisiana Junior Science and
Humanities Symposium
( http://www.doce.lsu.edu/Symposium/ ).
“JSHS invites high school students to conduct an original research investigation in the sciences, engineering or mathematics, and to participate in the regional symposium sponsored by Louisiana State University and the Academy of Applied Sciences.”
• I 3 Facebook groups. Facebook groups, specific to different area high schools, are created and maintained by groups of
I 3 student mentors. High school students are able to post questions on the group page and receive help and advice from I 3 students and from peers.
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• Build a successful integration model in the STEM disciplines based upon the breadth and depth of leadership and infrastructure provided by the LSU Office of Strategic
Initiatives
• Assist students in their professional development towards advanced degrees
• Create an interdisciplinary curriculum in materials engineering and science
• Develop a Hierarchical Mentoring Ladder system involving faculty members, graduate/undergraduate students, and high school teachers/students
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
• The establishment of collaborations among faculty members in different disciplines and different academic settings, from high schools to community colleges and comprehensive research universities
• An increase in the number of well-prepared high school, undergraduate, and graduate STEM students
• Broadening participation of women and under-represented minorities in the
STEM disciplines
• Promotion of inter-cultural participation among non-minority and minority students and faculty members
• Outreach activities by providing tutoring or teacher assistant service to high schools during the academic year
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OFFICE of
STRATEGIC
INITIATIVES
RESEARCH
EDUCATION
MENTORING
.
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