This National Science Foundation (NSF) STEM Education (CFDA 47.076) Project Grant awarded to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) provides $400,000 to improve undergraduate STEM education through the development and implementation of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). The key objectives are to:
Provide professional development to STEM faculty at UTRGV and South Texas College to support their development and implementation of CURE curricula for undergraduate students.
Investigate faculty's self-efficacy toward designing and implementing CUREs and their perceptions of students' abilities to engage in research.
Evaluate the impact of CURE participation on student outcomes, including learning, academic achievement, and attitudes/interest in STEM, compared to traditional laboratory courses.
Strengthen the two- to four-year college pathway for STEM majors between UTRGV and South Texas College.
The project aims to generate empirical evidence to advance the understanding of improving undergraduate STEM engagement, interest, and learning through CUREs, with a focus on serving the predominantly Hispanic student population in the region. The award was made on October 15, 2024 and is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2027.