Equipment: enhancing undergraduate education by creating a digital classroom with networked compound microscopes

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education awarded $196,873 to the Research Foundation of the City University of New York (RFCUNY), doing business as Rfcuny - Baruch College, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to enhance undergraduate biological sciences education. The award, effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2027, funds the acquisition and installation of 49 networked compound microscopes with integrated digital cameras for use in introductory and advanced biology courses. This educational instrumentation project will serve approximately 1,400 undergraduate biology students annually across 11 courses, including microbiology, genetics, developmental biology, human physiology, and comparative anatomy, providing students with direct access to high-quality microscopy equipment and enabling the development of critical microscopy skills.

The project aligns with the HSI (Hispanic-Serving Institutions) Program objective to strengthen STEM teaching and learning at Hispanic-serving institutions. Impact assessment will be conducted through student surveys and open-ended questionnaires to evaluate the effectiveness of the upgraded equipment on student learning outcomes. No sub-awards are planned for this project.

Abstract

With support from the improving undergraduate stem education: hispanic-serving institutions (HSI program), this educational instrumentation project at cuny baruch college will strengthen undergraduate learning in the biological sciences. Specifically, this project will secure 49 microscopes with networked digital cameras, which will allow students to have access to high-quality microscopes in microbiology as well as principles of biology I and II, genetics, animal behavior, principles of evolution, comparative vertebrate anatomy, molecular and cellular biology, developmental biology, human physiology, comparative immunology, and biology of invertebrates. An estimated 1,400 biology students will utilize the project-funded equipment each year. The goals of this project are to enrich the learning and experiences of undergraduate students by upgrading critical equipment in the biological sciences. The project enhances the student learning experience as students will acquire microscopy skills. The project will assess the impact of the funded equipment using student surveys and open-ended questions. This project is funded by the HSI program, which aims to enhance undergraduate stem education and increase capacity to engage in the development and implementation of innovations to improve stem teaching and learning at hsis. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.