It is the intent of this project to focus efforts, during the 2005-06 academic year and 2006 summer, on enhancing the mentoring capabilities of faculty members at Elizabeth City State University with regards to their ability to motivate and train minority students within The Mathematics and Computer Science Department and The Geological, Environmental and Marine Science Department. In support of the NSF Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) program, this proposed project will increase the number of faculty at ECSU, who are well trained, in mentoring underrepresented groups in mathematics, computer science, marine and environmental science. The supplemental funds will support expansion of faculty mentoring efforts of minority majors within the targeted departments. The project will also provide faculty with training based on best practices of the NSF PAESMEM program. Faculty members will be expected to work during the academic year or summer with a team of undergraduate STEM majors. During the academic year, structured meeting will be held between faculty and students on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from mid September through early April and for 8 weeks during the summer of 2006. The emphasis will be on promoting the professional development of students while teaching them the fundamentals of research within their major fields. The faculty emphasis will be on promoting the ability of the faculty in interacting with students, providing supportive environment for students, and conveying the techniques of research in their respective fields. This will enhance faculty ability to provide the out of classroom experience that the students will need to be accepted into and successfully complete graduate school. During the summer program faculty will work on an intense 8 week project with a team of students. The proposed project will impact a total of 6 STEM faculty and 10 STEM students.
