PERSIST

PERSIST is a multi-faceted approach to recruiting and retaining undergraduate students in chemistry and related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Through hands-on integrated classroom and laboratory learning, structured mentoring in undergraduate research opportunities, and seminars in career planning, students will find a community to help them succeed in STEM education and careers.

PERSIST GOALS:

1. Support students in Chemistry and related STEM majors by providing smaller class sections with more hands-on / inquiry-based learning.

   • A single integrated lecture / laboratory / discussion course replaces three separate classes.

   • Labs and assignments use inquiry-based best practices.

   • Hands-on work includes use of modern laboratory instrumentation and data analysis.

2. Retain students with financial and social support through participation in research and seminar courses.

   • PERSIST students proceed through the program in a cohort that provides social and emotional support.

   • Participants receive living wage stipends for undergraduate research and peer mentoring / TAing.

   • Seminar courses provide a community touchstone for upper-division students.

3. Train students to use their scientific knowledge to better their communities.

   • Upper-division seminar courses explore career planning that is meaningful for Latine and Indigenous students.

   • Pathways to graduate studies at NAU will be elucidated.

Our long-term expectation is to provide a framework for course design and community-building that will expand the program to more physical sciences (Physics, Astronomy, etc.) and engineering courses.

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program motivation:

NAU has a tradition of attracting Latine and Indigenous students who are seeking economic mobility. However, conventional university studies pose a challenge to the strong sense of community to which these students are accustomed. This student group is more likely to struggle in the large, impersonal lecture courses that comprise the foundation of a STEM major, largely due to the lack of community. In addition, many of this student population are inclined to return to their family's home and contribute to the community in which they were raised. In Arizona, it is not always clear how a STEM degree is useful, particularly in the rural areas from which many Latine and Indigenous students hail, despite the fact that careers in STEM fields provide higher salaries and stability than other areas. PERSIST aims to overcome both of these issues that limit Latine and Indigenous students in pursuing STEM degrees. Through deliberate and innovative curriculum design, the courses that serve as the foundation for PERSIST provide classroom spaces that lend themselves to a supportive community and will improve student retention beyond second-year studies. Career planning is a key aspect of the PERSIST classes, where students will be able to explore post-graduate options for training and employment. Special emphasis will be given to non-traditional careers and entrepreneurship, empowering students to carve their own pathways to success in their native communities.

Dr. Browder's qualifications:

Dr. Browder has been teaching at the college level for over 20 years, and is proud to have institutional affiliations with Native American and Hispanic serving institutions (Fort Lewis College and Northern Arizona University, respectively). Her extensive experience in curriculum design and prior success in the classroom indicate her ability to select and implement successful pedagogy. As part of her work with the inaugural STEM Faculty Academy, an equity-minded anti-racist community of practice at NAU, Dr. Browder has designed PERSIST to be racially-conscious and lead to positive outcomes for Latine and Indigenous students.

Persist PLAN:

PERSIST IS IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE. As we plan the program, our expectations are to:

• Examine factors influencing attrition in Chemistry (Summer-Fall 2023): Our team will establish baseline statistics for student retention and attainment through examination of enrollment and graduation records for the last 5-10 years, and will coordinate with existing NAU programs (LSAMP, RISE, etc.) to pool information, approaches, and resources where possible to do so.  Further, we will survey current students and recent graduates who have taken at least three courses in Chemistry to identify areas where we can offer meaningful support and improve retention of Chemistry and related STEM majors.

• Select the inaugural cohort of PERSIST students (Fall 2023): Students considering Chemistry and related STEM majors will be invited to apply to PERSIST. Accepted students will be expected to take the integrated Organic Chemistry II course and the seminar courses designed for this program (described below) starting in Fall 2024. Approximately 12 students are expected to be accepted into the first cohort of PERSIST.

• Develop a focused and integrated fundamental chemistry course targeting at-risk students (launching Spring 2024): An integrated organic chemistry course (CHM 299, 5 units; equivalent of CHM 238 + 238L + 238R) will provide students with a unique experiential, inquiry-based laboratory and classroom experience with close student-faculty contact, hands-on experience with industry-relevant instrumentation, and the support of peer TAs/mentors. We aim to offer 2 sections (36 students) of the new integrated course in Spring 2024, with seats reserved for PERSIST students. A low (<5%) DFW rate is expected for the course, and 80% of PERSIST students are expected to earn a C or better.

• Establish courses that provide peer mentorship, career planning opportunities, and community support for STEM students (AY 2024-2025): An undergraduate research and structured mentorship community will launch in AY 2024-2025, leaning on CHM 298 (research seminar, 1 unit) in Fall 2024 and CHM 498 (career seminar, one unit) in Spring 2025. These courses support peer mentoring and career guidance outside of the research laboratory and will foster a close-knit community of students in the PERSIST cohort. PERSIST will champion career aspirations beyond seeking Chemistry or related graduate degrees, but also has long-term plans to support students in NAU post-graduate STEM programs. PERSIST students are empowered to pursue career pathways that are meaningful to them. At least 50% of the initial PERSIST cohort is expected to enroll in one or both of these courses.

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• Participation in undergraduate research, peer mentoring, and teaching assistant roles make a STEM degree financially accessible. The cost of living in Flagstaff is high, and increasing numbers of students are working long hours outside of school in order to afford to be here. All students in PERSIST are paid for conducting research or serving as a peer TA/mentor within the program. This will decrease or eliminate the hours students need to work outside of school, and student work hours double as academic and professional training. At least 50% of the initial PERSIST cohort is expected to participate in undergraduate research in the program.

• Assess, refine, and propel the program toward the future (ongoing): We will develop and deploy surveys to assess student satisfaction with courses and support, and develop an internal advisory board of peers from leaders of impact and attainment efforts in related fields for critical assessment. External funding for support of PERSIST will be sought from NSF (INCLUDES, ADVANCE, Improving Undergraduate STEM in HSIs, etc.) to continue the program beyond Spring 2025.

Long-term goals: 

Pursuing STEM education is not an economic burden. All students in PERSIST attend NAU tuition-free. The cost of living in Flagstaff is offset by a living wage for participation in research or serving as a TA/mentor.

Multiple entry points for PERSIST will serve a broader student body. A second foundational pathway in Chemistry through an integrated Analytical Chemistry course will be established to solidify the model for PERSIST. Additional PERSIST courses and pathways using this model will be developed with collaborators in Physics, Astronomy, Computer Science, and Engineering.

Bridge programs to MS and PhD degrees assist with the transition to graduate studies. Continued PERSIST support through seminar courses, peer and faculty mentoring, and community-building will break down barriers for students who wish to continue into graduate studies.

The Courses:

Northern Arizona University sits at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, on homelands sacred to Native Americans throughout the region. We honor their past, present, and future generations, who have lived here for millennia and will forever call this place home.