Southwest Idaho Bridges to Baccalaureate Program

PROGRAM SUMMARY The Southwest Idaho Bridges to the Baccalaureate (SWID B2B) program is an enduring undergraduate research program in Idaho that supports both the transition of underrepresented (UR) students from the College of Western Idaho (CWI) community college into biomedical degree programs at Boise State University (BSU) and their successful graduation. The SWID B2B program was originally developed using a previous NIH R25 funding mechanism and will be entering its second five-year span under the T34 mechanism. Based on statistics from our institutional self-assessments, the SWID B2B program has the long-term goal of increasing the number of individuals from UR groups in Idaho that pursue research careers in the biomedical sciences. The short-term goals of this T34-funded B2B program are to i) increase the number of UR CWI community college students that transfer to BSU into biomedical science majors, ii) increase retention and graduation rates for UR biomedical science transfer students, and iii) prepare UR students for careers in the biomedical sciences. In steady state, this program will serve hundreds of students per year and include annual B2B cohorts of 10 UR students. To accomplish our goals, we request funding for the following five specific aims. Aim 1. Recruit and select program participants. The objective of this aim is to Recruit UR students with strong potential interests in futures that include biomedical research and to Select UR students (in cohorts of 10 per year) into the B2B program. Aim 2. Advise and prepare student trainees. The object of this aim is to Advise CWI students early and continuously through program ambassadors and to Prepare students for a research experience by offering B2B-enhanced courses at CWI and providing peer mentoring. Aim 3. Immerse and include student trainees. The objective of this aim is to Immerse community college students in a biomedical research experience with a faculty mentor during the summer before they transfer to the university campus and to Include students in the everyday activities associated with biomedical research. Aim 4. Equip and support student trainees. The objective of this aim is to Equip students as they move through their degree program at BSU by providing an academic-year research experience and a professional development course, as well as to Support students for success by providing them continued scientific mentorship and the opportunity to present their research data nationally. Aim 5. Continually engage and launch program participants. The objective of this aim is to Continually Engage students as they leave SWID B2B and move through their degree program at BSU by encouraging all students to continue their research in their mentor’s lab, enroll in a senior level seminar course, and when appropriate, apply for additional summer fellowships. Studies have demonstrated that undergraduate research experiences like the B2B program have an important positive impact on UR groups, and we expect that our SWID B2B program will have enduring effects, transform the lives of UR students, and improve their success as they move forward into biomedical careers.