1. The USTEP program is a collaborative effort between three Chicago colleges, CSU, KKC, and OHC, to increase the number of underrepresented students entering and graduating from STEM programs through academic support and research experiences. 2. The program involves 53 students conducting research in biology, chemistry, engineering and other STEM fields under faculty mentors. 3. Program activities include mentoring, workshops, research conferences, and career exploration to help students succeed in STEM majors and facilitate their transition between the community colleges and 4-year programs.

1. Urban Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program
LeRoy Jones II (PI),1 Lezlie Thompson (Project Coordinator),1 Jimmie Bush (Coordinator),1 Cornelia Forrester (Coordinator),2 and Arlicia Corley (Coordinator)3
1Chicago State University, Chicago, IL, 2Olive-Harvey College, Chicago, IL, and 3Kennedy-King College, Chicago, IL
NSF/DUE Award 0856827
Goal
USTEP, funded by the National Science
Foundation in August 2009, is a collaborative
effort between Chicago State University (CSU),
Kennedy-King College (KKC) and Olive-Harvey
2012 Summer Research Projects
1. The Effects of Gibberellic Acid on Plant Growth
DeBorah Myles, Ronald Price, Charles Ishola, Deidra Granderson, and Eric Ruffin, Jr.
2. A Growth Comparison of Prairie Wild Bergamot Using Fertilizer with Amendments, Nitrogen,
• 53 member student cohort - 18 (CSU), 19 (KKC) and 16
(OHC)
• 48 (African-Americans) and 5 (Hispanic/Latino)
• 21 (males) and 32 (females)
Participants
College (OHC) to significantly increase the
number of first and second year CSU and City
Colleges of Chicago (CCC) students who enter,
pursue and graduate from science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM)
programs. In order to achieve this vision, CSU,
OHC and KKC have implemented a student-
centered academic support and research
program
Activities
(
Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK) Under Greenhouse Conditions
Lawannah Boyden, Quinita Robinson, Reema Haddad, Mary Ogunbameru, Roy Logan, and Ivan
Aryee
3. Lead Phytoextraction by Means of Native Prairie Plants
Ishtar Bragg, Curry Williams, Christian Carter, Solomon Lawrence, and Sawayah Ward
4. Pollen in Commercial Honey
Isiaka Sulaimon Louay Mdanat Tiffany Merriweather and Ashley Corpening
• 21 (males) and 32 (females)
• 28 are planning to major in biology, 6 in chemistry, 10 in
engineering/physics, 4 in math, 2 in computer science, 1 in
pharmacy, and 2 in nursing
• 96% have engaged in environmental and ecological
research in CSU’s Prairie Garden
program.
USTEP compliments the bevy of programs at
CSU dedicated to increasing the enrollment,
retention and graduation rates of
underrepresented students in STEM. It also
provide a much needed bridge to ease the CCC
students transition into baccalaureate STEM
programs.
Isiaka Sulaimon, Louay Mdanat, Tiffany Merriweather, and Ashley Corpening
5. The Sawtooth Sunflower: Excessive Watering and Calcium
Ravenia Gant-Fletcher, Liza Mdanat, Imani Hicks-Spears, De’Shovon Shenault, and Candice Watts
6. Soil pH and Its Effect on Plant Growth
Kaiita Jones, Jasia Young, Corey Ward, Lyzon Prowell, and Philomina Okegbu
Mentoring - the USTEP project is designed to mentor
motivated bright students in the philosophy, theories and
technical aspects of STEM disciplines. USTEP mentors help
student participants discuss their academic needs; explore
and understand career options; and encourage participants
to maintain high personal standards of effort as they develop
academically in their STEM majors.
O
p g
Objectives
Research Experiences - USTEP mentors help student
participants prepare research projects in environmental and
ecological research. This research helps to ground students
in the STEM discipline, teaches them valuable skills and
techniques needed to conduct innovative research, and
provides impressive experience for their resumes.
Workshops - specially designed study skills classes for
Table 1. Performance of USTEP Transfer Students
Performance
Indicator
USTEP
Program
KKC Students OHC Students CCC Students IL Community
Colleges
% Attrition after 1st
Year1 19% 47% 57% 47% 37%
1. Develop a bridge program that enable
students at the CCC to matriculate directly
into CSU or other baccalaureate STEM
programs.
Outcomes
STEM disciplines are offered to USTEP students throughout
the academic year. Topics range from note-taking and test-
taking skills in STEM courses to studying STEM problems
and understanding STEM concepts.
Career Exploration - vocational information in the form of
orientation workshops; seminars with STEM professionals;
formal credit bearing STEM career exploration classes; and
regular programs established by university Career Placement
Table 2. USTEP Retention Rates
Institution Name Cohort Participants Returned Participants Percent Returned
USTEP Students
CSU 18 15 83%
Transfer Rates2 49% 19% 27% 26% 37%
Source: 1Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) Fall Enrollment and Annual Enrollment and Completion FY 2010.
2ICCB Measure 5m3 Summary of Transfer Rates by College FY 2010-2011.
2. Facilitate support programs that improve the
retention of underrepresented minority
students matriculating in STEM disciplines.
3. Conduct interdisciplinary undergraduate
research, particularly in the early
undergraduate years, involving environmental
and ecological research using biology, g p g y y
Services (CPS) is provided for USTEP students. CPS also
explores the students’ aptitude and interest in their majors,
discuss academic requirements for certain fields, and inform
students about internships and externships in the STEM
disciplines.
Research Conferences - USTEP students participate and
present at conferences and symposiums sponsored by
discipline-specific STEM organizations These conferences
CSU 18 15 83%
KKC 19 16 84%
OHC 16 15 94%
All Students1
CSU 589 353 60%
KKC 826 414 50%
OHC 424 172 41%
Illinois Public Institutions1
physical science and mathematics
techniques.
Challenges
1. Tracking CCC student progress and transfers.
2 D l i th d t k f USTEP discipline-specific STEM organizations. These conferences
have provided USTEP students with exposure to research
and internships. It also provides them with the opportunity to
make professional presentations and develop personal
networking skills. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for
USTEP project participants to disseminate activities and
findings to the STEM community.
Illinois Public Institutions
Public 4-Year Universities 25,439 20,551 81%
Public Community Colleges 32,166 19,408 60%
City Colleges of Chicago 4,463 2,367 53%
Source: 1Illinois Board of Higher Education, One Year Retention Rate for Full-Time, First-Time Students Fall 2010.
2. Developing methods to keep former USTEP
cohorts engaged as new cohorts are added.
3. Organizing the cohorts into smaller clusters
with comparable skill sets.
4. Sustaining the activities beyond the grant
funding years.