Attract, Inspire, Mentor, and Support Students (AIMS²) Program

Institution:

California State University-Northridge

State:

California

Academic Level:

Baccalaureate

Issue Area:

Transfer

Program Focus:

Institutional Change, Undergraduate Research

Website:

http://www.ecs.csun.edu/aims2

Key Personnel:

S.K. Ramesh

Contact Info:

s.ramesh@csun.edu | 818.677.4742

Overview

The mission of the Attract, Inspire, Mentor, and Support Students (AIMS²) program is to increase the enrollment and graduation of Hispanic and low-income students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science at California State University (CSU) Northridge. The focus of the AIMS2 program is to close the achievement gap between traditionally underserved and better-served students by being instrumental in improving academic achievement, transfer success, degree completion, career preparation, and research skills of Hispanic and low-income students in the college.

Program Description

In 2011, the College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) at CSU Northridge, received a five-year, $5.5 million HSI STEM grant from the U.S. Department of Education to implement a program to increase the number of low-income, Hispanic, and underrepresented students graduating from CSUN with engineering and computer science majors.

Students in the AIMS² cohorts (400+ to date) are supported with stipends, special mentoring and advisement by faculty, tutoring, peer mentoring, social activities, field trips, and opportunities to take part in paid research projects. Outreach activities by cohort students to other colleges and high schools help raise awareness of the grant and encourage future students to attend college. Cohort students, for instance, created a web portal that allows all USDE supported HSI-STEM grantees across the country to collaborate. Many students from the cohort have been recognized at national conferences including AHSIE, HACU, and HEENAC.

In 2016, AIMS² received a sequel five-year grant from USDE that has allowed them to expand services to freshmen, transfer students, and add two more partner institutions. Their results attest to the positive effects of student-faculty interaction, peer-peer interaction, and student research participation on Latino/a student experiences and learning.

Outcome

Increased persistence and completion: In the 2013 cohort, 86% (54 of 63) of participants graduated within six-years, with 5 participants still enrolled in the program.
Increased completion of gateway courses: In 2017-18, across all AIMS2 partner institutions, 80% of Hispanic students successfully completed gateway courses in engineering and computer science.
Increased Latino STEM degree completion: AIMS2 has tripled the number of Latino/a students graduating in computer engineering and computer science majors from 57 in 2012-13 to 171 in 2016-17.
Fostered positive career outlook: Latinos had a more positive outlook of their future career goals and achievements with 100% reporting that they felt prepared to pursue their preferred first position after graduation, compared to 63% of non-Hispanic students.