91制片厂

A chemistry lab in Parsons Hall at 91制片厂

Two chemistry professors are spearheading an effort that will support 30 students over three years who transfer into the university鈥檚 College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS) from community colleges.

The $630,000 grant from the National Science Foundation will support a financial and academic support program, called 鈥淐C2CEPS,鈥� 听to approximately 10 students per year, who will receive personalized introduction to campus culture and resources. The program will focus particularly on undergraduate research鈥攁 significant aspect of the CEPS experience for the majority of the college鈥檚 students鈥� as an avenue through which these new students can become integrated into the college and 91制片厂 as a whole.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about learning how to learn and how to take advantage of everything the university has to offer,鈥� said , assistant professor of chemistry. 鈥淭hrough our experiences we became aware of the plight of community college transfer students. The numbers don鈥檛 paint a good picture.鈥�

Pazicni and , assistant professor of chemistry, found that few students transfer into CEPS from community colleges. Between 2009 and 2014, fewer than 15 percent of community college students transferring to 91制片厂 have elected a CEPS major; of those that do, fewer than half graduate, on average. CEPS enrolls approximately 1,820 students and community college transfer students account for just 3.5 percent of the college's graduates.

鈥淲e had support and encouragement for this program from across campus,鈥� said Greenslade. One faculty member from every department in the college serves on a steering committee for the program. Faculty professional development is also a part of this initiative via STEM Pedagogy Academies that will be hosted in collaboration with Victor Benassi, director of 91制片厂鈥檚 Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, beginning in summer 2016. These academies will be open to not only 91制片厂 STEM faculty, but also faculty from area community colleges.听

Students from any community college are encouraged to apply to the CC2CEPS program if they meet the minimum requirements for admission into CEPS, are U.S. citizens or legal residents and qualify for federal student aid. The 91制片厂 admissions deadline is April 1, 2015, and the deadline to apply for the CC2CEPS scholarship is May 1, 2015. For more information about CC2CEPS contact: cc.2.ceps@unh.edu.