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Retention of STEM Students with the EMC2 Scholars’ Program at RIT Abstract

This paper details our highly successful scholarship and academic support program to retain and graduate students in four academic departments: Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science (EMC2). The EMC2 Scholars’ program is supported by a 4-year grant from the National Science Foundation’s CSEMS (Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics Scholarships) program and matching funds from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). The project, to expire in August 2006, was recently granted a one- year no-cost extension. The paper describes the processes for selection of scholars and renewal of scholarship, and includes data on department distribution, student demographics and retention. It describes programmatic elements that worked or did not work in retaining students in CSEMS degree programs. The program’s retention rates exceed RIT’s averages – at each year level and within each of the four academic programs. The program has been successful in developing a partnership among the four academic departments, and has strengthened the coordination mechanisms with the supporting units. Successful EMC2 elements are being deployed elsewhere at RIT to retain female and minority students.

Introduction

In Fall 2002-3, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a 4-year grant of $392,000 from its 2002 CSEMS program1,2. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is providing $526,500 in matching funds to support the scholarships. The EMC2 Scholars Program is a collaborative effort of four academic programs: Mechanical Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Engineering, and Computer Science. The goal of this scholarship program is to retain and graduate academically talented students in the four participating units. The scholars receive $1,000 per quarter until they complete their first co-op experience. The pre-co-op support does not exceed seven quarters. NSF and RIT are each contributing $500 per quarter per scholar. After their first co-op experience, the scholars retain the $500 per quarter scholarship from RIT until they graduate at the end of 12 academic quarters. The project, which was to expire in August 2006, was recently granted a one-year no-cost extension by NSF.

We have been successful in developing a partnership among the four academic departments, and strengthening the coordination mechanisms with supporting units that include the Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar’s Office, Academic Support Center, and Career Services3,4. This paper describes the relationships and mechanisms we have developed with these supporting units to administer the EMC2 program.

Selection of Scholars and Scholarship Renewal

Each Spring/Summer, the Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid identifies all eligible 1st year applicants offered admission to RIT, and selects ~33 (50% more than scholarships available) for EMC2 scholarships based on financial need and academic potential. From this

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Gupta, S., & Hensel, E., & Savakis, A., & Tymann, P., & Narayan, D. (2007, June), Retention Of Stem Students With The Emc^2 Scholars' Program At Rit Paper presented at 2007 Annual Conference & Exposition, Honolulu, Hawaii. 10.18260/1-2--1480