Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Undergraduate Education awarded $167,816 to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) on October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for November 30, 2027. This collaborative research project investigates perceived costs—the sacrifices and losses students associate with academic tasks—and their impact on student achievement and retention in organic chemistry courses, with particular emphasis on historically marginalized student populations. The research integrates Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (SEVT) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to develop a comprehensive understanding of student motivation and learning processes in this critical STEM discipline.

The project delivers a mixed-methods research study combining qualitative and quantitative analyses to explore relationships between perceived costs, student motivation, and course outcomes. Key deliverables include the design, implementation, and evaluation of targeted interventions—specifically writing-to-learn activities—intended to mitigate the negative effects of perceived costs on student engagement and achievement in organic chemistry. The research outcomes are expected to advance STEM education practices, enhance educational equity, and contribute to NSF's broader goal of increasing diversity and inclusion within the scientific community by identifying evidence-based strategies to improve student persistence in foundational organic chemistry courses.