ATMO: An Innovative Model for Recruiting and Retaining Students in STEM Disciplines

1. ATMO: An Innovative Model for Recruiting and Retaining Students in STEM Disciplines Dr. Carl White, Associate Dean Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr School of Engineering Morgan State University Baltimore, MD

2. Academic Training Management Organization An Engineering Education Research/Service Center What is ATMO?

3. ATMO’s mission is to create and manage a diverse pipeline of students, from middle through graduate school, who excel in STEM-based academics and research ATMO accomplishes its mission by designing and managing innovative programs/activities The Mission

4. An entity of CAMRA, an incumbent NASA-funded University Research Center at MSU (2002-Present) Involving undergraduates in research, retaining them, and fostering their interest in higher education. Implementing ATMOwithin a research environment

5. Client Client issues request for CAMRA services (Research, Talent) and gives funding. Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student(s) Researchers

6. Client Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center CAMRA Sends research requests to Research Centers and provides resources to conduct research. CAMRA Provides ATMO with student researchers and funding. Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student(s) Researchers

7. Client Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO ATMO provides undergraduate, and graduate researchers through its programs. Student(s) Researchers

8. Client Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Student researchers conduct research to assist research center; student researchers fulfill ATMO requirements. Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student(s) Researchers

9. Client Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student researchers are provided with required research experience and training, and are processed through ATMO Student(s) Researchers

10. Client Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center ATMO provides research related training. Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student researchers are provided with required research experience and training, and are processed through ATMO Student(s) Researchers

11. Client Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Research Center provides focused training/research in both NASA-related & non-related core research. ATMO provides research related training. Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student researchers are provided with required research experience and training, and are processed through ATMO Student(s) Researchers

12. Client ATMO continues to provide a high-quality student product, prepared for government, education and industry. Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Research center fulfills research request from CAMRA. Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student(s) Researchers

13. Client CAMRA fulfills research request and provides a pipeline of engineers with advanced degrees and adaptable skills to the nation. Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student(s) Researchers

14. Client CAMRA fulfills research request and provides a pipeline of engineers with advanced degrees and adaptable skills to the nation. Student Pipeline Research Outcomes Service Center Faculty(Research Center Director) ATMO Student(s) Researchers

15. ATMO’s Programs & Services

16. Pre-college Programs (K-12) (Expose, Excite, Engage, Recruit) Feeder School Program Outreach Program Summer Institute of Robotics (SIR) For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Maryland Junior Science and Humanities Symposium (MDJSHS) Innovative STEM Conference (ISC) Pre-Freshmen Accelerated Curriculum in Engineering (PACE)

17. Polytechnic Institute • Western • Baltimore Freedom Academy • Dunbar • Carver Engineering & Technology • Eleanor Roosevelt • McKinley Tech • Flowers • Oxon Hill • Girls High Feeder School Program • ATMO cultivates partnerships with area K-12 schools in order to create dedicated sources of potential recruits. • Feeder School members collaborate in the organization and management of student participation in ATMO’s Outreach Program activities.

18. SIR (MSU, NASA and JETS sponsored) A 4-week residential high school summer robotics program, primarily for Feeder School students (30 to 40 students involved each summer) FIRST Organize, fund raise, and manage FIRST robotics teams First fifteen years of FIRST (NO BALTIMORE CITY TEAMS) Last two years of FIRST (FIVE BALTIMORE CITY TEAMS) Maryland JSHS (Sponsored by Armed Forces) Recognizing and celebrating students engaged in major research efforts Morgan State University has become the first HBCU to host a regional JSHS event Over 150 Student Participants Produced the first national winner from the MD region (2007). Outreach Program Activities

19. PACE 6-week intensive residential summer bridge program for in-coming engineering freshmen (boot-camp for the mind) PACE is loaded with math, science, engineering, and critical thinking courses 450 students thru Summer 2010 (1985-2010) Transition/Bridge Program

20. Undergraduate Program • Academic Aptitude Development (Tutoring) • Advance Learning • Peer Coaching • Research Training • Academic & Professional Advisement/Management • Research • Summer Internships

