There’s Something for Everyone in AIMS^2 Research Projects
In 2011, the College of Engineering and Computer Science, in collaboration with Glendale Community College and the College of the Canyons, was awarded a $5.5 million U.S. Department of Education HSI-STEM grant. The purpose of the grant was to implement a multifaceted program designed to improve retention and increase graduation rates for Hispanic, underrepresented and low-income students majoring in engineering and computer science. To date, the program, called AIMS2 (Attract, Inspire Mentor and Support Students), has helped meet the academic needs of more than 200 students. Participants receive academic support services, are mentored by faculty and are supported with stipends to motivate and inspire them to succeed. In September, the program was recognized as a “bright spot in Hispanic education” by the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for Hispanics.
Student research, identified as a high-impact practice by the Association of American Colleges and Universities, has been a cornerstone of AIMS2 from the program’s inception. Every summer, AIMS2 students from the community colleges and CSUN take part in research with their faculty mentors. (Other program components include proactive academic advisement and tracking, organized tutoring, peer and faculty mentoring, project-based learning, career advising and eventual transition to the workforce or advanced studies.)
On the afternoon of November 12, the college hosted the first-ever AIMS2 student research symposium, giving participants an opportunity to present their research to their peers and the broader AIMS2 community. Close to 40 students took part, and all five CECS departments were represented. The audience numbered between 60 and 70, including students, faculty and members of the AIMS2 external advisory committee. What follows are highlights of the research that the 2015 AIMS2 students undertook.
