1. Enhancement of the College Experience for STEM Students
Towson University
CoSMiC Scholarship Program

2. NSF CoSMiC Scholarships
Martha Siegel, Mathematics (PI)
Gail Gasparich, Associate Dean of the Fisher College & Biological Sciences
Gabriele Meiselwitz, Computer and Information Sciences
S-STEM is a program of the National Science Foundation

3. NSF S-STEM Program Need-based scholarships based on FAFSA
STEM discipline majors (Mathematics, Computing Sciences, MB3)
Open to US Citizens or Permanent Residents
Maximum stipend - $5,000/year
for undergraduates

4. CoSMiC Scholars Program
Computing, Sciences, and Mathematics in College
Towson University
Fisher College of Science and Mathematics
Third grant; this funded through 2015
Open to select freshmen, transfer students and native students
Majors: Computer Science, Computer Information Technology, MB3 (Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics) & Mathematics

5. Features of the Program
Advising and monitoring
Grades must be maintained – B average required
Group advising sessions
Interdisciplinary Course
Designated tutors
Networking among the Scholars
Sponsored field trips and guest lectures
Yearly evaluations by outside evaluator

6. Features of the Program
Group Activities Related to the Profession
Panel discussion featuring alumni from the STEM disciplines
One campus-wide lecture each year by an outside speaker
Field trips to NASA, Cryptology Museum, and so on
Baltimore Symphony performance with Hubble Space Telescope Director narrator.

7. Features of the Program
Group Activities (continued)
Dinners and pizza parties
Activities with campus Science Clubs and
Mathematics Clubs
Contact with Advisory Board members
Complementary Membership in Professional Organizations

8. Features of the Program
Intervention
Program Planning
Student Conferences
Tutoring Services
Financial Planning
Individual Career Advice
Graduate School Advising

9. What We Learned Community counts for our students
Freshmen applicants have to be treated differently
Students who transfer good grades do well
Many benefit from peer advising
Students appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of sciences

10. What We Learned Transfer students get special attention
Schedules make group activities difficult, but students who attend love them
Our required course gets super-high ratings
Graduation rates are excellent
Career and Graduate School Orientation is required

11. Our New S-STEM Grant CoSMiC Scholars
Need-based scholarships for undergraduates
$600,000
Majors: Mathematics, Computer Science, Computer Information Technology, MB3 – Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Bioinformatics

12. Our New S-STEM Grant Undergraduates: up to $5000/year
Required course work in our Interdisciplinary Course – Exploring Careers and the Profession
More advising on summer research opportunities and internships

13. Our New S-STEM Grant ADDITIONAL GOALS
A CoSMiC Office and Student Resource Center
Cooperative Effort on Recruitment and Advising with other Scholarship Programs in STEM
Early Identification of Eligible Students

14. Transfer Students and CoSMiC
Towson recruits at high school and community colleges
Close relationship with some schools
Articulation agreements in some of the sciences, computer science, and mathematics
We link to S-STEM grants at community colleges

15. Transfer Students and CoSMiC
“Bridges to the Baccalaureate” Program with Baltimore City and Baltimore County
TOPS Program with Baltimore City
CCBC (Baltimore County) linkage
Students can be funded for up to four years

16. Evaluation of CoSMiC
Overall the participants rated their academic experience in the CoSMiC Scholars program very highly. 92% rated the program as very good or excellent. The most common rating was excellent. The 93% response rate was very good. Almost every student is reported to be doing well in their major. Many have gone on for advanced degrees.

17. Evaluation of CoSMiC
The program participants were asked to list the major benefit (other than financial support) of the program to them. Faculty/staff and interaction with other CoSMIC Scholars were the most commonly reported benefits (benefits frequently mentioned in previous surveys).

18. Evaluation of CoSMiC
Commonly reported strengths of the program were mentors, access to help, events and meetings, other students and trips.
The most commonly reported weaknesses of the program were scheduling conflicts and communication.

19. Conclusions
Bringing students and faculty of similar interests together on a formal basis, but outside of the classroom, provides a warm and welcoming atmosphere for native and transfer students.
Students, faculty, and especially dedicated staff provide mentorship and direction.

20. Conclusions
S-STEM students from the community colleges are able to continue their education in specified majors seamlessly and without financial burden.
In the CoSMiC program, students will have to enroll in the one-credit IDNM course, which we have described as advising, study skills, lectures, career education, and professional development.

21. Contacts Directors: Dr. Martha Siegel msiegel@towson.edu
Dr. Gail Gasparich
Dr. Gaby Meiselwitz
Assistant:
Natasha Walker