The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Wesleyan College $576,000 for its Math/Science Student Preparation and Retention Collaborative (M/S SPARC). Through this five-year grant funded by the NSF-sponsored Scholarships in Science and Technology Engineering and Math (S-STEM) initiative, two cohorts of high achieving, socioeconomically disadvantaged women from rural and inner city schools across Georgia will receive financial and programmatic support for a successful career in the fields of math and science. Wesleyan has welcomed eight SPARC scholars who plan to graduate with degrees in chemistry, biology or mathematics for the 2011-2012 academic year, and recruitment for a second cohort is underway.
In awarding this grant, the NSF noted Wesleyan’s outstanding postgraduate outcomes in science and math majors and its continued success in offering excellent academic support programs to its students. According to NSF, in 2010 the S-STEM program received 363 proposals from institutions of higher education nationwide, requesting approximately $204 million. Of those submitted only 80 proposals were chosen for funding, totaling approximately $40 million, making Wesleyan’s receipt of this award particularly noteworthy.
Wesleyan College Associate Professor of Biology, Dr. Holly Boettger-Tong claims, “We are delighted to receive this level of funding for our science and mathematics scholars. This SPARC initiative will provide exciting, novel programming for the young women who are selected as scholarship recipients. In addition, positive SPARC Scholar outcomes will allow us to institutionalize some of these grant-funded activities, which will benefit countless future Wesleyan students.”
According to the grant, “The need for SPARC is great in Georgia, where there is a disparity in high school mathematics and science achievement in terms of race and socioeconomic status. The current success of Wesleyan College in recruiting and retaining a diverse student body provides an ideal environment to support SPARC Scholars. Since 1836, Wesleyan College has emphasized the importance of science as well as classical learning in the education of women. This history has paid modern benefits since over seventy-six percent of natural science and mathematics graduates pursue advanced degrees or are employed in mathematics or science-related occupations. Of these graduates, twenty-five percent are women of color.” Dr. Beottger-Tong claims that the College will seek to add additional diversity to the next SPARC cohort by targeting more rural areas.
Students who qualify for SPARC receive not only financial support all four years at Wesleyan, but also integrated academic support, internship opportunities, summer academic bridge programs, early engagement in undergraduate research, support from facility advisors, and peer and almunae mentoring. Scholars meet monthly with faculty advisors to discuss issues like time management, course work, and goals for their future success at Wesleyan. Peer mentors serve as academic tutors and also serve as general confidants to discuss sisterhood, social pressures, and other helpful tips regarding course loads. SPARC scholars will have an opportunity to complete research through a Maymester Research Intensive where they will present their research at a professional conference during their senior year.
SPARC scholar Chelsea Widner from Sylvania, Georgia, is currently completing high school while enrolled at Wesleyan as part of Georgia’s “Move on When Ready” initiative and plans to pursue a major in chemistry. “Support from the SPARC funds helped make my decision on whether or not to pursue an early start at Wesleyan more clear,” she claims.
As this year’s SPARC scholars begin their journey at Wesleyan, it is anticipated that eighty percent of them will graduate and ninety percent of these graduates will pursue advanced degrees or employment in STEM fields. Data from Wesleyan’s SPARC program may also be used to further advancement of other initiatives at other larger institutions that have adopted smaller learning communities. |
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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $576,000 to Wesleyan College for its Math/Science Student Preparation and Retention Collaborative program. The first cohort began their undergraduate careers at Wesleyan fall 2011, and recruiting for the second cohort is now underway. Left Back: Chelsea Widener, Tashe' Jones. Middle Row L-R: Rochelle Fletcher, Kaylyn Miller, ShaTavia Crawford, Faculty Advisor Dr. Glenda Ferguson, Nicki Bailey, Qadan Farah, Sophia Bulin-Theodos, Azea Mustafa. Front Row: Priscilla Duran, Aditi Dey.
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