21. Peer Coaching Tutoring Research Training Critical Thinking Research Outcomes COMSARE SCEDC SIGSENS KIMCOE Pre Accelerated Curriculum in Engineering PACE Student Pipeline ATMO Scholars PACE

22. ATMO Scholars Selected based on PACE performance and High School academic performance Scholar funding based on academic performance and need Scholars must maintain 3.5 cumulative GPA each semester Scholars must participate in research training and/or research each semester Scholars must participate in at least 2 internship/co-op experiences before graduating

23. Statistics First two ATMO cohorts of students (seniors and juniors) mean cumulative GPA is 3.25 which is significantly higher then their counterparts with similar backgrounds First two ATMO cohorts of students engineering retention rate is 95% which is significantly higher then their counterparts with similar backgrounds

24. Pipeline Statistics: Degrees Awarded

25. Pipeline Statistics: Current Enrollment

26. Post-CAMRA Activities • Institutionalization of ATMO into the Office of the Associate Dean • Securing the 2nd NASA URC: Center of Excellence in Systems Engineering for Space Exploration Technologies (CESET) • Creation of non-profit foundation: Innovative STEM Foundation (ISF)

27. Center of Excellence in Systems Engineering for Space Exploration Technologies Dr. Carl White, Associate Dean & PI Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. School of Engineering Morgan State University

28. CESET Vision To establish and sustain a center of excellence in systems engineering that conducts applied research in space exploration technologies.

29. CESET Mission • The production of advanced communications systems. • The production of Systems Engineering professionals.

30. CESET Goals • To conduct research initiatives that focus on technology development of solutions in Software Defined/Cognitive Radio applications in support of GFSC space communications. • To offer educational and professional programs in systems engineering through the Systems Engineering and Management Institute (SEMI) • To produce advanced-degreed and professinally certified engineers with skills in systems engineering.

31. CESETOrganization Structure

32. SEMI Expanded Structure SEMI Expanded Structure

34. Innovative STEM Conference (ISC) • “The Innovative STEM conference is designed to dispel the myth that STEM careers are too difficult and to expose the participants to a plethora of opportunities that comes with STEM careers, while engaging them in our edutainment process that will transform them from STEM wall flowers to STEM super stars”

35. Vision To expose, promote, and foster relationships that assist both high school and college students, interested in becoming prominent scientists, engineers, technologists, and mathematicians. The ISC Conference

36. Academics JSHS Junior Science and Humanities Symposium is a national high school symposium sponsored by the armed forces which promotes research and experimentation in STEM fields by publicly recognizing high school students for their outstanding achievements. There are 48 regionals held throughout the country. ISS The Innovative STEM Symposium (ISS) is a national college symposium, established under the ISC, which promotes research and experimentation in STEM fields by publicly recognizing college students for their outstanding achievements. 2008 will be its first inaugural year. ISC Conference Components

37. “Edutainment” Expo The expo is a major part of the ISC conference as this element brings the “wow” factor. Here is where students get to see the relevance and excitement of technology and what their research can be used to create. Workshops/ Seminars The innovative workshops and instructive seminars are used to impart information on the students and help them answer important questions that they may have regarding most important topics like college admission process. Entertainment The entertainment is a major element to the Edutainment component of the conference. This event helps reinforce the excitement of STEM. This is where all attendees can unite to network, relax, and be in the company of STEM-interested individuals. Students can experience the fun and enjoyment that STEM professionals have. This event like the Expo shows why STEM careers can be fulfilling. ISC Conference Components

38. Urban Roundtable for STEM(URSTEM) Sponsored by Innovative STEM Solutions, LLC Albert Sweets, CEO

39. URSTEM • Objective: • Establish the best STEM conference in the Nation. • Attract and Expose STEM to urban students. • Bridge the GAP between STEM and the Urban Community • Goals • Invite leaders from academia (k-PhD), government and industry to participate in and observe the Innovative STEM Conference. • Have invitees participate in surveys prior to, during and after the conference. • Establish new ways to excite students about STEM. • Outcomes • Establish a board for future conferences. • Increase sponsorship by 35%. • Attendees form collaborations by increasing pipeline activities