Scientific engagement and access through course-based research and innovation in stem participation

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded South Texas College $499,392 on October 1, 2026, under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to expand course-based undergraduate research experiences in biotechnology to rural community college students.

South Texas College will expand the SEA-PHAGES course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) to its rural branch campus and embed a multi-week CRISPR curriculum module across institutional sites. The project includes cross-departmental collaboration with mathematics faculty to enhance student data visualization and statistical proficiency, structured curriculum enhancements, laboratory micro-credentialing badges, and internship stipends. The initiative targets measurable increases in introductory biology retention rates and student research participation while establishing micro-credentialing pathways and regional industry partnerships to accelerate student social mobility and career readiness. Performance occurs in McAllen, Texas, with a period of performance from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2029.

Abstract

This project aims to serve the national interest by expanding evidence-based, high-impact undergraduate research experiences to rural community college students, utilizing a multi-campus curriculum expansion and cross-departmental academic supports to increase stem retention, graduation, and four-year transfer rates. This track 1 ityc project plans to include expanding the scalable sea-phages course-based undergraduate research experience (cure) to a rural branch campus while embedding an innovative, multi-week crispr curriculum module across institutional sites. By addressing geographic and structural barriers in access to modern biotechnology practices, the project plans to recognize student potential and build upon existing institutional assets to foster a robust sense of stem identity and academic belonging. The project holds great significance for the broader educational landscape by establishing a replicable model for multi-campus cure integration and cross-departmental collaboration, notably involving mathematics faculty members to enhance student data visualization and statistical proficiency. Ultimately, the importance of this initiative lies in its potential to advance the integration of emerging lines of scientific inquiry at the two-year college level, creating clear micro-credentialing pathways and regional industry partnerships that accelerate student social mobility and career readiness. The primary goals of this project focus on measurably increasing introductory biology retention rates and scaling student research participation through structured curriculum enhancements and targeted student recruitment. Within this scope, the project plans to expand established research frameworks to a rural branch campus, integrate a new crispr curriculum module, evaluate the effectiveness of laboratory micro-credentialing badges, and provide stipends for internships with regional community and institutional partners. The project methodology utilizes a collaborative instructional framework alongside a formative and qualitative evaluation plan managed by an external evaluator, which includes student focus groups and pre- and post-surveys to track shifts in scientific confidence and persistence. To add new knowledge to the field regarding student success in stem, the project plans to investigate the conditions under which multi-campus curriculum scaling, cross-departmental academic support, and digital micro-credentials impact student retention and persistence in community college settings. Furthermore, the project plans to actively disseminate results and educational frameworks through presentations at national and regional scientific symposia. The NSF iuse: innovation in two-year college stem education (ityc) program seeks to accelerate and advance knowledge about the impact of emerging and evidence-based practices in undergraduate stem education at two-year colleges. 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.