STEM Grad Excellence

Promoting Excellence in Graduate Education and Increasing Hispanic STEM Related Degree Completion

乐播传媒app最新版本 Title V, Part B, Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program (PPOHA), U.S. Department of Education

乐播传媒app最新版本 (乐播传媒app最新版本), the only 4-year public institution of higher education within a 100-mile radius of Bakersfield, provides academic opportunity to nearly 11,000 students at both the main campus in Bakersfield and the satellite campus in Antelope Valley. 乐播传媒app最新版本 currently offers 17 Master鈥檚 programs and 1 Doctoral program across its four academic schools, and graduate enrollment reached 1,297 students in Fall 2018. However, data indicate the number of students completing graduate programs at 乐播传媒app最新版本 is inadequate to meet the service area workforce needs. In fact, only 5.2% of the total Kern County population holds a post-baccalaureate degree, compared to California (12.2%) and the nation as a whole (11.8%). Moreover, although the proportion of Hispanic students enrolling in graduate programs has steadily increased over the last decade (47% in Fall 2018 compared to 29% in Fall 2009), it is still not reflective of the university鈥檚 undergraduate population (56%).

Project Goals

  1. To enhance and create additional capacity鈥攂y strengthening existing STEM-related programs and developing two new programs鈥攆or the 乐播传媒app最新版本 STEM graduate program, which facilitates increased enrollment, provides needed student support, improves research facilities, and engages faculty to better serve Hispanic graduate students through degree completion.
  2. To develop a university-wide 鈥済raduate school-going culture鈥� through a robust and comprehensive program that encourages, supports, engages, and prepares students to pursue graduate education.

Project Objectives

  1. To increase enrollment in 乐播传媒app最新版本鈥檚 STEM-related graduate programs (with Hispanics equitably represented) by 20% above the 2019 baseline (4% increase per year) and sustain the improved rate after the grant period.
  2. To double the number of graduates from 乐播传媒app最新版本 STEM-related graduate programs (with Hispanics equitably represented) as compared with the 2019 baseline.
  3. To increase the completion rate of STEM-related graduate courses by all STEM graduate students (and with Hispanics equitably represented) by 20% above the 2019 baseline.
  4. To double the number of 乐播传媒app最新版本 students accepted into partnership Master鈥檚 and Ph.D. programs not available at 乐播传媒app最新版本.

Project Strategies

  1. Develop an interdisciplinary, student-centered, and fully supported research program, including a Summer Research component and an Undergraduate Research (UR) conference that will increase the participation and retention of Hispanic students in 乐播传媒app最新版本鈥檚 STEM-related graduate programs.
  2. Develop a comprehensive and collaborative faculty mentorship program to supervise graduate research activities in 乐播传媒app最新版本鈥檚 STEM-related programs.
  3. Develop a centralized Graduate Research Center (GRC) adequately equipped to meet the computing needs of students enrolled in the 乐播传媒app最新版本 STEM-related graduate programs. Student services by the GRC will include an Annual Grad Fair, UR showcase, GRE Prep, Financial Literacy workshop, and Critical Thinking workshop.
  4. Develop two new programs and strengthen existing STEM-related graduate programs, and develop seamless transfer pathways to PhDs and other Master鈥檚 programs that do not exist at 乐播传媒app最新版本 through cross-institutional collaborations.