The focus of the Colonel Robinson Scholars program is to attract top STEM applicants to University of North Carolina (UNC) and supporting them for their four years with programming, mentorship, and financial needs.
The program began with the incoming 2012 class. It serves approximately 25-30 incoming first year students who have been identified as honors/merit with a particular focus in STEM. Students receive a full scholarship four years. Additionally, they receive support after their first or second year for a summer science study abroad experience. Another major part to the program is the faculty mentor that is linked to the same cohort of students for their four years. The mentor and cohort meet routinely to work on service projects, go to both science and non-science events, and take social trips and outings together. The desired outcome of the project is to attract and retain the best and brightest students from around the country in STEM. Besides graduating major and career path, we are looking for success in the short term via the number of students involved in: independent research, science outreach in the community, peer-teaching in STEM courses, and science study abroad experiences. Program evaluation data are not available yet.
We’re learning that the first year is essential in forming cohort bonds and faculty-student relationships. The first year includes a weekend trip together with the faculty mentor plus numerous social and science events. Students in the first cohort collaboratively established several science outreach projects by the end of their first year. Thus, we feel establishing social bonds is essential to the cohort’s later success with STEM outreach and academic support of each other. Almost all students still in STEM by the end of their second year are voluntarily engaged in independent research--earlier than when most non-scholarship peers join research labs.
Private donations to the university, through the Scholarships and Students Aid office support this program.