UHCL NSF Scholar Orientation

1. UHCL NSF Scholar Orientation Bun Yue: yue@uhcl.edu 281-283-3864 Sharon Hall: perkins@uhcl.edu 281-283-3868 2/2/2012

2. Congratulations! • This is a prestigious award!

3. Background • Third round of funding from NSF. • Started in 2002. • Current funding will end in 2015. • Need your help in securing future funding!

4. Future Funding • Keeping records • ‘Success stories’ and ‘testimonials’ • Papers

5. Maintaining Eligibility • http://sce.uhcl.edu/nsfcsems/eligibility.asp • Make sure that all forms are filled and returned as soon as possible. • Respond to email and surveys quickly.

6. Maintaining Eligibility • No need to re-apply for the scholarship every semester. • Need to show progress on degree completion. • Enrolled full-time (12 hours per semester) • Maintain GPA • Participate in activities

7. New Scholarship Program • Many new features!

8. Amount of scholarship • Three components: • Academic performance: ‘output’; $2,500 to $3,500. • Effort and Participation: ‘input’; up to $500 • Undergraduate research: up to $1,600. • Total not to exceed $5,000 per regular semester.

9. Spring 2012 Award • Performance: $2,500, $3,000 or $4,000. • Effort & Participation: $125, $250, $375 & $500. • Research: $100 or $200. • Total: $2,500 to $4,000.

10. Academic Performance • GPA, especially required courses. • Progress in degree completion. • Work with Dr. Hall and your faculty mentor.

11. Effort • Award up to $500 for the next semester. • Efforts: key metrics: • Involvement in undergraduate research • Involvement in marketing and promotion of the NSF Scholar program • Participation and leadership in NSF Scholar Organization • Participation in NSF Scholar Program activities

12. Undergraduate Research • Additional award throughout the entire scholarship period every semester. • Presented at UHCL Student Conference for Research and Creative Arts: $200. • Presented at accepted external conferences: $400. • Had a paper accepted for publications in refereed conferences or journals: $1,000.

13. UHCL Student Research Conference • http://www.uhcl.edu/ResearchArtsConference/. • We will assist you on your way.

14. Programs • Mentoring • NSF Scholar Organization • Undergraduate Research • Industrial luncheon program

15. Mentoring • Directors: Dr. Yue and Dr. Hall: meet with Dr. Hall at the middle of the semester. • Faculty mentor: meet with the mentor twice every semester.

16. NSF Student Organization • http://sceweb.uhcl.edu/nsfscholar/ • Help each other to succeed. • Dr. Yue and Dr. Hall will be the advisor. • Design, plan and implement activities. • Scholars ‘own’ the organization. • Will have budget support.

17. Undergraduate Research • Research is problem solving. • Very beneficial. • Easier to start than most think. • Start by discussing it with your mentor. • Can sign up for an independent study course.

18. Industrial Speaker Series • Joint effort with UHCL Alumni Association. • http://newsroom.uhcl.edu/pr/uhcl/uh-clear-lake-kicks-off-new-nsf-218614.aspx

19. Industrial Luncheons • “Let scholars interact with highly successful professionals in a small, personal and free setting.” • Attend at least one industrial partner luncheon per semester. • Each luncheon has at least one industrial mentor, at least one faculty mentor, and up to six NSF Scholars.

20. Benefits • Get to know highly successful professionals personally. • Build good professional network. • Ask questions and get answers from professionals. • Interact with fellow peers with similar career goals and paths.

21. Thank you & Questions “Hmm, UHCL NSF STEM scholarship is good!”