Augustana College offers scholarships to students of color or community college transfer students who are majoring in biology or biochemistry. Funding for 20 scholars is targeted to increase the number of underrepresented minority majors at the college to at least 8 per year and the number of community college transfer students to 10, at least 85% of whom will graduate. All of the scholars participate in a project to annotate the genome of the bacterium Meiothermus ruber, authentic research on a project initiated by the PI and funded through the Department of Energy. They are also supported by enhanced tutoring, advising, and other measures to ease the transition to Augustana, along with a summer bridging program, a first-year learning community, and interaction with students at other institutions. In this way a series of high-impact teaching practices used throughout the biology curriculum fosters intellectual development of the students, while promoting communication between students and faculty in Biology and Chemistry Departments.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
Application #
1060355
Program Officer
Alexandra Medina-Borja
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2018-06-30
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$600,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Augustana College
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Rock Island
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
61201